Are there two types of Labradors

Types of Labrador: Complete Listing and Descriptions

Labradors are energetic, loyal dogs that can make a perfect fit in a family. Labradors are gentle, smart, and physically capable of performing many grueling tasks.

Labradors learn commands quickly and store plenty of energy to successfully perform them. This had made Labradors one of the top preferred breeds for over 200 years.

Dating back to the 1800s, Labradors were the desired dog to use for retrieving hunted game. When the American Kennel Club recognized the Labrador as a breed in 1913, these dogs were used for dog show purposes.

This means there are two different types of Labrador: the English Labrador and the American Labrador. The English Labrador describes a Labrador used for show purposes, and the American Labrador is used for hunting.

English Labrador

The English Labrador describes Labradors that are intended and used as show dogs. These Labs are typically slightly heavier and shorter than American labs.

As English Labradors are desired for participating in dog shows, they are typically less vocal than American Labs. During the dogs routine in a show, points will be deducted from the score if the Lab is heard whimpering or barking.

It is important for your Lab to show its prominent features during a show. Your Lab will need to be groomed and his coat as shiny and healthy as possible.

One of the best ways to make sure your Labs coat is healthy and shiny is to incorporate a skin and coat supplement in your Labs diet.

The K9 POWER Show Stopper Healthy Coat & Skin supplement can be added directly into your dogs daily food. The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the supplement strengthen your Labs coat to stay healthy and shine.

If you are not planning on showing your Lab, that doesnt mean you shouldnt choose an English Lab.

English Labradors are typically bred from a lineage of show dogs. A pup can inherit the features and characteristics of its show dog ancestors through both looks and personality, but this does not mean you have to enter your Lab in a dog show at all.

If you desire the look of the English Lab with its slightly shorter and stronger build, then you should choose this type of Labrador.

Additionally, the English Lab makes the best choice if you desire a pup that requires less time training and quickly fits in to be the next member of your family.

American Labrador

When you think of a Labrador, you may envision a Lab carrying a duck in its mouth back to its owner after retrieval. These hunting dogs are referred to as the American Labrador; the type of Lab used for hunting and sporting purposes.

Hunting is a popular pastime enjoyed by many. In 2001, it was estimated that approximately 15 million people hunted waterfowl, according to Ducks Unlimited, the world leader in the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl. Many of these hunters use the American Labrador for the retrieval of the downed game.

American Labradors are a smart, energetic breed that allows an owner to use the Lab for many different applications outside of game retrieval.

American Labradors are typically taller than the English Labrador, as well as more energetic. Because American Labradors are bred for hunting purposes, they will require an ample amount of exercise daily.

If an American Labrador does not get regular exercise, they can overeat and lose their zest for life.

As American Labradors are game retrievers, they will naturally chase any squirrel, bird, or other commonly found residential creature.

Keeping your American Labrador on a leash while walking outside is the best way to ensure your Lab does not chase these animals out of your sight.

American Labradors are faithful retrievers. They will not give up on an animal as long as it is in the Labs sight or scent.

This can easily lead an American Labrador to traveling long distances or into high-traffic areas. To keep your American Labrador safe, keep him on a leash while walking outside.

Colors

Both American and English Labradors can be yellow, chocolate, and black; however, the original and acceptable color among Labs was black.

If a Labrador was any color other than black, they would have been drowned at birth and considered undesirable and impure.

Over time, the genetic composition within the Labrador caused them to produce more chocolate and yellow litters.

These colors were eventually accepted, but black Labradors are the color of choice for show purposes. While a black English Labrador is suitable for dog showing purposes, any color Labrador can make a good hunting retriever.

Conclusion

No matter the use of the Labrador, you will be adding a smart and loyal companion to your family for years to come. Whether you choose an English or American Labrador, there will be a few noticeable variances between the two.

The English Labrador will be slightly shorter and heavier than the American Labrador. Additionally, the English Labrador may be vocally quieter than the American Labrador, as English Labradors are required to remain silent during shows.

