How to Identify a Labrador Retriever

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Labrador Retrievers are working dogs, and members of the sporting group. [1] They’re also the most popular breed in the United States, and they make great family pets. This wikiHow will provide you with some information on identifying whether or not a dog is a Labrador Retriever.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Knowing Labrador Variations

PDF download Download Article
  1. Know that there are two variations of Labrador Retrievers, the American Labrador Retriever, and the English Labrador Retriever. Though they aren’t recognized as separate breeds by the American Kennel Club [2] , there are a few differences between them in appearance, which will be discussed later on in the article, but the main difference between them is that American Labrador Retrievers are generally bred for hunting, whereas English Labrador Retrievers are generally bred for show (though some American Labrador Retrievers may be bred for show, and some English Labrador Retrievers may be bred for hunting). [3]
    2. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Body Structure

PDF download Download Article
  1. Labrador Retrievers, on average, are medium-sized dogs. Male Labrador Retrievers are generally anywhere from 22.5–24.5 inches (57–62 cm) tall, and they usually weigh anywhere from 65–80 pounds (29–36 kg), whereas female Labrador Retrievers generally are a little smaller, and generally anywhere from 21.5–23.5 inches (55–60 cm) tall, and they usually weigh anywhere from 55–70 pounds (25–32 kg). [4]
    • It will generally reach this height between the ages of 6 and 12 months, but it may continue growing until it reaches the age of 2. [5]
    • American Labrador Retrievers are usually slightly shorter, but slimmer than English Labrador Retrievers. [6]
  2. A Labrador Retriever’s ears are far back, and hang relatively close to their head. [7]
  3. The eyes are medium-sized, relatively far apart, and their color varies, depending on the type of Labrador Retriever. Black and Yellow Labrador Retrievers usually have brown eyes with a black eye rim, where as Chocolate Labrador Retrievers will usually have either brown or hazel eyes, with a brown eye rim. [8]
    • The eyes also give off the appearance of the dog being friendly, and this is one of the dog’s distinguishing features. [9]
  4. Black or Yellow Labrador Retrievers will generally have black noses, whereas Chocolate Labrador Retrievers will usually have a brown nose. Labrador Retrievers won’t typically have a pink or uncolored nose. [10]
  5. This is regarded as one of the identifying characteristics of the dog, due to its structure. The tail is thick at the bottom, and gradually gets thinner towards its tip. Because of this unique structure, the tail is often referred to as an “otter” tail. [11]
    • Tails of Labrador Retrievers are not docked. [12]
    • This “otter” tail is usually more noticeable in English Labrador Retrievers. [13]
  6. Labrador Retrievers have a strong build, and a relatively normal gait, with their legs appearing to be in a parallel line as they’re walking. [14]
    • The American Labrador Retriever will generally have a longer, thinner neck, as well as a more narrow head. [15]
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Coat

PDF download Download Article
  1. As stated earlier on, Labrador Retrievers will generally either have a black, brown (“chocolate”), or yellow coat. [16]
    • While these coats may occasionally vary in shade, the Labrador Retriever’s coat is generally a solid color rather than a combination of different colors. [17]
  2. It also has a weather-resistant soft undercoat (which you likely cannot see), giving it protection from all types of weather. Both of these things are typical of Labrador Retrievers. [18]
    • An English Labrador Retriever will generally have a thicker coat than an American Labrador Retriever. [19]
  3. Labrador Retrievers tend to shed more frequently than other dogs, particularly during two or three weeks in the spring. [20]
    • This increase in shedding is likely because of the second “undercoat” that Labrador Retrievers have. [21]
    4. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Behavior and Temperament

