Welcoming a Labrador Retriever into your home will bring you endless joy. New Zealand’s most popular registered dog breed, these friendly companions are highly trainable, amazing with the littlest members of your family (the kids!) and incredibly helpful.
They’re commonly working dogs (a favourite of the Blind Foundation) as they’re known for their willingness to please. They’re great hunters and in colder climates they’ve even earned their keep as fisherman’s helpers doing everything from fetching ropes, hauling nets and retrieving fish.
They don’t require regular expensive trips to the groomer, are great athletes and get along great with other dogs.
Labradors’ happy and helpful nature make them wonderful company which is why you’re bound to see one every time you hit a dog park, take a wander around your neighbourhood or visit the beach.
Labrador Retriever Facts
This large breed pup, known for its balanced, friendly temperament, as well as their kind eyes, weather-resistant coat and ‘otter’ tail, come in three hues (black, yellow and chocolate).
- Breed Group: Sporting
- Height: Females: 55-60 cm, Males: 57-62cm
- Weight: Females: 25-31.5 kg, Males: 30-36 kg
- Life Span: 10-12 years
- Coat: Short-haired, double coat
- Colour: Black, yellow and chocolate
What Does a Labrador Retriever Look Like?
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever weighs 25-35 kilograms and stands 55-62 centimetres tall (males are usually larger and taller). The Lab is an athletic, energetic breed whose characteristics are consistent with a history as a cold-water retriever dog. It also explains why these pups generally have an affinity for swimming.
Their webbed feet give them an advantage in the water, allowing them to swim quickly. The otter-like tail - thick at the root and tapered at the end - acts like a powerful rudder, beneficial for making turns in the water. The dense, short coat has a soft, weather-resistant undercoat, allowing these dogs to spend ample time in cold, icy water.
Labrador Retrievers come in three varieties of colour: black, chocolate (light to dark brown) and yellow (from light cream to a fox-coloured red).
The breed also boasts kind and alert eyes, which are usually brown in black and yellow Labrador Retrievers, and hazel or brown in chocolate Labrador Retrievers. Their well-proportioned ears hang down.
Labrador Retriever Temperament: Eager-to-Please Pups
Labrador Retrievers’ high intelligence and willingness to please makes them standouts in the field as hunters, in the home as companions and as service dogs who guide the blind as well as search for and rescue victims of disaster. Overall, the Labrador Retriever temperament can be defined as sweet, outgoing and eager-to-please, making this breed arguably the most popular today globally, including here in New Zealand. Their ‘soft mouth’ ensures they retrieve game without damage meaning these dogs are among the least likely to become aggressive.
If you’re wondering “Is a Labrador Retriever a good family dog?”, rest assured these gregarious dogs love nearly everyone. They have a reputation for being great family dogs that love kids and generally bond with the whole family. In fact, Labs can become so demanding of attention, they may pester you for affection. Additionally, Labrador Retrievers are good with other dogs and pets - however it’s worth nothing that they don’t make the best watchdogs (they’re likely to love burglars just as much!)
Keeping Labrador Retrievers Healthy: 5 Issues to Watch Out For
By recognising health problems in Labrador Retrievers early on, you can seek treatment earlier and potentially avoid big veterinary bills or unnecessary suffering. Reduce the risk of health problems by purchasing a puppy from a responsible breeder who has papers to show that the dogs they breed are healthy. Always inspect breeding facilities and breeding dogs, and never buy from a distant online seller. If you opt for Labrador Retriever adoption, be sure to get as much medical history that the rescue group or shelter is able to provide.
Joint Dysplasia:
Labrador Retrievers are known to develop joint dysplasia in the hip, shoulder and elbow, which can predispose them to early onset arthritis.
Skin Allergies and Infections:
Skin allergies and infections are common in Labrador Retrievers, and are related to flea, food and/or environmental allergies. Allergies and infections cause hair loss; itchy, red skin; and excessive scratching.
