Labrador Retriever
A friendly, sturdy retriever that enjoys people, food, water and having a job to do.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 56–57 cm · Females 54–56 cm
- Weight
- Males 29–36 kg · Females 25–32 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–13 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Black, Yellow, Chocolate
- Bred for
- Retrieving, Companionship, Water work, Rescue work
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 122 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with other dogs | 5/5 – Very high |
| Good with cats | 4/5 – High |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 5/5 – Very high |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 4/5 – High |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a sociable, trainable family dog
- enjoy outdoor activity and swimming
- like a short, easy-care coat
Think twice if you …
- want a small or quiet dog
- cannot manage a strong young dog
- dislike shedding
Care
Temperament
Friendly, outgoing and even-tempered. It is usually good with people and other dogs and has little guarding instinct.
Exercise
Needs at least an hour of exercise daily. Retrieving, swimming, scent work, field work and obedience are all good outlets.
Grooming
A weekly brush is enough most of the year, more during seasonal shedding. The coat sheds noticeably.
Training
Highly trainable and food-motivated. Early work on loose-lead walking, calm greetings and not scavenging is valuable.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, inherited eye disease, obesity and some inherited conditions are known in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores, eye results and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- PRA (prcd)
- CNM
- EIC
- HNPK
- SD2
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Labrador Retriever descends from water dogs used by fishermen in Newfoundland. In the 19th century British sportsmen brought them to Britain and refined them into the retriever we know today.
It is one of the most popular dogs in the world and is widely used as a guide, assistance and detection dog. At home it is usually friendly and adaptable, but young Labradors are strong, energetic and can be chaotic without training. It loves food and gains weight easily. Show and working lines differ somewhat in build and energy.
Did you know?
Labradors descend from the St John's water dog of Newfoundland, not from the Labrador region itself.