Labrador Retrievers are such a special breed and hold a very dear spot in our hearts, as these are the first dogs that Luke and I ever had. Labs were first bred in Newfoundland, and they have been one of the most popular AKC recognized breeds for the past 30 years. They are consistently in the top five, and often hold the number one or number two position of all AKC purebred dogs. And there’s a reason for this!
Temperament
Labs have a very unique quality in that they are extremely smart, yet also friendly and eager to please. This means they can make exceptional therapy and emotional support dogs. But don’t get me wrong, Lab puppies definitely have lots of energy and need to be able to run and play every day. It’s never too cold or too snowy for a Lab to spend at least a little time outside. Because labs are a large breed, their body will develop much quicker than their brains, which means these silly dogs will have puppy energy in an adult body around one-year-old. While they are fun and adorable, I also advise all of our new puppy owners to hold their puppy to a high standard and teach them when they are young, because they are very smart and trainable. They are very food motivated which also helps with training and their figure-it-out brains make them highly trainable. Lab puppies can be taught to sit and lay down as early as 8-9 weeks old, and with consistent potty training, Labs can be house trained within a week or two. One thing with Labs is they can have a strong desire to chew, especially the first year as they are losing their baby teeth, so it’s important to give them some great chew toys so they don’t decide to choose something else to satisfy that desire. For most Labs, the ideal day is spent playing fetch, taking a swim in a pond on a hot summer day, and hanging out on the couch with their best (human) friends.
AKC standard for Labrador retrievers
The American kennel club (AKC) sets the standard for purebred Labrador Retrievers, and this is based on years of research, and the purpose of the breed. Labs are typically 21-25” tall and weigh anywhere from 55-80lbs. Our dogs are within this range, and we really encourage other owners to keep their Labs in a healthy weight as well. Because Labs love to eat, we see Labs over 80 pounds, and I’ve heard as heavy as 120 pounds, but that is not desired or typical for a Lab, and we want them to stay in great health.There are two different styles of Labs, English and American. American Labs are considered field trial dogs and typically have higher energy and really want to “work” which means they need more time playing fetch, tracking scents, or hunting. English Labs are bred more for the show ring and family home than the American Labs. They typically are stockier with a broad head and otter tail. They aren’t quite as intense as American Labs, and while they still love to play and fetch, it’s not as high of a drive as their American counterparts.
Labrador retriever colors
This has been a hot topic for 2025, but at this point AKC still holds that there are three colors of Labrador Retrievers: black, yellow, and brown. I completely agree with this, and believe that charcoal, silver, & champagne are not purebred colors. These colors are only possible when there is a dilute gene involved, which is against AKC standards, and we do genetic testing to ensure our dogs don’t express the dilute. This is the gene that can make charcoal colored dogs, but it can also be sometimes believed to have come from Weimerainer DNA as well. Unlike silver Labs, fox red Labs are actually acceptable with AKC and are considered a purebred Lab. They are simply yellow labs that have been bred to have an extremely dark yellow, almost copper color, and the opposite of that would be the very light yellow labs, which can look almost white, but they are still yellow Labs.
Health Testing
Labrador Retrievers are generally very healthy dogs, and typically don’t have a lot of health issues, but we do test all of our dogs for hip and elbow evaluations, because we want to be improving upon the wonderful traits of the breed. We also genetic test to make sure we don’t have puppies with the dilute gene as well as other genetic conditions, like exercise-induced-collapse, progressive retinal atrophy, and centronuclear myopathy. Overall, Labs are typically healthy and live around 9-13 years.
Who would be a good fit for a Lab?
If you’re wondering if a lab might be a good fit for your family, here are a few things to consider: How active is your family? If you enjoy spending time out in the yard, going for walks, or swimming, a Lab would love to fit into that lifestyle. If you live in a townhome or condo without much of a yard, spend most of your day at work, and travel often, a Lab might not be the best fit, because they truly are loyal and want to be by your side. Every dog is a commitment, and the first year you spend with them, establishing good habits and training, will pay off for the rest of his life. Dogs take time, and Labs especially need a leader who is willing to clearly communicate with them and give them lots of love.
Our family has enjoyed Labs for the last 10 years and they have been such wonderful additions to our family. Our kids love to play and snuggle with them, and we trust them with our younger kiddos too. While they do have energy, they are very trainable. This is why Labs are considered one of the top therapy dog breeds due to their patience and trainability. If you are committed to helping your dog live a loving, active lifestyle, a Lab could be a wonderful fit!