Ear Infections:
Allergies, ear structure and a love of swimming can predispose Labrador Retrievers to developing recurrent outer ear infections. Ear infections cause itchy, red ears that have an odour and increased ear wax.
Eye Disorders:
Labrador Retrievers can develop genetic eye disorders, including cataracts, retinal disorders and eyelash disorders. While most ocular conditions in Labrador Retrievers can be treated, most can be avoided if you purchase puppies from breeders who certify their dogs to be free of ocular disease.
Obesity:
Obesity affects millions of Labrador Retrievers around the world. Fortunately, this is a disease that pet parents can control or avoid completely by providing proper nutrition and exercise.
Caring for Your Labrador Retriever Dog
Wondering how to care for a Labrador Retriever? Labs need daily exercise and good nutrition to thrive. They love to learn new behaviours and require moderate grooming. With the appropriate care, the average Labrador Retriever life span can reach 10-12 years.
Grooming:
Labrador Retrievers shed subject to the time of year. Their double coat means they shed small amounts year round however twice a year they “molt” and shed heavily. To reduce shedding, brush your Labrador Retriever regularly once or twice a week, and daily during the heavy shedding times. Using a comb or deshedding tool will be essential during molting. Bathing a Labrador Retriever, unless the dog is heavily soiled, is not recommended more than once a month. Clipping a Labrador Retriever is not recommended. Nails should also be trimmed regularly and teeth brushed to keep them clean.
Nutrition:
Proper nutrition helps promote health in your Labrador Retriever. Since obesity is common in this breed, knowing how much food to feed a Labrador Retriever is as important as what to feed a Labrador Retriever. Studies show that Labrador Retrievers will live longer and have fewer problems with diseases such as arthritis, if they’re kept at a healthy weight. Be sure to find out from your veterinarian what is a healthy weight for your Labrador Retriever.
Adult Labrador Retrievers benefit most from eating a complete and balanced large-breed dog food. Large-breed dog foods, like Royal Canin Maxi Adult dry dog food, is uniquely formulated to support the bone and joint needs of large-breed dogs. You can also feed a breed specific food such as Royal Canin Breed Specific Labrador Retriever dry dog food.
It is very important to not overfeed Labrador Retriever puppies because puppyhood obesity can predispose dogs to health problems. Feed your Lab pup an appropriate amount of large-breed puppy food, like Royal Canin Breed Specific Labrador Puppy dry food. Use the feeding chart on the bag as a guide, or ask our customer care team for help on how much to feed your puppy.
Exercise:
Labrador Retrievers are smart and active dogs who require daily mental and physical exercise. At least 45 minutes of exercise, whether it is brisk walking, running or playing fetch is a must for adult Labs. Try playing with toys that promote activeness and exercise, like the Chuckit! range. Most Labrador Retrievers love to swim so toys for water play are a must for any Labs toy box.
Labrador Retriever puppies need less-strenuous exercise than adults; ask your veterinarian for exercise recommendations for your puppy. Chewing is also an important mental exercise that can be supported by giving your Labrador Retriever safe chew toys.
Training Your Labrador Retriever
Labs are extremely intelligent, obliging dogs, which typically makes Labrador Retrievers easy to train to perform all kinds of tricks and commands.
Labradors are very food motivated, so it’s recommended to use the Lab’s treat-drive to reward training sessions. Reserve a special treat for these Labrador Retriever training sessions to make your pup extra receptive to training time. (Just be sure to lock treats away in a secure cabinet or these smart canines will help themselves!) Also, remember that Labs like attention nearly as much as treats, so the yummies don’t need to be large. Aim for fingertip-size treats to prevent upsetting your dog’s healthy appetite and keeping them slim for their athletic lifestyle.
Training your Lab puppy early helps them learn how much fun training can be and sets them up for eager training throughout their life.
Labrador Retrievers are loving, smart, gentle, beautiful and easily trainable dogs that are as comfortable hunting in the field as they are in the home with the family. No wonder they’re so popular!