Labrador Retriever: Frequently Asked Questions

Labrador Retrievers have consistently been one of the most popular breeds the world over including in the UK and for good reason. Bred to hunt alongside their handlers, Labs also make wonderfully loyal companions and family pets being extra tolerant around children of all ages.

What does a Labrador Retrievers look like?

Labrador Retrievers are lovely looking dogs with their kind expressions and a happy-go-lucky outlook on life. The are medium to large in size with lovely short, close-lying coats that are very weather resistant. Labs always appear to be smiling and alert to what goes on around them. As puppies, they have a concerned look about their faces which quickly turns into a playful, mischievous expression when they start playing.

What colour coat does a Labrador retriever have?

The most common colours for Labs areblack,yellow, and chocolate.

Do Labrador Retrievers need a lot of grooming?

Labrador Retrievers are easy maintenance on the grooming front, but their coats benefit from being brushed several times a week to get rid of dead, shed hair especially during the spring and autumn when they shed profuse amounts of their coat.

How long does a Labrador retriever live for?

A Labrador retriever can live for anything from 10 to 14 years and when they are well cared for and fed an appropriate diet to suit their ages, they can live even longer.

Are Labs easy to train?

Yes, Labs are easy to train, but interestingly chocolate Labs have a reputation for being a little more disobedient than their black and yellow counterparts.

Do Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercise?

Labs need a minimum of 1 hour’s exercise a day combined with lots of mental stimulation to be truly happy dogs.

Is it better to spay or neuter a Labrador retriever?

Breeders recommend that Labrador Retrievers be spayed/neutered when they are around 6 months old and never any younger, but it is always worth discussing this with a vet because sometimes dogs should be spayed/neutered when they are slightly older.

Do Labrador Retrievers have tails?

Yes, Labrador Retrievers have tails which are thicker at the base before tapering to the tip which they carry gaily like a sabre when they are alert or excited and lower when they are at rest.

Are Labrador Retrievers healthy?

Labrador Retrievers are generally healthy dogs providing they are well bred, nicely cared for and fed an appropriate diet to suit their ages. However, there are certain health issues they are known to suffer from which can be found in our breed profile.

Do Labrador Retrievers get on with cats?

Labrador Retrievers are known to get on well with cats they already know and which are part of the household but they would happily chase the cat from next door or any other cat they spot in the distance when out on a walk.

Should I crate train my Labrador retriever puppy?

A lot of breeders recommend crate training a Labrador Retriever puppy because it helps speed up their house training.

Are Labrador Retrievers barkers?

Labrador Retrievers are very intelligent and they can be trained not to bark just for the sake of it but their training has to be gentle and it must start when a Lab is still young.

Do Labrador Retrievers shed a lot?

Labradors shed moderately throughout the year, but they shed profusely in the spring and autumn when more in the way of grooming is needed to stay on top of things_._

Are Labs a good choice for first time owners?

Yes, they are a good choice of pets for first time dog owners because they are so intelligent and eager to please.

Are Labrador Retrievers good with children?

Labs are among one of the best family pets because they are so good and tolerant around children of all ages.

Are Labrador Retrievers easy maintenance?

Labrador Retrievers are not high maintenance on the grooming front but they are active, energetic characters which means they need lots of mental stimulation and physical daily exercise to be truly happy dogs.

How should a full grown Labrador retriever weigh?

An adult Labrador retriever’s ideal weight is between 13 kg to 14.5 kg for both male and female dogs.

How many hours a day do Labrador Retrievers sleep?

Labrador retriever puppies can sleep the day away which they need to do so they grow and develop as they should which can be up to 20 hours a day, but older Labrador Retrievers sleep a lot less which is usually around 12 to 14 hours in a 24 hour period.

Are Labrador Retrievers good watchdogs?

Labs are not the best watchdogs, but they can be taught to bark when anyone’s about and when somebody is at the door. However, once the door is open, a Lab typically greets the person as if they are friends_._

Are Labrador Retrievers aggressive?

Labrador Retrievers are not aggressive by nature, being even and kind tempered characters. As such, rarely would a Labrador retriever bite or behave aggressively towards a person or another animal. However, when they are puppies they can show signs of aggression which is when they start “mouthing” things. With the correct gentle correction, they can be taught not to do this.

Are Labrador Retrievers intelligent?

Yes, very. Labs are the smartest dogs around with some capable of learning around 250 words, signals and signs_._

Are Labrador Retrievers adaptable dogs?

Yes, providing they are given enough daily physical exercise and mental stimulation, a Lab is just as happy living in an apartment in town as they would be living in a house in the country although like any other dog, they love being able to run around a secure back garden whenever possible.

Are Labrador Retrievers easy to train?

Labradors being intelligent and eager to please are easy to train when given the right guidance.

Are Labrador Retrievers playful?

Labs are very playful by nature and enjoy all sorts of interactive games which includes fetch and chasing after a Frisbee.

Are Labrador Retrievers fussy eaters?

Most Labrador Retrievers like their food a little too much and are prone to putting on too much weight all too easily. As such, care must be taken as to how much a Lab eats every day.

Can Labrador Retrievers swim?

Labrador Retrievers were bred to work in and around water and as such they like getting their feet wet. They have naturally oily water repellent coats and webbed paws together with thick, powerful tails which makes them strong swimmers.

How much does a Labrador retriever cost?

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds in the UK and well-bred, healthy Kennel Club registered puppies can command anything from £500 to over £2,000 with gun dog and show dogs costing even more than that.The average advertised price on Pets4Homes ofLabradors for salein the UKis around £774 for KC registered puppies and £631 for non KC registered puppies.

Looking for further information on Labrador Retrievers?

To find out more about Labrador Retrievers, their character, personality, health issues and how to care for a Labrador retriever, check out our Labrador Retriever breed profile.