Labrador Retriever Dog Breed Information
The Labrador Retriever dog breed is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the U.S. for good reason - these energetic, friendly pups are outgoing and love to socialize with people and dogs. Labrador Retrievers - often called Labs for short - are also highly trainable and energetic and make excellent search and rescue dogs, guide dogs for visually impaired people, therapy dogs, family pets, and more. These sporting dogs enjoy staying active and are great running partners and companions for people who love to do outdoor activities.
Labrador Retriever Dog Breed Rundown
Height: 22.5 to 24.5 inches (males), 21.5 to 23.5 inches (females)
Weight: 65 to 80 lbs. (males), 55 to 70 lbs. (females)
Lifespan: 11 to 13 years
Origin: Canada
Personality: The Labrador Retriever dog breed is friendly and active and loves to stay busy. These sporting dogs have a high energy level and do well with owners who enjoy outdoor activities. Labs make excellent family pets as they are very sociable with people and dogs.
Labrador Retriever Appearance
Labradors are medium to large dogs with sturdy, athletic builds. The Labrador Retriever dog breed has a solid, wide head with large, kind eyes, short fur, and a thick, tapered tail. Their coat is dense and short and comes in black, yellow, or chocolate hues. The Labrador was bred for water and has thick, coarse outer fur and soft underfur that protects against cold, water, and harsh weather. Their double coat leads to a lot of shedding but regular brushing and baths will help reduce shedding.
Labrador Retriever History
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Labradors originated from the Canadian province of Newfoundland. They are descended from St. John’s Dogs, which were fishermen’s dogs used for water-related activities including hauling nets and long lines, diving for fish, and retrieving. British sailors fell in love with the dogs and brought them back to England, where they crossed them with hunting dogs to create what we now know as the Labrador Retriever dog breed.
In the 1880s in England, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, and the 12th Earl of Home worked together to develop and establish the Labrador Retriever dog breed. The Kennel Club in the UK recognized the breed in 1903 and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1917.
Labrador Retrievers have ranked as the most popular breed of dog in the U.S. since 1991, according to the American Kennel Club. (Although they were overtaken by French Bulldogs for the number one spot in 2022, Labs remain one of the most popular breeds. These friendly pups are versatile and make excellent family dogs.
Labrador Personality
Photo by Andrew Kitchen.
Labradors have athletic, enthusiastic personalities. These playful pups are famously friendly and love all people and other dogs, making them great family pets. However, they are energetic and need plenty of exercise, so keep this in mind if you are considering adopting a Labrador. As sporting dogs that were bred to retrieve waterfowl, Labradors love water and playing games of fetch. Their high activity levels and trainability make Labs ideal for obedience training and other dog sports like agility, flyball, Frisbee, rally, dock diving, and hunting.
Labs are eager to please and intelligent, and many of them excel as service dogs. They’re often used as guide dogs, in therapy work, and in search and rescue. Since they are high-energy dogs, Labradors need one to two hours of exercise a day. Labradors that don’t get enough exercise can become overweight and have health and behavioral issues. Since they are so social, most Labs love going to dog parks, which is a great way to get exercise and play with other dogs.
Training Labradors
Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz.
The Labrador Retriever dog breed is highly trainable and focused on pleasing people. They learn quickly and often excel at obedience and other dog sports. Labs are playful pups and a great reward in training can be playing with a favorite toy. Positive reinforcement with toys or treats and consistency will go a long way in training your Labrador.
These outgoing pups enjoy lots of activity and their high energy levels require plenty of exercise. If you’re training a very high-energy Lab, exercise your pup before training so she can focus during your session. Labradors are very motivated and make great candidates for advanced obedience and dog sports. You can keep your Lab active and happy by participating in dog sports such as agility or rally together.
Famous Labradors
Photo by Torsten Dederichs.
Labradors have long captured the hearts of famous people and they hold a special place as highly esteemed service dogs. One legendary Labrador was Jake, a black Lab who became an American hero after braving hot, smoking debris following the September 11, 2001 attacks in search of survivors. Jake also helped search for people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Famous Labrador Owners
Many celebrities have owned Labradors, including:
Ernest Hemmingway loved his black Lab and hunting companion, Negrita.
Former President Bill Clinton had a chocolate Lab named Buddy who lived with the Clintons in the White House.
British royals Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Charles are Labrador fans and both owned many Labs over the years.
Actress Anne Hathaway has a chocolate Lab named Esmerelda.
Pop star Dua Lipa has a black Lab named Dexter.
Actress Drew Barrymore had a heroic Labrador named Flossie who saved her life in 1998 when her house caught fire. Flossie died in 2010 at the age of 16.
Actress Reese Witherspoon has a black Lab named Major.
Actress Jennifer Anniston has a yellow Lab named Lord Chesterfield
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have a black Lab named Pula, named after the currency of Botswana, where the couple had their third date.
English football star Harry Kane has two Labradors named Brady and Wilson, named after NFL quarterbacks Tom Brady and Russell Wilson.
Labrador Retriever Health
Photo by Mitchell Orr.
The Labrador Retriever dog breed is generally a healthy one, but may be susceptible to the following health conditions:
Hip dysplasia, which includes restricted movement and pain in the hip
Elbow dysplasia, which is more common in larger dogs
Arthritis, which can include stiffness and pain in the joints, which occurs especially in older dogs and large breeds
Hypothyroidism, which affects the metabolic processes
Obesity
Progressive retinal atrophy, an inherited eye disease
Heart disease
Laryngeal paralysis, a condition where a dog's windpipe fails to open correctly when breathing in, and usually occurs in older dogs
Where to Get a Labrador
Photo by Fernando Gago.
If you’d like to adopt a Labrador Retriever, there are many rescues with purebred Labs. Since Labradors are so popular, you should be able to find Labs for adoption in your area. Here are some resources to help you:
The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. is the official AKC Parent Club for the Labrador Retriever dog breed and includes resources for adopting a Lab and health and training information.
Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue has adoptable Labs and serves Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Labrador Retriever Rescue Inc. is a Lab rescue serving Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Lab Rescue LRCP is a Labrador rescue serving Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
New York State Retriever Rescue has Labradors for adoption in the Long Island and NYC metro areas.
Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue has Labs for adoption and fostering in the San Francisco area.
Heart of Texas Lab Rescue is a Lab rescue serving Austin and San Antonio metro areas.
Petfinder has adoptable Labradors and other dogs around the country.
Hopefully these resources help you learn more about the fun-loving Labrador Retriever dog breed. If you’re planning to bring a Lab into your home, check out our 10 Tips to Prepare Before Adopting a Dog to start your new pup off on the right paw.
