Labrador Retriever

active / friendly / outgoing

Sporting Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

22.5-24.5 inches (male)

21.5-23.5 inches (female)

Weight

65-80 pounds (male)

55-70 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

11-13 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
100% 100%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
80% 80%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
40% 40%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
100% 100%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
100% 100%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
100% 100%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
100% 100%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

Independent Lovey-Dovey
100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

Not Recommended Good With Children
100% 100%

A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
100% 100%

How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

No Shedding Hair Everywhere
80% 80%

How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

Monthly Daily
40% 40%

How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
40% 40%

How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded

Curly

Double

Hairless

Rough

Silky

Smooth

Wavy

Wiry

Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long

Medium

Short

How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
100% 100%

How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
100% 100%

How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
60% 60%

A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
100% 100%

How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

Self-Willed Eager to Please
100% 100%

How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

Couch Potato High Energy
100% 100%

The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

Only To Alert Very Vocal
60% 60%

How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
100% 100%

How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. Labs are sociable, gregarious, and high-spirited companions with plenty of devotion for a family searching for a medium-to-large dog. The robust, well-balanced Labrador Retriever can stand between 21.5 and 24.5 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, depending on the sex. The dense, durable coat is available in yellow, black, and decadent chocolate. The head is broad, the eyes are kind, and the strong, tapering ‘otter tail’ seems to convey the breed’s intrinsic desire. Labs are well known for their friendliness. They are sociable housemates who bond with the entire family and socialize well with both neighbor dogs and humans.

But don’t mistake his laid-back demeanor for a lack of energy: the Lab is a passionate athlete who needs loads of activity, such as swimming and marathon fetch games, to stay physically and mentally fit.

What To Expect When Caring For a Labrador Retriever

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Labrador retrievers are generally healthy dogs, and a responsible breeder screens breeding stock for problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia, heart disorders, hereditary myopathy (muscle weakness), and eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy. In some young adult Labs, a condition known as exercise-induced collapse (EIC) can emerge; a DNA test allows breeders to identify carriers and arrange breedings to avoid creating the disease. Labs, like other large, deep-chested dogs, can develop bloat, a potentially fatal stomach ailment. Owners should educate themselves on the symptoms of this condition and what to do if it occurs.

Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:

Hip Evaluation
Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) DNA Test
Elbow Evaluation
Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

The Lab has a thick, water-repellant double coat that sheds. Give occasional baths to keep them clean. As with all breeds, the Lab's nails should be trimmed regularly and his teeth brushed frequently.

Exercise

The Labrador Retriever is an exuberant, lively breed that requires daily activity. A Lab that does not get enough exercise is more prone to become hyperactive and/or disruptive in order to release pent-up energy. Retrieving and swimming are two of the breed's favorite activities. Labs also like burning off energy while hunting or competing in field trials, as well as participating in canine sports such as agility, obedience, tracking, and dock diving. Many Labs also work hard in critical positions such as search and rescue, narcotics and explosives detection, and service and assistance dogs.

Training

Early socialization and puppy training programs are essential because of the Lab's physical strength and high energy level. Between the ages of 7 weeks and 4 months, gradually introducing the puppy to a wide range of people, places, and situations, as well as commencing obedience training early on, will help him mature into a well-adjusted, well-mannered adult. Puppy training programs assist the owner learn to spot and fix any undesirable habits that may be developing as part of the socializing process. Labrador retrievers are loyal, clever, and energetic companions that must be included in family activities.

Nutrition

The Labrador Retriever should thrive on high-quality dog food, whether purchased commercially or cooked at home with your veterinarian's supervision and consent. Any diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to becoming overweight, so keep an eye on your dog's calorie intake and weight level. Treats can be a valuable training aid, but feeding too much can lead to obesity. Discover which human foods are suitable for dogs and which are not. If you have any concerns regarding your dog's weight or diet, consult with your veterinarian. At all times, clean, fresh water should be available.

History

The Labrador Retriever is Newfoundland’s traditional waterdog, historically used as a duck retriever and fisherman’s partner. The breed’s slow rise to supremacy began in the early 1800s when English nobility visiting Canada discovered Labs. These athletic earls and lords returned to England with beautiful specimens of “Labrador dogs.” (It’s unclear how these Newfoundland dogs became associated with Labrador, but the name remained.) During the latter half of the nineteenth century, British breeders developed and standardized the breed.

The physical and temperamental breed characteristics that are so known to millions of fans worldwide today remember the Lab’s original purpose. Longhaired retrievers would be encrusted with ice after coming out of the lake during a Canadian winter, therefore a short, dense, weather-resistant coat was favored. A Lab would be assigned to a fishing boat in its ancient region to recover fish from the trawl. As a result, in addition to inherent retriever instincts, the dog required a coat suitable for the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.

The Lab’s thick, tapering tail, known as an “otter tail,” acts as a powerful rudder, constantly swinging back and forth as the dog swims and assisting the dog in turning. The breed’s distinctive disposition is as much a feature of the breed as the otter tail. “The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and nonaggressive towards man or animal,” according to the breed standard. “The Labrador has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence, and adaptability make him an ideal dog.” When identifying a Lab’s major characteristics, temperament may be the most significant because its utility is determined by its disposition. “If a dog lacks real breed temperament,” wrote a well-known dog judge, “he is not a Labrador.”