Labrador Retriever

Canis lupus

Last updated: February 12, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© iStock.com/lizcen

Well-balanced, friendly and versatile!


Advertisement


Labrador Retriever Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Labrador Retriever Conservation Status

Labrador Retriever Locations

Labrador Retriever Locations

Labrador Retriever Facts

Diet
Omnivore
Common Name
Labrador Retriever
Slogan
Well-balanced, friendly and versatile!
Group
Gun Dog

Labrador Retriever Physical Characteristics

Skin Type
Hair
Lifespan
15 years
Weight
34kg (75lbs)

Labrador Retriever as a Pet:

General Health
Energy Level
Shedability
Trainability
Intelligence
Tendency to Chew
Size
Family and kid friendliness
Yappiness / Barking
Moderate
Separation Anxiety
High
Preferred Temperature
Average climate
Exercise Needs
Moderate
Friendly With Other Dogs
High
Pure bred cost to own
$300 to $1,000+
Dog group
Sporting
Male weight
65-80 lbs
Female weight
55-70 lbs

This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.

View all of the Labrador Retriever images!



Share on:

Breed History

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

See all of our expert product reviews.

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

Only The Top 1% Can Ace our Animal Quizzes

Think You Can?

Labrador Retrievers have coats that may be of different colors, including black, yellow, or chocolate brown. The scientific name of the Labrador Retriever is Canis lupus familiaris.

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:

Owning a Labrador Retriever: 3 Pros and Cons

Pros!Cons!
Friendly: Labrador Retrievers are a very friendly and loving dog.High Exercise Need: Labrador Retrievers are an active breed. They will need regular exercise every day.
Kid-Friendly: This breed makes a wonderful family dog. They are gentle, very tolerant with kids, and love to play.Kid-Friendly: This breed makes a wonderful family dog. They are gentle, very tolerant with kids, and love to play.
Easy to Groom: Labrador Retrievers have short hair, and their coat is easy to maintain.Shedding can be a problem: These dogs sheds extensively twice a year and you need to brush them regularly to keep on top of this.
Labrador Retriever (Canis familiaris) - black lab with ball in water

©everydoghasastory/Shutterstock.com

Health and Entertainment for your Labrador Retriever

See all of our expert product reviews.

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.

MaleFemale
Height24.5 inches23.5 inches
Weight80 pounds70 pounds

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.

Dog Park Series - Lab with Woman

Generally trusting and friendly, Labs do not usually make good guard dogs.

©4 PM production/Shutterstock.com

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 want to choose to put together a homemade diet for your dog. If you do this you will want to consult with the veterinarian to make sure you are providing your dog with all the vitamins and nutrients they need.

Luckily for Labrador Retriever owners, Royal Canin has Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult Breed Specific Dry Dog Food.

This dog food just for labs enriches your Labrador Retriever’s diet with DHA, EPA, and glucosamine for pain-free joints that stay active. The balanced calorie, protein and fat content will keep Labrador Retrievers full so their weight stays balanced, too.

A hungry yellow Labrador retriever holding an empty bowl in its mouth

Dog food is food specifically formulated and intended for consumption by dogs and other related canines.

©Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock.com

Pick up Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Dog Food by following the link below. Also, have a look at our page with the complete reviews of the best food for Labrador Retrievers here.

Overall Best
Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Labrador Retriever
  • Meet the nutritional needs of purebred Labrador Retrievers
  • Support bone and joint health with EPA, DHA, and glucosamine
  • Exclusive donut-shaped kibble encourage the dog to chew and eat food slowly
  • Precise calorie and fat content for labs
Check Chewy Check Amazon

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.

Mom Labrador retriever and puppies

Labrador Retriever puppies can be very playful.

©iStock.com/Suzana Dreno

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 Retriever (Canis familiaris) - brown labrador puppy

©Gordon Mackinnon/Shutterstock.com

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 Labrador Retriever

Curly-Coated Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and American Water Spaniels are three dog breeds that share some similarities with Labrador Retrievers.

Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are both very intelligent, playful, and energetic dogs. Both breeds can make a great addition to a family and do well with kids. Both breeds are around the same height (between 22 and 24 inches) and have long tails, folder ears, and webbed feet. They both also enjoy the water and swimming.

There are a few key differences between the two dog breeds, though. Golden Retrievers have a longer snout. Their coats are also water-repellent and may be wavy. Labrador Retrievers have a water-resistant coat with a medium muzzle, that isn’t tapered like that of a Golden Retriever. They are also more muscular.