PDF download Download Article
  1. Labrador Retrievers are perhaps most well-known for being very friendly and affectionate, and this is one of the things that makes them a great choice for a family pet. [22]
  2. Despite the fact that they’re friendly and affectionate, Labrador Retrievers have a lot of energy and love to play. Because of this high energy, they’ll likely need a lot of exercise. [23]
    • Though an English Labrador Retriever will most definitely still have quite a bit of energy, American Labrador Retrievers will generally have more. [24]
    • Try a walk or a game of fetch/retrieve if you’re looking for ways to give your Labrador Retriever exercise. [25] Some labs love tug-of war if you give them something worthwhile - but each dog is different.
  3. Mouthing is basically when the dog chews lightly on something, sometimes your hands, or long sleeves. Be sure that you give your dog plenty of toys to help lessen the occurrence of this. [26]
  4. Labrador retrievers generally love to eat a lot of food, and they are more prone to becoming overweight because of this. [27]
  5. Since Labrador Retrievers are generally bred to be working dogs, if they find a scent, they’ll likely stay focused on following it until it finds where it was coming from. [28]
    • They’re also known to be very intelligent, for the same reason that they’re a working dog. [29]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    My 2-month-old Labrador retriever is very skinny, but I am giving her banana with curd and royal food two times in a day each (four meals total). I am worried about her health. Is she okay?
    Linnie
    Top Answerer
    Labrador retrievers are known to be strongly built with good muscle, so if your dog does not seem to fit this description and is much slimmer, you should take her to a vet to assess her health. However, assuming she is eating the meals you give her, she is eating a healthy amount if the meals are about two ounces each. Note that it's safe for dogs to eat bananas but only in moderation, so consider that feeding her lots of bananas might cause issues as they are high in sugar.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I get my 10 month old Labrador retriever to stop jumping?
    Linnie
    Top Answerer
    Labrador retrievers are intelligent, focused dogs, but they, especially when young, are also abundantly energetic. Because of this, you need to train them from an early age not to jump. As dogs that love food, reward-based training, such as the moderated usage of treats, is a great training method for this breed. Check out How to Train Labrador Retrievers for tips on tackling training sessions for this particular breed. For the jumping behavior, try to get the dog to shift into a sitting position if they attempt to jump on someone. Calmly but clearly discourage the behavior in a gentle manner and reward the dog as they obey. Read How to Stop a Dog from Jumping to handle this behavior.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
  • Question
    I have a 5 year old yellow Labrador retriever, and he is getting a bit obese. I took him to the vet, but my dad doesn't walk him well. I can't walk him because he pulls a lot. What should I do?
    Victoria
    Top Answerer
    If you are unable to walk your Labrador retriever, you can also help him get exercise through games of fetch and/or time to run around in a fenced-in yard.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You may occasionally hear Labrador Retrievers be referred to as “Labs” or “Labradors” for short.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
      • If you’re wondering about whether or not your own dog is a Labrador Retriever, consider a dog DNA test.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell If a Puppy Is a Purebred Labrador
      How to
      Identify a Golden Retriever
      How to
      Identify a Great Pyrenees
      How to
      Identify a Belgian Malinois
      How to
      Identify a Shih Tzu
      How to
      Identify a Pitbull
      How to
      Identify a German Shepherd
      How to
      Tell What Breed Your Dog Is
      How to
      Identify a Siberian Husky
      How to
      Identify a French Bulldog
      How to
      Identify a Potcake Dog
      How to
      Identify a Yorkshire Terrier
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dog care and training, check out our in-depth interview with Rendy Schuchat .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
      2. ↑ https://puppyintraining.com/difference-between-american-and-english-labradors/
      3. ↑ https://puppyintraining.com/difference-between-american-and-english-labradors/
      4. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
      5. ↑ https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever
      6. ↑ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/english-vs-american-labrador/
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/english-vs-american-labrador/
      5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/english-vs-american-labrador/
      7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
      10. ↑ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/english-vs-american-labrador/
      11. ↑ https://labrador-central.com/labrador-retriever-shedding/
      12. ↑ https://www.everythinglabradors.com/understanding-the-labs-double-coat-do-labradors-shed-a-lot/
      13. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
      14. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
      15. ↑ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/english-vs-american-labrador/
      16. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
      17. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/labrador-retriever-temperament/
      18. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/labrador-retriever-temperament/
      19. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/labrador-retriever-temperament/
      20. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/labrador-retriever-temperament/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 57,909 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement