How can you tell if a Labrador is good quality
Labrador Retriever Characteristics
The Labrador we love has distinct physical and behavioral characteristics. These can differ between the show and working types, but there are common Labrador traits that both varieties share. Your Labrador will be friendly, sociable and often exuberant in personality.
The Lab loves human companionship, but is first and foremost a retriever. Your dog was bred for generations to stay close to their human partner. Waiting patiently until asked to fetch a game bird from the undergrowth. They needed to be able to follow directions, and deliver a retrieve quickly and carefully to hand. The Labradors highly co-operative and intelligent temperament reflects that role perfectly. And it is what has made him such a perfect fit for so many other roles in our society.
If you are thinking of bringing a Labrador into your life you need to know what you are getting into. This honest review and assessment of Labrador Retriever characteristics and temperament, will help you decide whether this magnificent breed of dog is the right companion for you at this point in your life. Well be looking at the Labradors aptitudes and abilities, his personality traits and his renowned temperament.
The Labradors Original Purpose
Your Labradors characteristics are a direct result of their history and purpose.
The Labrador falls into the category of sporting breeds of dog. The history of his development as the worlds favorite gundog is a fascinating story. The origins of the Labrador have had a profound influence on his appearance, personality and behavior.
The original fishermans friend
The Labrador was originally bred as a fishermans companion, working alongside the men and women who inhabited the inhospitable island of Newfoundland, long before modern conveniences, and technology was available. This was a job requiring a waterproof coat thick enough to withstand very low temperatures, and an ability to swim in strong currents and for long periods of time.
Imported to England, the Labs role changed to that of shooting companion, where his skill at finding game, his ability to carry objects in his mouth without harming them, and his intelligence and biddable temperament would make him the worlds finest retriever.
A talented dog
Labrador characteristics diverged them into many different roles over time. From therapy dog, to military dog, to companion and his competence at everything he is asked to do, has defined him. He is clearly a dog of many talents.
Physical characteristics of the Labrador Retriever
The Labrador retriever is a sturdily built medium to large dog. He may weigh anything from 50 to 80lbs once adult, depending on his breeding. He has a well-proportioned body with a healthy balance between length of leg and length of spine. A shape that is often described as short coupled.
What does a pedigree Labrador look like?
The distinguishing features of the Labrador Retriever are well known. He has a broad skull with chiselled features that are softened by his kindly expression and soft ear flaps. His body is powerful and well muscled and ends in a thick tail that tapers to a point. His full length muzzle houses a good cooling system and a strong set of jaws with a full compliment of 42 large white teeth.
English Labs have a broader chest, heavier build and blocky head. American Labrador characteristics are more reminiscent of their working ancestors, with a slimmer shape and less rigid conformation to the breed standard.
The Labrador Retrievers Coat
The Labradors short dense wash and go coat comes in one of three gleaming solid colors and needs little grooming to keep it looking smart.
The coat has a shining slightly oily surface and the individual hairs are straight. Although a slight ripple can be seen along the back of some dogs once the adult coat is established. A thick undercoat and the water resistant top coat keep your Labrador warm in the coldest water. And a quick shake on emerging from the sea or lake, sees the majority of the water removed from its repellant surface.
The genetics of Labrador coat color is interesting and more straightforward to understand than many other breeds of dog. Strictly speaking Labradors come in only three colors. Yellow, Chocolate, which used to be called Liver, and Black. Yellow shades range from the palest white to a deep red.
You can also get dilute versions of each coat color that express as champagne, silver and charcoal respectively.
Overall appearance of the Labrador
His sleek water resistant coat, soft flapped ears and thick otter tail give the Labrador an almost seal-like appearance. In the water, this likeness is intensified. He looks as at home there as he clearly feels, swimming low in the water and confidently powered by strong webbed paws.
On land he is equally sleek and powerful, giving the overall appearance of a fit and healthy canine athlete.
The Labradors athletic ability
The Labrador is a versatile dog who can sprint at speed over short distances or maintain an easy loping stride that will carry him for mile after mile. For a moderately large dog he is surprisingly agile, capable of jumping heights well in excess of a metre. The extent of his physical prowess may vary depending on the type or group of Labradors he belongs to, and well look more closely at that in a moment.
Labrador Retriever temperament traits
The Labradors kind expression is mirrored by his kind nature. His easy going, tolerant temperament and love of water are hallmarks of the breed, but of course, not all Labradors fit this breed description precisely.
