Breed Info
The Labrador Retriever, often known simply as the Labrador or Lab, is a British breed of gundog and one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide. With their iconic floppy ears, expressive eyes, and wagging tails, Labs exude charm and warmth. Renowned for their athletic abilities and eagerness to please, Labs excel in various roles, from therapy work to search and rescue. The Labrador’s gentle and patient temperament also makes them exceptional companions for children, earning them the reputation of being one of the best family dogs.
In addition to their affable personality, Labrador Retrievers are highly versatile and athletic dogs. Originally bred as retrieving dogs for fishermen, they possess a strong instinct to fetch and carry objects, making them excellent partners for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and retrieving games. Labs thrive in various sports and competitions, including agility, obedience trials, and dock diving. With their winning combination of intelligence, sociability, and athleticism, Labrador Retrievers continue to capture the hearts of dog lovers around the world.
If you’re looking for Labrador Retriever puppies, it’s crucial to choose a reputable breeder. Conduct thorough research to ensure that the breeder follows ethical practices and values the well-being of their dogs. Reputable breeders prioritize the health and temperament of their Labrador Retriever puppies. They also conduct necessary health screenings and provide a nurturing environment for the puppies. This active approach ensures that you bring home a healthy and happy pup while discouraging unethical breeding practices.
Quick Facts
- Origin: England developed from St. John’s Water Dogs from Newfoundland, Canada.
- Size: Males weigh 65-80 pounds (29-36 kg) and females weigh 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg).
- Breed Group: Sporting
- Lifespan: 10 to 14 years.
- Coat: According to the AKC breed standard, Labrador Retrievers come in three main coat colors: Black, Chocolate, and Yellow. However, some breeders may breed colors like white, silver, charcoal, or Fox Red Labradors, although the AKC does not recognize these.
- Labrador Retriever Personality: Friendly, outgoing, with a gentle nature. They are often described as one of the most family-friendly dog breeds and are great with children and other pets.
- Exercise Needs: Labrador Retrievers are active dogs and require regular exercise and mental stimulation. They enjoy activities like fetch, swimming, and hiking.
- Training: They are highly intelligent and trainable, making them one of the most popular choices for working dogs, including search and rescue, therapy, and assistance dogs.
- Grooming: The Labrador Retriever has relatively low grooming needs. Regular brushing and occasional baths are to keep their coat healthy.
- Health: While generally healthy, Labradors can be prone to genetic health issues such as hip and elbow dysplasia and certain eye conditions. Responsible breeding and regular vet check-ups can help reduce these risks.
- Popularity: After a 31-year run as America’s most popular dog breed, Labs lost the title to the French Bulldog in 2023.
Are Labrador Retrievers good with cats?
Having a dog who gets along pretty well with other household pets, including cats, is a desire for many pet lovers. Although the general assumption is that dogs and cats are enemies by nature, this isn’t always the case.
Labradors have a reputation for being a breed that’s friendly, loving, and tolerant; not a fighter. For this reason, it’s not unusual for a Labrador Retriever to willingly welcome a feline into their space without protest.
While a Labrador’s friendly and gentle demeanor can make it easy for them to get used to being in the company of a cat, this breed is not ideal for households with cats for this one reason: their strong prey drive. Labradors possess a high prey drive, meaning they are more inclined to chase after pets smaller than them, such as cats.
While they may be doing this to simply satisfy their preying instincts and not necessarily to harm a household cat, a Labrador’s powerful prey drive can make it harder for a feline to feel safe around the dog.
It takes a lot of dedication in training to make a Labrador treat a household cat as a fellow pet, not prey. Through training, a Labrador Retriever can eventually learn that chasing after the household cat is unacceptable. Moreover, proper training makes it possible for a Labrador to learn how to channel their prey drive elsewhere instead of terrorizing any felines they share an address with.
Are Labrador Retrievers known for protecting their owners?
Generally speaking, Labrador Retrievers are extremely loyal to their owners and don’t shy away from protecting their loved ones when need be. Their unwavering loyalty, to a great extent, translates into protective behavior — particularly barking excessively — when they sense danger to their humans.
However, a Labrador’s protective instincts aren’t anything to write home about, especially when compared to fiercely protective breeds such as Rottweilers.
Is a Labrador a good choice as a guard dog?
Unfortunately, guarding isn’t a Labrador Retriever’s specialty. Although dogs of this breed make excellent family pets, Labradors don’t have what it takes to be great guard dogs. This is largely due to their friendly nature. It’s unusual for Labradors to display any aggressive behaviors toward strangers and intruders.
In other words, a Labrador’s overly friendly personality makes them unsuitable for guarding tasks. If you are thinking of bringing home a Labrador Retriever to act as a guard dog, chances are, you’ll eventually regret your decision.
