From obscure, out-of-print encyclopedias to the latest YouTube sensation, Ma's inhaled it all. See what we're reading right now, or browse for another suggestion that might better suit your style. (Psst -- don't miss the TL;DR section, where we give you busy bees the goods STAT.)

A fascinating history of the breed from UK journalist and entertainment personality Ben Fogle.

Fun Facts:

• Queen Elizabeth owns more labs than corgis!

• Labradors hail from Newfoundland, and Newfs from Labrador!

• The breed's "soft mouth" means they can even carry around raw eggs!

TL;DR:

Fogle shares anecdotes about life with his black lab Inca (the first canine reality tv star?) as he traces the origins of the world's most popular pet and highlights all its lovable attributes. Labs were first bred to be expert fishermen on the brutal NE coast of Canada, making use of thick double coats and webbed feet. They eventually made their way to the finest estates across the UK, where their retrieving instinct made them the must-have hunting accessory for every respectable household. A strong desire to please and incredibly astute mind have led organizations from the military and police to health care providers to recruit Labradors to aid with their various missions. Coupled with their renowned "trainability," the uniquely devoted companionship a Labrador offers has since made it the most popular pet across the world.

WORTH IT?

Sure, for the enthusiast who's really curious. For most, I'd recommend saving it until after potty training etc. is well under way as there aren't many practical tips -- just interesting tidbits.

Amazon rating: 4.6 / 5

Goodreads rating: 3.56 / 5

MORE BOOK REVIEWS COMING SOON!

If you want to get started while we get our act together, be our guest:

• The Other End of the Leash - Patricia B. McConnell, PhD

• The Ultimate Labrador Retriever - Heather Wiles-Fone

• Your Labrador Retriever Puppy Month by Month - Terry Albert, Deb Eldridge, and Don and Barb Ironside

• Perfect Puppy in 7 Days - Dr. Sophia Yin

• The Puppy Primer - Patricia B. McConnell, PhD

• AKC Star Puppy: A Positive Behavioral Approach to Puppy Training - Mary R. Burch, PhD

• Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommons

• My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective, and Easy Puppy Training - Brian Kilcommons

• Childproofing Your Dog - Brian Kilcommons

• How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend - Monks of New Skete

• The Art of Raising a Puppy - Monks of New Skete

• Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog - Carol Lea Benjamin

• Culture Clash - Jean Donaldson

• How Stella Learned to Talk: The Groundbreaking Story of the World's First Talking Dog - Christina Hunger

• Good Dogs Don't Make it to the South Pole - Hans-Olav Thyvold

WEBSITES & VIDEOS

Sometimes if you have a very specific question, watching a video or diving deep into a forum's comments is the quickest way to an answer. These are our go-to resources on the interwebs:

• Zak George - YouTube sensation and bestselling author

• Brandon McMillan - MasterClass subscription required

• The Labrador Site - UK-based labrador breeder and trainer Pippa Mattinson oversees this popular and comprehensive forum

• Lab Puppies, Labrador Retriever Group, Labrador Training Group, and English Labs Facebook Groups - surprisingly engaged and eager to help, these micro-communities understand and empathize when your labragator won't quit nipping and you've run out of Band-Aids. YMMV on the training advice, but you'll have a willing and ready sounding board until your vet or trainer's office opens in the morning.