Labrador Retriever - Breed Facts & Characteristics
There is a reason Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs worldwide. Playful and devoted, they are known for their open, enthusiastic temperaments, which you’ll soon come to adore - as long as you can stand the affection overload, that is. They are smart too. With a little patience, the Labrador breed trains well. Just keep that plate of food away from the edge of the table.
Official name: Labrador Retriever
Other names: Labrador, Lab
Origins: United Kingdom
Drooling tendencies |
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Suited to apartment living ? | ![]() |
Barking tendencies | ![]() |
Can stay alone?* | ![]() |
Energy level | ![]() |
Family pet?* | ![]() |
Compatibility with other pets | ![]() |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioural needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
All domestic pets are sociable and prefer company. However, they can be taught to cope with solitude from an early age. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or trainer to help you do this.
Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
Puppy age | 2 to 15 months |
Adult age | 15 months to 5 years |
Mature age | 5 years to 8+ years |
Senior age | From 8 years |
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Get to know the Labrador
All you need to know about the breed
Labrador Retrievers are definitely not the dog equivalent of a couch potato. Swimming, playing – did someone say, “Fetch!”? – and long walks with their favourite humans…the Labrador is up for anything and everything. Including training. Training sessions are usually a satisfying endeavour thanks to the breed’s inherent intelligence. Balanced and playful, once trained, most Labradors are really great with children. Often trained as therapy dogs, the Labrador’s character traits mean they make for superb service animals. And they have pretty good manners too.
It’s important to remember that this breed has one fairly big motivator: their appetite. This can make it challenging to maintain a Labrador at a healthy weight, perhaps more so than with other breeds. However, with a balanced, right-for-Labradors diet, plenty of exercise and a good vet, you’ll have yourself a healthy, contented dog.
Quite robust and muscular, they have powerful jaws and a large nose. Their eyes, usually brown or hazelnut-coloured, are full of softness, intelligence and devotion. When a Labrador Retriever looks at its owner, the connection is clear for all to see.
Labradors’ coats are short and thick, without waves or feathering, with a weather-resistant undercoat. You can find the breed in yellow (ranging from light cream to fox-red), brown or all-black. Their tails, often aerobically in movement, are quite thick at birth. Completely covered with dense hair, it gives the Labrador’s tail the appearance of roundness, or what is commonly called an ‘otter tail’. Good advice: when a Labrador is content to see you, don’t stand in the path of its tail!
Known for their friendly, kind temperaments, the Labrador Retriever breed is supremely adaptable to almost any living situation. As a family dog, they will somehow gather the patience to wait for the children to get home from school and excitedly head into the garden to play with them. While a Labrador will bark when it hears strange or loud noises, they don’t make great guard dogs – when well-socialised, they are quite devoid of aggressiveness, bearing no ill will towards man or their fellow pets.
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2 facts about Labrador Retrievers
1. Labs live for 2 things: playing and food
And not necessarily in that order. But that’s what training is for. There are plenty of great Labrador puppy training videos on the internet - and great trainers locally. The playing helps keep your Labrador in great shape and prevents him from getting bored. You’ve got this!
2. Staying on top of things
Labrador Retrievers can be prone to certain health concerns, from conditions like hip dysplasia (a reputable breeder will have tested the parents before mating them to help prevent the puppy from having it) to ACL tears - yes, like humans. With recommended exams, a balanced diet and check-ups, most problems can be found early.
History of the breed
There’s a reason Labrador Retrievers are so good on both land and in the water. A direct descendant of the St. John’s Water Dog, named after the capital of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, fishermen used these hard-working dogs to help retrieve their nets and fish from the icy waters of this coastal wilderness. The dogs also kept the fishermen company on what was an isolated, massive and surely inhospitable island.
However, the answer to “Where do Labradors come from?” isn’t that straightforward. The breed as we know it today is believed to have been established in Great Britain sometime in the early 1800s. Adventuring aristocrats and returning fishermen brought the Labrador’s ancestor back to England with them, where the dogs found early fame for their hardy constitutions and loyal dispositions.
The Earl of Malmesbury, a clearly forward-thinking man took notice and deduced, correctly, that the dogs were well-suited to life on the estate. A breeding program was successfully put in place and it is thanks to the Earl and some of his fellow noblemen that the Labrador Retriever breed exists today. Still as comfortable in the water as they are on land, the Labrador Retriever remains one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Labrador Retrievers
1. Ears
Floppy but not heavy ears hang down alongside the dog’s head
2. Coat
Short, dense coat over water-resistant undercoat
3. Fur
Fur that ranges from black to chocolate or yellow, from light cream to reddish
4. Tail
Set high, tail is naturally long and rarely stops wagging – and their whole body can wiggle at times.
5. Legs and spine
Well-proportioned, with good balance between leg and spine lengths.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever can be prone to obesity
They are fond of contraband when they can get it! -- but our science shows that regular exercise and a balanced diet are Labrador essentials to offset their propensity for obesity. This will also minimise joint problems such as hip or elbow dysplasia, which can lead to malformation of the hips and arthritis as well as related conditions in the elbow. Sometimes painful, dysplasia can reduce the Labradors’ mobility, requiring surgery to fix. The good news? Early detection is key to managing this condition and regular check-ups can help you and your vet stay on top of it.
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Caring for your Labrador Retriever
Grooming, training and exercise tips
The Labrador Retriever is an exuberant, energetic breed that needs lots of exercise every day. A Labrador who doesn’t get enough activity is likely to engage in hyperactive and even destructive behaviour to release their pent-up energy. The breed’s favourite activities are retrieving things, hence the name, and swimming. The Labrador can be prone to weight gain, but luckily, Labs also love to burn up energy on hunting trips or long runs. As you might have deduced, this is not a good breed for the sedentary.
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All about Labrador Retrievers
In a word, yes. They have double coats and that can mean quite a lot of shedding action for dogs like the Labrador. They shed their coats year-round, but even more in spring and winter. Staying on top of brushing – getting them used to twice a week brushing is a good idea – and grooming will help decrease the amount of dog hair clogging the vacuum each week.
Like any dog, your Labrador Retriever didn’t come into the world knowing all the rules. But they are ready and willing to learn and, with some solid lessons, you or a professional trainer can guide your Labrador puppy to understand what is expected of them. The Labrador temperament is one that innately wants to please, so they’ll pick things up relatively quickly. Early training is essential if you have children in the house, as for any breed.
Tailored nutrition for your Labrador Retriever
Read More about Breeds
How your dog's nutrition needs change with age
How to adopt a dog
Things to consider before getting a dog
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/