While they may make a fuss if they suspect the presence of an intruder, it’s unlikely that a Labrador will attack and consistently deter thieves from your home.
Also, keep in mind that Labrador Retrievers are hard-wired for greed. Therefore, a burglar can easily distract them with a treat or two. If there’s one thing a Lab is going to do, it’s eat.
So, if homestead protection is what you’re looking for in a dog, rest easy knowing there are plenty of other loving, loyal breeds whom you can fully depend on to guard your home from the bad guys without fail.
Labrador Retriever History
Labrador Retrievers hail from the island of Newfoundland, off the northeastern Atlantic coast of Canada. Originally called St. John’s dogs, after the capital city of Newfoundland, Labs served as companions and helpers to the local fishermen in the 1700s. The dogs spent their days working alongside their owners, retrieving fish who had escaped hooks and towing in lines, and then returned home to spend the evening with the fishermen’s family.
Although their heritage is unknown, many believe the St. John’s dog was interbred with the Newfoundland Dog and other small local water dogs. Outsiders noticed the dog’s usefulness and good disposition, and English sportsmen imported a few Labs to England to serve as retrievers for hunting. The second Earl of Malmesbury was one of the first and had St. John’s dogs shipped to England sometime around 1830.
The third Earl of Malmesbury was the first to refer to the dogs as Labradors. Amazingly, Labs–now America’s most popular dog–were almost extinct by the 1880s, and the Malmesbury family and other English fans are credited with saving the breed. In Newfoundland, the breed disappeared because of government restrictions and tax laws. Families were allowed to keep no more than one dog, and owning a female was highly taxed, so girl puppies were culled from litter.
In England, however, the breed survived, and the Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a distinct breed in 1903. The American Kennel Club followed suit in 1917, and in the ’20s and ’30s, British Labs were imported to establish the breed in the U.S. The breed’s popularity began to take off after World War II, and in 1991, the Labrador Retriever became the most popular dog registered with the American Kennel Club–and they’ve held that distinction ever since. They also top the list in Canada and England. Today, Labs work in drug and explosive detection, search and rescue, therapy, assistance to those with disabilities, and as retrievers for hunters. They also excel in all forms of dog competitions: show, field, agility, and obedience.
Labrador Retriever Size
Males stand 22.5 to 24.5 inches and weigh 65 to 80 pounds. Females stand 21.5 to 23.5 inches and weigh 55 to 70 pounds.
Labrador Retriever Personality
The Lab has the reputation of being one of the most sweet-natured breeds, and it’s well deserved. They’re outgoing, eager to please, and friendly with both people and other animals. Aside from a winning personality, their intelligence and eagerness to please make them easy to train.
Training is necessary because this breed has a lot of energy and exuberance. The Lab’s working heritage means they are active. This breed needs activity, both physical and mental, to keep them happy. There is some variation in the activity level of Labs: some are rowdy, and others are more laid-back. All thrive on activity.
Labrador Retriever Health
Labrador Retrievers are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they’re prone to certain health conditions. Not all Labs will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed.
- Hip Dysplasia: Hip dyplasia is a heritable condition in which the thighbone doesn’t fit snugly into the hip joint. Some dogs show pain and lameness on one or both rear legs, but you may not notice any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop. X-ray screening for hip dysplasia is done by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred.
- Elbow Dysplasia: This is a heritable condition common to large-breed dogs. It’s thought to be caused by different growth rates of the three bones that make up the dog’s elbow, causing joint laxity. This can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem or medication to control the pain.
- Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD): This orthopedic condition, caused by improper growth of cartilage in the joints, usually occurs in the elbows, but it has been seen in the shoulders, as well. It causes a painful stiffening of the joint, to the point that the dog is unable to bend his elbow. It can be detected in dogs as early as four to nine months of age. Overfeeding of “growth formula” puppy foods or high-protein foods may contribute to its development.
- Cataracts: As in humans, canine cataracts are characterized by cloudy spots on the eye lens that can grow over time. They may develop at any age, and often don’t impair vision, although some cases cause severe vision loss. Breeding dogs should be examined by a board-certified veterinary ophthamologist to be certified as free of hereditary eye disease before they’re bred. Cataracts can usually be surgically removed with good results.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): PRA is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina. Early in the disease, dogs become night-blind. As the disease progresses, they lose their daytime vision, as well. Many dogs adapt to limited or complete vision loss very well, as long as their surroundings remain the same.
