The Labrador Retriever is a friendly, hard-working dog that makes a perfect companion for any family. This breed was originally bred to help fishermen with their sailing work in the North Atlantic sea. Modern-day Labrador Retrievers retain their ancestor’s strong athletic ability and tendency towards hard work. This breed is also strongly built and packed with unrivaled energy. Some of their favorite activities include hiking, swimming, and running.
Along with their energetic nature, Labradors have gained the reputation for being one of the most peaceful and calm dog breeds. Labs are people-oriented. They thrive when surrounded by their family members, and seem to know where to draw the line. Their loving nature and people skills help them get along with strangers, including other dogs. As such, it’s not uncommon for Labs to work as therapy and search-and-rescue dogs.
Despite their medium build, Labs are sweet-natured and calm, even in times of stress. That’s what makes them the perfect furry friend for many dog owners. You may think the Labrador Retriever is the best breed in the world, but there are a couple of things that you should know about these beautiful dogs. A Lab’s versatility and need for friendship require a lot of attention from an owner.
On this blog, we’ll explore everything that makes the Labrador Retriever a special dog for everyone!
Size
Male Labrador Retrievers typically grow up to 22.5 to 24.5 inches tall and weigh 65 to 80 pounds. Female Labrador Retrievers reach 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall and weigh around 55 to 70 pounds.
Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is moderate… in every sense of the word. It is medium-sized, strongly built, and are squared-shaped. This breed has a strong jaw, broad shoulders, and firm legs that help it perform any rigorous activity, whether it’s swimming or running. A Lab’s coat is generally short, dense, and weather-resistant, which protects it from severe weather conditions. The Labrador Retriever is a powerful, hard-working breed that contains style, courage, and energy.
Temperament
The Labrador Retriever is a dog that’s highly deserving of its popularity. The Lab is very sweet-natured, calm, and friendly—so much so that it often warms up to new guests quickly. Labs are known for being especially friendly with other animals. Their sociable, eager-to-please personality makes them incredibly easy to train. Because of their outgoing nature, we recommend training your Labrador Retriever early on so that they learn to control their pent-up energy. Labs also need lots of activity to be happy and healthy. Even calm Labs thrive with sufficient activity.
Exercise Level
Labrador Retrievers need some form of exercise to be happy. This includes physical and mental exercises like daily walks, playtime at the dog park, fetch, or a long session of quick sprints. If your Lab is a puppy, make sure you break exercise time into short sessions. Most Labs are hard-working dogs so they have no concept of relaxation or boundaries when it comes to activities. You need to stop them before they exhaust themselves.
Grooming
Labrador Retrievers have a coat that’s very easy to maintain. The coat contains two distinct layers: a topcoat that’s short and thick and an undercoat that’s soft and resistant to weather. Typical coat colors are chocolate, black, and yellow. While the Lab’s grooming needs are relatively easy, their coat does shed a lot of hair. Make sure to regularly groom your Lab and have a vacuum cleaner ready to clean up all those loose hairs. We don’t recommend bathing your Lab too often; a bath every 2 to 3 months is enough.
Training
Labradors are extremely intelligent, which helps them be highly trainable. It’s important to train your Labrador Retriever as a puppy. Even if your Lab displays calm, obedient behaviors as a youngster, they may not grow into the well-behaved dog you think they will. Labs take training very well. They enjoy obedience training and thrive with positive reinforcement. Make sure that you socialize your Lab at an early age so that they grow accustomed to being around other people and new situations.
Other Things to Consider
The Labrador Retriever is an active dog so they’ll need regular exercise, especially involving running and swimming. If you’re planning to bring a Labrador into your life, you need to ensure that you’ll be able to engage them in physical activities. Also, make sure to fence out any pools in your home. Labs love to swim so they may jump in if you aren’t careful. You’ll also need to brush their fur weekly and avoid letting your Lab puppy run on hard surfaces. Labs usually have weak joints that may not be fully developed until they reach two years of age. Labs are natural chewers, especially in their puppy years, so it’s a good idea to give them chew toys whenever possible.
Labrador Retrievers are an amazing dog breed and make great friends with owners who are ready to meet their needs. After you meet the right Lab, we guarantee you’ll have a fur-ever friend that will be by your side for as long as you live!
