Labrador Retriever

Breed History

Labrador Retrievers are a gun dog breed that was bred from Canadian fishing dogs found in the Labrador Territory, northwest of Newfoundland, and in Newfoundland itself. These ancestors of today’s Labrador were also known as St. John’s Water dogs, after the capital of Newfoundland.

Known for their impressive water skills, this breed became popular among sailors and was brought to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century, where they were bred with British hunting dogs to create what is now known as the Labrador Retriever.

Labrador Retrievers have coats that may be of different colors, including black, yellow, or chocolate brown.

Labrador Retrievers are easy-going, friendly, and loyal dogs. They make excellent family pets and are also a popular option for service dogs. Learn more about the best dog breeds for families with children here.

The Different Types of Labradors and Labrador Mixes

Labrador crossbreeds run the gamut. In fact, there are more than 20 Labrador crossbreeds, including:

• Corgidor
• Dalmador
• Labradoodle
• Australian labradoodle
• Mini labradoodle
• Boxador
• Labraheeler
• Mastador
• Aussidor
• Labradane
• Goldador
• Pitador
• Huskador
• Spanador
• German Sheprador
• Springdor
• Labmaraner
• Labraheeler
• Boxador
• Pyrador
• Bassador
• Beagador
• Borador
• Cavador
• Dachsador

Owning a Labrador Retriever: 3 Pros and Cons

Size and Weight

Labrador Retrievers are a medium-sized dog breed. Male Labrador Retrievers are slightly larger than females. A male Labrador is between 22.5 and 24.5 inches tall and weighs between 65 and 80 pounds. Females are between 21.5 and 23.5 inches tall and weigh between 55 and 70 pounds. Three-month-old puppies weigh between 21 and 29 pounds. At six months, a puppy will weigh between 40 and 54 pounds. Labrador Retrievers will be fully grown between the ages of 16 and 19 months.

Common Health Issues

If you will be bringing home a Labrador Retriever, it is important to be aware of some of the more common health issues that impact this breed. Overall, they are a healthy breed, but there are still a few conditions you will want to be on the lookout for.

One condition that can affect Labrador Retrievers is hip dysplasia. This is an inherited condition where a dog’s thighbone does not fit correctly into the hip joint. Over time, this can be painful and may cause a dog to limp.

Another condition that Labrador Retrievers may develop is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. The retina of dogs with this condition will slowly deteriorate until the dog completely loses their vision. Night blindness occurs before daytime blindness.

Some Labrador Retrievers may also suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy is a seizure disorder. Seizures in a dog may look different from those in humans; you may notice your dog exhibiting very strange behavior like staggering, hiding, or running around. If you believe your dog has had a seizure, you should bring them to the vet immediately.

To review, some of the major health concerns that Labrador Retrievers may face include:

• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Epilepsy

Temperament and Behavior

Labrador Retrievers are very friendly dogs. They have very even-tempered personalities, which makes them great family dogs. Labrador Retrievers are also very active and playful dogs. When they are still puppies, they are even more active and energetic.

Unlike some other dog breeds that are more suspicious of strangers, most Labrador Retrievers are generally friendly and trusting of strangers. Their traits and personality do not make them the best choice for a guard dog.

How to Take Care of a Labrador Retriever

Since every dog breed is different, caring for a Labrador Retriever will be different from caring for other dog breeds. You will want to think about the specific health concerns, nutritional needs, and activity needs of Labrador Retrievers when creating your care plan.

The Best Dog Food for Labrador Retrievers

When you are selecting food for your adult or puppy Labrador Retriever, it is always important to choose quality dog food from a reputable company. You may also choose to prepare a homemade diet for your dog. If you do this, consult with a veterinarian to ensure you are providing your dog with all the vitamins and nutrients it needs.

Some Labrador Retrievers face problems with obesity, so you will want to closely monitor their food consumption and make sure you are feeding them the appropriate amount. The right amount of food will vary for different dogs based on their activity level, age, health concerns, and other facts. You can always check with the vet, but in general Labrador Retrievers should eat between 2.5 to 3 cups of food each day, broken into two meals.