English Labradors can also be slightly calmer and less energetic than the American Labrador.

This allows you to enjoy calmer, less physically demanding days with your Labrador. But be careful! Your English Labrador can easily overeat and become bored, causing it to become depressed.

Even if your English Labrador is not as energetic as the American Lab, you still habitually exercise your Lab through walks or games.

The American Labrador is known for its hunting game retrieval and is slightly taller than the English Lab. The American Lab will be more energetic and playful, requiring a more demanding exercise schedule.

Keep your American Labrador happy and healthy by feeding it a well-balanced diet and exercising him daily. Your American Labrador will love to play games, especially fetching games, for him to put into effect his natural retriever abilities.

Regardless of the type of Labrador you choose, you will have a faithful and gentle companion that will devote his life to you and your family.

Different Types of Labrador Retrievers

There is only one breed of dog known as the Labrador Retriever, but there are different types within this breed. Originating in the United Kingdom, this breed has been developed since the middle-19th century. With such a long breeding lineage, it is no surprise that different types of Labrador Retriever have developed. Different breeders want to encourage different traits. This has resulted in two variations of the Labrador breed, the English and the American Lab type. The English-type Labrador is known as a conformation dog and is most commonly used in shows. The American-type Lab is known as a field dog since they are more active in canine-assisted activities such as hunting.

In this AnimalWised article, we look at the different types of Labrador Retrievers by showing you both of these two main breed variations, as well as a less common type. Keep reading to see these different types and see photos to help explain their differences.

How many types of Labrador Retriever are there?

The Labrador Retriever was a breed developed mainly by sailors who were sailing between England and Canada. Although it is a breed mainly developed in Britain, their name comes from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Eastern Canada. In fact, some writers confused this dog with the Newfoundland breed. Although related, they do not have the same breed history.

One of the main reasons for their popularity is due to their name. Retriever type dogs were originally bred for hunting. They are a type of gun dog which was used to retrieve the prey which hunters had killed. As with many other types of working dogs, such as water rescue dogs or types of herding dog, their use as a working dog may have declined, but their popularity as companion animals has increased.

It is the distinction between companion animal and working dog Labrador Retrievers which has meant this breed has been divided into two main types. The two types of Labrador Retriever are the:

• American Labrador Retriever
• English Labrador Retriever

Breed standards are set by breed standard organizations. The breed standard for Labrador Retrievers was first established by the British The Kennel Club in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club in 1917. It is important to note that the majority of breed standard organizations do not make any official distinction between these two types of Labrador Retrievers. The differences are practical and more often used by breeders and guardians of the breed.

To better understand, we need to look at the two types of Labrador Retrievers more closely.

American Labrador Retriever (Field type)

Although a very popular dog in the United States, the American Labrador Retriever was not developed in the USA. All types of the Labrador Retriever breed originate from dogs developed in Britain. Even if their names suggest otherwise, the differences between American and English Labrador Retrievers are not to do with location.

As explained above, the differences are to do with whether or not they are working dogs or companion animals. American Labrador Retrievers are working dogs, which is why they are also sometimes referred to as Field Labrador Retrievers. These are the dogs which are most often used as working dogs on farms and other workplaces.

The American Labrador is more athletic, muscular and stylized than the English breed. Additionally, they have finer and slightly more elongated extremities than the English type. For example, their snout is noticeably longer than that of the latter, something you might be able to see in the photos below.

Aside from appearance, the temperament of the American Labrador Retriever is closer to that of a working dog character. They are more active and energetic, precisely because they are used more often to carry out the physically intensive exercise required of working dogs. In the home, this means they will need more exercise.

Since they have been developed to be hunting dogs, they have a more acute hunting instinct. While this is very useful on the farm, it is something which needs to be considered when adopting an American Labrador Retriever into the family. They need to be cared for by a guardian who can properly educate and teach them. Most importantly, their hunting instinct needs to be channeled into healthy behaviors. If this does not happen, they may be more likely to attack other pets or even members of the family.