Golden Retrievers, as their name implies are golden. They can be found in different shades of gold, from more of a blonde to gold with a hint of red. Labrador Retrievers come in three different colors: yellow, black, or chocolate.

There is also Labrador/Golden Retrievers mix breed. This mix shares characteristics with both Labs and Goldens; they are loving, loyal, and energetic. Getting a Labrador/Golden Retriever mix, known as a Goldador, allows you to enjoy some of the best things about each individual breed.

Famous Labrador Retrievers

As the most popular breed with the American Kennel Club, 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

While the scientific name for a Labrador Retriever is Canis Lupus Familiaris, that’s probably not what you want to call your lab. Below are some popular names for Labrador Retrievers.

  • Buddy
  • Blu
  • Guinness
  • Diesel
  • Buster
  • Molly
  • Sadie
  • Coco
  • Bella
  • Luna

View all 98 animals that start with L

Share on:
What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?
About the Author

Melissa Bauernfeind was born in NYC and got her degree in Journalism from Boston University. She lived in San Diego for 10 years and is now back in NYC. She loves adventure and traveling the world with her husband but always misses her favorite little man, "P", half Chihuahua/half Jack Russell, all trouble. She got dive-certified so she could dive with the Great White Sharks someday and is hoping to swim with the Orcas as well.

Labrador Retriever FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How much does Labrador Retriever cost to own?

If you purchase a Labrador Retriever from a breed it will likely cost between $300 and $1,000, however, the cost could be higher if you are looking for a field-trial dog or a show dog. Adopting a Labrador Retriever from a shelter or a rescue organization will be cheaper and will probably cost a few hundred dollars to cover application fees and vaccinations.

In addition to the money you spend to bring home a Labrador Retriever, you should also budget for all the other expenses that are associated with owning a dog. These include medical bills, training, food, toys, and other supplies. Your first year owning the dog will be the most expensive and could cost $1,000 or more. Each year after that, you should still budget between $500 and $1,000 for expenses.

Is a Labrador Retriever good with kids?

Yes, Labrador Retrievers are very good with kids. They are friendly, loving, and enjoying playing. They are also very even-tempered and can make a great companion for a child.

How long does Labrador Retriever live?

The average life expectancy for a Labrador Retriever is between 10 and 12 years.

What are Labrador Retrievers known for?

Labrador Retrievers are known for their very friendly and outgoing personality. This breed does well with children and is even friendly with most strangers. Labrador Retrievers are also known for their yellow, black, or chocolate coats.

What color lab is the best?

Even though many people associate yellow labs with being a service dog, black labs with being a working dog, and chocolate labs with being a family dog, the truth is Labrador Retrievers of all colors are great pets and wonderful companions. All three Labrador Retrievers share the same scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris.

How big do Labrador Retrievers get?

Labrador Retrievers are a medium-sized dog breed. Males typically weigh between 65 and 80 pounds and are between 22.5 and 24.5 inches tall. Females weigh between 55 and 70 pounds and are between 21.5 and 23.5 inches tall.

Are Labrador Retrievers herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

Labrador Retrievers are Omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and other animals.

What Kingdom do Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the class Mammalia.

What phylum to Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the phylum Chordata.

What family do Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the family Canidae.

What order do Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the order Carnivora.

What genus do Labrador Retrievers belong to?

Labrador Retrievers belong to the genus Canis.

What type of covering do Labrador Retrievers have?

Labrador Retrievers are covered in Hair.

What is an interesting fact about Labrador Retrievers?

Labrador Retrievers are well-balanced, friendly, and versatile!

What is the scientific name for the Labrador Retriever?

The scientific name for the Labrador Retriever is Canis lupus.

How long do black Labradors live?

The average lifespan for a black labrador retriever is 10-12 years.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  5. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. American Kennel Club, Available here: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
  7. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever#:~:text=The%20Labrador%20breed%20dates%20back,known%20as%20the%20Labrador%20Retriever.
  8. Labrador Retriever Club, Available here: https://thelabradorclub.com/about-the-breed/
  9. The Labrador Site, Available here: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/which-labrador-colour/
  10. The Dog People, Available here: https://www.rover.com/blog/labrador-retriever-vs-golden-retrievers/
  11. AKC, Available here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/8-facts-about-labrador-retrievers/
  12. AKC, Available here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever-history-behind-the-breed/

Newly Added Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.

Most Recently Updated Animals

A Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt Blue Tarantula

Cobalt blue tarantulas spend most of their time in self-dug burrows and only emerge when it's time to eat

A Dried Fruit Moth
Dried Fruit Moth

In the event of adverse environmental conditions, dried fruit moth larvae will become dormant and stop developing.