Labrador Retriever puppies will grow very quickly, especially between the ages of four and seven months. If they aren’t fed the right type of food, it may make them more susceptible to different bone disorders. Choose a lower-calorie puppy food for your puppy for this reason. Two-month-old puppies should eat between 7 and 9 ounces of food, split into four meals. Three-month-old puppies should eat between 9 and 11 ounces of food split into three meals, and six-month-old puppies should eat between 12 and 16 ounces of food split into 2 meals.

Maintenance and Grooming

Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom. However, they do shed a good amount, so you will want to be sure to brush your dog regularly. It will also be important to bathe your Labrador Retriever about once every two months. This will help their coat look nice and will prevent them from starting to smell.

In addition to brushing your dog and giving him baths, you will also need to brush their teeth a few times a week to get rid of bacteria and tartar. Their nails should also be trimmed a few times a month to prevent them from getting too long and becoming uncomfortable.

Retriever Training

Even though they have a very even-tempered personality, it will still be important to train your Labrador Retriever. However, doing so should be relatively easy since Labrador Retrievers are very eager to please their owners. When choosing a training method or looking for an obedience class for your Labrador Retriever, be sure to choose one that uses positive reinforcement. Your lab will respond much better to this type of training.

Retriever Exercise

Labrador Retrievers are very active dogs. Making sure your dog gets regular exercise will be very important. They are a type of gun dog that was bred to assist with physically demanding tasks; if they are not being used as a working dog, you will want to make sure your dog gets at least half an hour to an hour of exercise every day.

If Labrador Retrievers’ exercise needs aren’t met, they may become destructive due to all of their excess energy. Lack of exercise can also cause a lab to bark excessively.

Retriever Puppies

If you are bringing a Labrador Retriever puppy home, there are a few things you will want to prepare first. Labrador puppies can be very playful and may ‘play’ with your belongings if they are left within reach. Before you bring home your new puppy, be sure to puppy-proof your home and move anything that could be hazardous or that you wouldn’t want to see destroyed.

Be prepared to give your new puppy daily exercise. Labrador puppies will need to be able to run around inside or outside and should accompany you for some shorter walks. Just be cautioned that Labrador Retrievers have a reputation for being workaholics, so they can push themselves to the point of exhaustion.

It will also be important to begin training your new puppy pretty much as soon as you bring them home. You can look for a puppy training class to help your dog learn commands and how to act around other people and dogs. Labrador Retrievers respond best to positive reinforcement training programs.

Labrador Retrievers and Children

If you’re looking for a dog breed that does well with children, a Labrador Retriever is an excellent choice. This breed is very friendly and outgoing. They enjoy playing with children and can be very tolerant with younger kids. As with all other dog breeds, it is still always a good idea to supervise children when they are with a lab.

Dogs similar to the Labrador Retriever

Curly-Coated Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and German Shorthaired Pointers are three dog breeds that share some similarities with Labrador Retrievers.

• Curly-Coated Retriever: Curly-Coated Retrievers are also gun dogs, like the Labrador Retriever. Both of these breeds are about the same size, with the average weight for a male Labrador Retriever being 67.5 pounds and the average weight for a male Curly-Coated Retriever being 72.5 pounds. Labrador Retrievers are more intelligent and more sensitive than Curly-Coated Retrievers, though.
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever: A Chesapeake Bay Retriever is another gun dog. Both dog breeds can have similar coloring and have a waterproof coat. Chesapeake Bay Retrievers can be more stubborn and harder to train than Labrador Retrievers.
• German Shorthaired Pointer: The German Shorthaired Pointer and Labrador Retriever are both gun dogs with a very affectionate personality. They are both also very easy to train and love to play. Labrador Retrievers have a greater need for social interaction and are less likely to roam away.

Famous Labrador Retrievers

As one of the most popular breeds with the American Kennel Club, currently ranked second after the French Bulldog, it only makes sense that Labrador Retrievers are popular with celebrities as well. Here are a few famous Labrador Retrievers:

• Buddy: Bill Clinton’s Chocolate Lab
• Bubba: Minnie Driver’s Black Lab
• Rex: Sarah McLachlan’s Black Lab
• Holden: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Black Lab