It is fair to say that sometimes poor temperament traits such as aggression and nervousness can appear in the breed. But is it also fair to say that this is not the norm.
Special Labrador characteristics
Born from generations of being bred for retrieving in the shooting field, the Labrador has some special and important breed features. His gentle mouth, is capable of carrying delicate items with great care, and his urge to pick up and carry things is strong. His ability to track items by scent alone is extraordinary and it is no surpise that Labradors are so sought after by bomb disposal teams, customs and excise authorities and those engaged in sports where tracking is involved.
Labrador Retriever Personality
Many people are convinced that their Labrador has a sense of humor, and some Labradors are extremely playful, and not just as puppies. Others can be bumptious, clumsy, and bouncy, especially when young. Temperament, abilities and general personality may of course vary somewhat from individual to individual.
English Labrador characteristics tend a little more towards the serious, where American Labs are more sensible, driven and high strung.
Retrieving ability in Labradors
Most Labradors, even those from show stock have an inborn urge to retrieve things. This is often reflected in their fondness for carrying things around in their mouths and even chewing things up. The basic urge to chase and pick things up is of course a result of generations of breeding for the Labrador Retrievers original purpose. The instinct to bring those things back can be more variable!
(paid link)Who are Labradors well suited for?
Despite the fact that Labradors are so popular, some people are not well suited to life with one. The Labrador is a large dog that is boisterous and destructive when young, sheds copious amounts of hair and has a particular affection for mud and rolling in dead things. Labradors are social and affectionate dogs. Your puppy wont like being left alone for long periods of time. Daily dog care is essential if you work full time.
If you are not house proud and have time to exercise train, and simply be with, an athletic, affectionate, and powerful dog. You might well enjoy life with a Lab.
The Labrador Site Founder
Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.
She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program
Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website
Purebred Dog Identification
You cannot tell if you have a purebred dog by looking. A purebred dogs appearance might match the breed standard, but it might not. I give an example below, of one of my own Labradors that does not meet the breed standard, despite having an impeccable pedigree.
And in the same way, it is entirely possible for mixed breed dog to look purebred if they meet the breed standard. I give an example below.
A purebred dog comes from parents that are both registered members of the same breed. Purebred dog breeds have a lineage that has been selected for generations to have certain personality and physical characteristics. But breeding is not an exact science and there is plenty of scope for variation.
Your purebred dog might have unusual markings or a coat color that isnt standard, but still be 100% the real deal. So if appearance isnt enough to go on, how else can we ensure our dogs are purebred? I explain what your options are below, and look at some of the interesting variations that we find within the Labrador breed.
Contents
Is My Dog Purebred?
Purebred dogs can be identified in three possible ways:
- Can you tell by looking?
- Pedigree papers
- DNA testing
Looking For Purebred Dog Characteristics?
Purebred dog characteristics are not a certainty when it comes to identification. I have a steady stream of people coming to my forum, posting questions in the comments boxes at the foot of my articles, and writing emails to ask: is my dog purebred? The question is very often accompanied by photographs, or detailed descriptions of the characteristics of the dog.
A visual assessment is what most of my readers are hoping I will give them when they send me photographs. So what exactly is a visual assessment of a purebred Labrador?
Purebred Dog Characteristics
A visual assessment of pedigree involves looking at a dog and comparing his appearance with the breed standard. This involves a detailed knowledge of the breed standard. I dont usually give these kinds of assessments because the value of them is so limited. It doesnt really prove anything, it just tells the owner that I think their dogs has the look of a purebred Lab.
Purebred Lab Breed Standard
Breed standards vary slightly from one country to the next. So, here, we will just be focusing on the AKC breed standard. This standard says that a purebred Labrador Retriever should weigh between 55 and 80 pounds, growing to between 21.5 and 24.5 inches tall.
The three recognized colors are yellow, black, and chocolate. But, yellow is accepted in a variety of shades. My own yellow Labs are a dark redish color, while Labs from show lines are often paler. Dilute colors and mismarks can be AKC registered but are disqualified from the show ring. Other key physical traits include a short, dense coat, an otter tail, broad skull, and kind eyes.
Purebred Dog That Looks Like A Hybrid?
Visual assessments of purebred dogs arent always accurate. I want to give you a couple of examples to illustrate the problems involved with this approach. So, lets look at a purebred dog that doesnt fit the breed standard, and a crossbreed that looks like the breed standard says a purebred Labrador should.