- Epilepsy: Labs can suffer from epilepsy, which causes mild or severe seizures. Seizures may be exhibited by unusual behavior, such as running frantically as if being chased, staggering, or hiding. Seizures are frightening to watch, but the long-term prognosis for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is generally very good. It’s important to remember that seizures can be caused by many other things than idiopathic epilepsy, such as metabolic disorders, infectious diseases that affect the brain, tumors, exposure to poisons, severe head injuries, and more. Therefore, if your Lab has seizures, it’s important to take them to the vet right away for a checkup.
- Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD): TVD is a congenital heart defect that has been increasing in prevalence in the Labrador breed. Puppies are born with TVD, which is a malformation of the tricuspid valve on the right side of the heart. It can be mild or severe; some dogs live with no symptoms, others die. TVD is detected by ultrasound. Research is ongoing to learn how widespread it is in the breed, as well as treatment.
- Myopathy: Myopathy affects the muscles and nervous system. The first signs are seen early, as young as six weeks and often by seven months of age. A puppy with myopathy is tired, stiff when he walks and trots. He may collapse after exercise. In time, the muscles atrophy and the dog can barely stand or walk. There is no treatment, but rest and keeping the dog warm seems to reduce symptoms. Dogs with myopathy should not be bred because it is considered a heritable disease.
- Gastric Dilataion-Volvulus: Commonly called bloat, this is a life-threatening condition that affects large, deep-chested dogs like Labs, especially if they’re fed one large meal a day, eat rapidly, or drink large amounts of water or exercise vigorously after eating. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. The dog is unable to belch or vomit to rid themselves of the excess air in their stomach, and blood flow to the heart is impeded. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen, is drooling excessively, and retching without throwing up. Theyalso may be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. If you notice these symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
- Acute Moist Dermatitis: Acute moist dermatitis is a skin condition in which the skin red and inflamed. It is caused by a bacterial infection. The more common name of this health concern is hot spots. Treatment includes clipping the hair, bathing in medicated shampoo, and antibiotics.
- Cold Tail: Cold tail is a benign, though painful condition common to Labs and other retrievers. It also causes a limber tail, which causes the dog’s tail to go limp. The dog may bite at the tail. It isn’t cause for alarm and usually goes away on its own in a few days. It is thought to be a problem with the muscles between the vertebrae in the tail.
- Ear Infections: The Lab’s love of water, combined with their drop ear, makes them prone to ear infections. Weekly checking and cleaning, if necessary, helps prevent infection.
- Atopic dermatitis: Atopic dermatitis (AD) — often simply referred to as atopy — is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in dogs. Similar to eczema in humans, it is one of the most prevalent allergic skin conditions, affecting approximately 10-15% of the canine population. The condition is usually triggered by an overreaction of the dog’s immune system to environmental allergens, which can include pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and even certain foods. These allergens typically penetrate the skin barrier and initiate an immune response that leads to inflammation, itching, and other clinical signs.
- Abscesses in dogs: An abscess in dogs is a localized pocket of pus that forms due to infection, typically caused by bacteria. It occurs when the body responds to infection by isolating the bacteria and surrounding tissues, creating a collection of pus. Abscesses are often painful, swollen, and warm to the touch.
The lovable Lab needs to be around their family and is not a backyard dog. If they’re left alone for too long, they’ll probably tarnish their saintly reputation: A lonely, bored Lab is apt to dig, chew, or find other destructive outlets for their energy. Labs show some variation in their activity levels, but all of them need activity, both physical and mental. Daily 30-minute walks, a romp at the dog park, or a game of fetch are a few ways to help your Lab burn off energy. However, a puppy should not be taken for too long walks and should play for a few minutes at a time. Labrador Retrievers are considered “workaholics,” and will exhaust themselves. It is up to you to end play and training sessions. Labs have such good reputations that some owners think they don’t need training. That’s a big mistake. Without training, a rambunctious Lab puppy will soon grow to be a very large, rowdy dog. Luckily, Labs take to training well; in fact, they often excel in obedience competitions. Start with puppy kindergarten, which not only teaches your pup good canine manners but helps them learn how to be comfortable around other dogs and people. Look for a class that uses positive training methods that reward the dog for getting it right, rather than punishing them for getting it wrong. You’ll need to take special care if you’re raising a Lab puppy. Don’t let your Lab puppy run and play on very hard surfaces such as pavement until they’re at least two years old and their joints are fully formed. Normal play on grass is fine, as is puppy agility, with its one-inch jumps. Like all retrievers, the Lab is mouthy, and they’re happiest when they have something, anything, to carry in their mouth. They’re also a chewer, so be sure to keep sturdy toys available all the time–unless you want your couch chewed up. And when you leave the house, it’s wise to keep your Lab in a crate or kennel so they can’t get themselves into trouble chewing things they shouldn’t.