Do Labrador Retrievers Make Good House Pets? Everything To Know About Their Temperament

Labrador retrievers are one of the most beloved breeds in the world. This is mainly because they are loyal, child-friendly, and highly intelligent. Thus, many families may have them in their homes as pets.

If you want to welcome a Labrador retriever into your family, you should be aware of their temperament, as this plays a crucial role in how they interact with your family. This blog post will explore everything you need about their character.

Labrador Retrievers and Their Characteristics

Labrador retrievers come in three distinct colors, black, yellow, and chocolate. They usually weigh between 55-80 pounds, with males being larger than females on average.

When standing, Labradors are about 21-24 inches in height. And unlike other breeds, labs reach full maturity quickly, usually between 12-15 months old. This makes training them relatively easy.

The most notable characteristic of Labradors is their intelligence. They’re incredibly clever animals who pick up commands quickly during training sessions or outdoor playtime activities. They love people and enjoy playing games and spending time outdoors with their owners. 

Temperament

Labrador retrievers are well-behaved but don’t always understand boundaries set by humans. They need firm yet gentle guidance while learning commands. So, practice patience when teaching the pups.

Some may exhibit more stubbornness than others; in such cases, you must be gentle and repeat the process. You must understand that dog breeds have different attitudes, but Lab retrievers display friendliness and enthusiasm. 

Why Should You Get a Labrador for Your Family? 

Labrador retrievers make great companions as they are beautiful, friendly, curious, joyful, and playful. And the best part is they adapt well to changing environments. So why should you get a Lab for your family?

Easy to train

Labradors are as easy to train as they excel in obedience tasks. This is attributed to their intelligent nature and a strong desire to please their owners. This makes it easy to teach them basic and complex skills.

And like every other dog breed, you must practice patience and consistency to see good results. 

They Are Sociable

Labradors are very friendly and love being around people and other animals. As such, they don’t do well when left alone for long periods. They must be around their owners and friends to stay happy and healthy. Labrador retrievers are perfect pets for families who want an active dog that loves spending time with everyone.

Their friendly nature disqualifies them from being guard dogs as they are close even to strangers.

Good With Children

This breed was specifically bred to interact closely with humans because they exhibit natural attraction to young ones. They especially enjoy playing chasing games and having cuddles.

If you watch them closely, you will find that Labradors have a high level of patience for kids’ behavior. Therefore, you never have to worry about your Lab being aggressive toward your young ones. However, it would help if you always supervised playtime to avoid accidents.

Loving and Affectionate Breed

Labradors are incredibly loving towards their human companions, and you will often find them seeking cuddles and hugs.

According to AKC, the Labrador retriever gets full marks for being a loving and affectionate dog breed. Thus, many people incorporated them into their families.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a pup that will shower you with affection on demand, look no further than the Labrador retriever.

Good With Other Pets  

Besides being good to kids and their owners, Labs get along with other dog breeds and household pets. This makes them excellent playmates and ensures that you won’t break up fights in the house.

Therefore, if you own other pets, you don’t have to worry about keeping them apart. Just make sure to introduce them before leaving them together.

Note that the introduction process will take time.

Excellent Swimmers

Labrador retrievers were initially bred to fetch waterfowl. So you can be sure that Labs are excellent swimmers.

They don’t need to be left behind on beach days, as they can make your day more fun. Your kids can play fetch or swim with your furry baby.

Soft Bite

Labrador retrievers were bred to bring back waterfowls intact. Therefore, their bite is not sharp enough to cause any damage. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about them hurting your kids during play as they have a soft bite.

Healthy and Have a Long Lifespan

The Labrador retriever is a healthy dog breed that can live up to 12 years. And if they don’t get ill and have a well-balanced diet, exercise, and visit the veterinarian as scheduled, they can live for 17 years.

Because of their energetic and playful nature, Labradors do not accumulate fats fast, translating to a longer lifespan.

What Are The Cons of Owning a Labrador Retriever?  

Despite their magnificent nature, the Labrador retriever has a handful of drawbacks that makes them challenging for owners.

Shed A lot

Labrador retrievers are not hypoallergenic, meaning their fur-shedding level is high. They have a double coat, and to keep them looking neat, you must do a lot of brushing.

Not only does brushing prevent excessive shedding, but it also helps control odor. Therefore, you must invest in a high-quality swifter pad and vacuum cleaner. And the downside is you can have a Labrador retriever if anybody in your family has allergies.

Highly Energetic

Labrador retrievers possess high energy levels and thus require lots of physical activity to combat boredom. This means you need lots of space, such as a backyard, to play fetch. You can also go hunting, swimming, or other physical sports.

For this reason, you must be very active and always have someone at home who will keep your Lab engaged. And if you live in a small apartment, it may not be a conducive environment for your Labrador retriever.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying A Labrador Retriever for Your Family 

• Buy from reputable breeders. This ensures the puppies have proper health checkups and vaccinations before being sent to their new homes.
• Research the color of the Labrador you want, yellow, black, or chocolate.
• Labrador retrievers are highly active, so ensure that you also have an active lifestyle to provide your Lab with plenty of playtime and exercise, at least 2 hours daily.
• You must socialize and train your Lab puppies.
• Familiarize yourself with the common Labrador retriever ailments. These include hip dysplasia.
• Labrador retrievers are highly intelligent.