Example 1 Purebred But Doesnt Look It
One of the Labradors in my home bears little resemblance to the breed standard. She has a thin, whippy tail with an upwards curve, overlong ears and a long narrow face.
These features, combined with her ginger coat mean that very few people recognize her as a Labrador at all. I have been asked if she is a Vizsla cross, a Lab x Greyhound, and other unlikely combinations. In fact this purebred Labrador Retriever has an impeccable pedigree full of noble ancestors with famous names. But if someone made a visual assessment from a photo of her, unless they were familiar with working line Labs, they might well put my girl down as a crossbreed.
Example 2 Mix That Looks Like a Purebred Dog
I have a friend with a Labrador X Pointer that looks for all the world like a classic Labrador. The father is a show line lab, and his looks have dominated in this particular dog. A visual assessment would wrongly put him in the purebred category when he is actually no such thing. Mixed breeds like this can inherit any blend of traits from their parents. So, crossbreeds can look just like a purebred Lab, even though they arent.
Are Visual Assessments Any Good?
I hope you can see from these examples how worthless visual assessments usually are. While I can point out that your dog may have faults that will eliminate him from the show ring, I cannot possibly tell you whether or not he is purebred by looking at him.
Purebred Dog Colors
Can you tell if you have a purebred black Lab or a purebred chocolate Lab from their color alone? Unfortunately the answer here is no. Labs arent the only dogs that come in the colors yellow, chocolate, and black. So, a mixed breed could easily have a solid coat in one of these colors.
Do purebred Labs have white on them?
The current Labrador breed standard is very clear on what a purebred Labrador should look like. But not all Labradors meet that standard. Sometimes a mismark (a mark that is prohibited in the breed standard) occurs because the Labrador isnt purebred. But equally a mismark can occur in purebred Labrador Retriever puppies too.
Common Lab Mismarkings
Big white chest patches are fairly common in mismarked Labs. My own red Labs mother had one, and a few white hairs on toes or under the chin are not unusual either. One of the puppies in a litter I bred had two white toes. This was a purebred litter with a great pedigree. It is even possible to get a purebred Labrador with tan points (like a rottweiler) or patches of brindle fur.
These types of puppies are genetic accidents and the puppies are usually sold as pets to owners who appreciate their unusual friend.
Purebred Dog Pedigree Papers
If you buy a purebred dog, the breeder should give you the registration document with the names of both parents. Most breeders will also give you a copy of the pedigree which lists the ancestors of those parents, together with any titles they may have, back through five generations.
Pedigree Papers Have Limitations
If you have the correct pedigree papers, then your puppy is probably a purebred dog. I say probably because there is room for dishonesty with this system. It is possible for a dishonest stud dog owner to mate his female dog to one stud dog and register the puppies to another.
So, pedigree papers are a good indication of pedigree, and sufficient for most peoples needs, but they are not an absolute guarantee. Which brings us to our final method, DNA identification.
How to tell if your puppy is full blooded by DNA Identification
It is now possible to have some dogs DNA checked for identification purposes. There are various laboratories offering this service.
Purebred Dog Identification
So, to sum up, as visual confirmation of pure breeding is not possible, you need to use pedigree papers, and/or DNA results to confirm whether or not you have a purebred dog. Here is what I suggest you do:
How To Know If A Puppy Is Purebred Before Buying
If your heart is set on a purebred dog, before you purchase your puppy make sure the paperwork is in order. This greatly reduces the chances of your dog being cross bred. Ask to see the registration documents! Do not accept any excuses, your breeder must have registered the litter in order for you to be able to register your puppy.
Meet the mother and make sure that you like the way she looks. If you cant meet the father make sure you see photos and a certificate of mating that confirms he is actually the father.
(paid link)If the puppies have markings on them that you dont like, then dont buy a puppy. There is always another litter. Let someone else who loves unusual markings buy that puppy. It is possible to find a purebred black Lab with white markings, or a purebred chocolate Lab with brindling. Remember, the only problem with buying a mismatched puppy is that you wont be able to enter him in a dog show. If that doesnt matter to you, it certainly wont matter to him.
After Buying Your Purebred Puppy
Once you have purchased your puppy try not to worry about whether or not he is purebred. Remember that many purebred dogs have mismarks or poor conformation, so if you have pedigree papers for him, he is probably purebred no matter what he looks like.
Try to ignore any other people that criticize your purebred dog, or try to convince you he is not a purebred. After all, the most important thing is that your dog is happy, healthy, and a great addition to your family.
The Labrador Site Founder
Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.
She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program
Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website