If you are unsure whether your dog has genetics from another breed, take a look at our article on how to tell if you have a purebred Labrador Retriever.

English Labrador Retriever (Conformation type)

The English Labrador Retriever is known also as a Conformation Labrador. The reason for this is because they have typically been bred to be show dogs. While the majority will be used as companion animals, their genetic history has been geared toward their personal appearance more than ability to hunt.

Since the English type Labrador Retriever has not been bred as a working dog, they are not generally as athletic. The English Labrador Retriever has a larger frame and a slightly stockier build than their American cousin. You can see this stockiness in the photo below. They are also a late-maturing dog which can develop a fairly thick body and be more prone to obesity. This is especially the case with neutered dogs. They have relatively wide-set legs, a shorter snout and a moderately sized head.

The character of the English Labrador Retriever is delightful. They are very friendly, playful and affectionate. They make an ideal family pet. They are particularly good dogs for children. However, they will also need education, even if they are not a working dog. As with any dog, they may develop behavioral problems without it. The American Labrador Retriever can equally be a fantastic family dog as long as we show them the proper respect.

Canadian Labrador Retriever

Both the American and English types of Labrador Retriever were originally developed in Britain. After this time, both working type and show dogs were developed simultaneously in both the USA and UK. For this reason, we cannot necessarily say all working dogs are from America and vice versa.

However, the origin of all Labrador types specifically lies in Canada. When we speak of the Canadian Labrador Retriever, we are discussing the original specimen from which these breeds developed. It is not an extant breed, but one which was lost thanks to the popularity of current Labrador breed types. It was a breed which first emerged in the 16th century, but had changed significantly by the time the first recognized Labrador Retriever was developed.

All types of Labrador Retrievers have more shared characteristics than differences. For example, they are as likely as each other to develop the diseases common to the Labrador breed.

All different color types of Labrador Retrievers

The coat of all types of Labrador Retriever is thick, dense and soft. It is moisture resistant, one of the reasons why they are so fond of playing in water and useful for duck hunting. While there may be variations of tone over an individual dog's coat, officially recognized Labradors do not have spots or other patterns. The only accepted colors of Labrador Retriever are:

The first yellow Labrador Retriever was recognized at the end of the 19th century with most specimens being black before this time. This is one of the reasons some people confuse the Labrador Retriever with the Golden Retriever breed.

Some international kennel clubs allow for a gene variation which results in a silver Labrador Retriever. However, these are not officially recognized by most dogs shows and competitions. It is most often seen as a fault.

What type of Labrador Retriever is best for you?

It is important to remember that breed or type is not the most important factor when determining which dog is best for your home. Their individual personality and behaviors will depend to a greater extent on socialization, education, experience and other influences.

Some of us might think that an American Labrador Retriever will be better as a working dog since they were specifically bred for hunting. For someone who is specifically looking for a hunting companion, this may be the case. However, both types of Lab are ideal candidates for working dogs.

Although English Labs were bred as conformation dogs, this also means they are very adept at following instructions. They are just as intelligent and will be able to follow orders when given the correct education. If you are thinking of adopting a Labrador Retriever, base your choice on the individual dog. If they are a puppy, ensure they have been correctly weaned. You can also adopt an adult Labrador Retriever or a mixed-breed dog since many are in need of homes.

If you want to read similar articles to Different Types of Labrador Retrievers, we recommend you visit our Comparisons category.

References

1. International Canine Federation. (2011). Labrador retriever. Retrieved from: http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/122g08-es.pdf

Bibliography

• Canadian Kennel Club (2011). Retriever (labrador). Retrieved from: https://www.ckc.ca/en/Choosing-a-Dog/Choosing-a-Breed/Sporting-Dogs/Retriever-Labrador
• Drakeshead Site. Drakeshead Labradors. Retrieved from: http: //drakeshead.com/
• The Labrador Retriever Club of Canada. The labrador retriever: a Brief History. Retrieved from: https://www.labradorretrieverclub.ca/welcome.html