Reliable, playful, hard-working (though sometimes lazy!), and always cuddly, the Labrador retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dog. But are Labs good family pets? What issues should you look out for if you have one? Could they suit your lifestyle? Read on and find out.

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What is a Labrador Retriever?

According to the UK Kennel Club, a Labrador retriever is a large-breed gundog that originated in the 16th century as a cross between Newfoundland fishermen’s dogs and English hunting dogs. The retriever part of their name refers to their use in finding and retrieving game after a hunt.

The Kennel Club describes them as ‘strongly built’, ‘very active’, ‘good tempered’, ‘intelligent… with a strong will to please’, and of a ‘kindly nature with no… aggression or… shyness’. The recognised colours are black, yellow and chocolate/liver, though other non-recognised colours may be seen. Though The Kennel Club will always describe any breed in the best light, their popularity shows there must be some truth to their reported health and temperament. Let’s look into this further. 

Personality and Behaviour

We should preface this by saying that although temperament is partly driven by genetics from birth, epigenetics (genes affected by the environment) and non-genetic factors also affect how a dog behaves. Dogs learn a huge amount as puppies; so any dog brought up in a particular way is likely to exhibit behaviour reflective of this as an adult. Dogs also learn from experience, so any adverse events may result in adverse learned behaviour. Labradors are also commonly crossed with other breeds to create mixed-breed dogs; resulting in even more variation in behaviour (and health).

Nevertheless, Labs are renowned for their good nature. They tend to be sensitive, willing to please and affectionate (which makes them good guide dogs). As they are considered intelligent dogs, they require a lot of mental stimulation to keep them happy. This can make them more difficult to manage for busy owners, but suitable for families who can provide them a lot of attention. It is frequently described how Labradors are good with children and other dogs. Many are very energetic, requiring a lot of exercise to keep them happy. Swimming is popular with Labradors, and many are happy to learn sports too.

However, several behavioural conditions are not uncommonly seen in Labradors – again, many of these are affected by individual dog’s upbringing and environment and not necessarily reflective of the breed. Being such high energy dogs, destruction, barking, anxiety and other boredom-related behaviours are sometimes reported in Labs receiving insufficient stimulation. Over-excitement and jumping up at people can also be a problem. Mouthiness or even biting does occasionally occur, and resource guarding (aggression over food or toys) is sometimes seen. We also sometimes encounter older Labs becoming grumpy due to arthritis and other chronic conditions (more on this in a bit).

Health 

As with all breeds of dog, there are a number of health conditions commonly seen in Labradors. However, just because Labradors are predisposed to these conditions, does not mean every Labrador will get these conditions, or cannot get other diseases. Nevertheless, Labs are still considered to be a breed with ‘relatively few major problems’ compared to other dogs. 

Musculoskeletal Diseases

Conditions affecting the bones and muscles of Labradors are very common, with genetic conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia often causing discomfort, pain, lameness and early arthritis. Dysplasia describes where the joints in a growing dog do not form properly. Overweight or overfed dogs are more likely to develop dysplasia. Surgery may be required from a young age, and management of long-term pain is important. Arthritis is also very common in older Labs (or younger Labs with dysplasias). This can cause severe chronic pain and behavioural changes. Obesity in older Labs is common, and this makes arthritis worse. Arthritis cannot be effectively cured, but only slowed down with exercise, weight management, and pain relief. 

Eye Conditions

There are a number of eye conditions that are associated with Labradors. The most common being progressive retinal atrophy, where the retina of the eye starts to deteriorate, causing visual impairment and eventually blindness. Labs may also have cataracts, retinal dysplasia, corneal dystrophy and other diseases, all of which can cause blindness too. Most are genetically driven, meaning only genetic testing prior to breeding can reduce the incidence of these diseases. Cataracts can sometimes be caused by diabetes mellitus and other diseases. 

Obesity is very common in Labradors, and overfeeding isn’t always the only cause. We know that some Labs lack a gene called POMC that regulates appetite. This partly explains Labs’ infamous love of food and insatiable appetite. While this makes training them easier using food, it also makes them very prone to obesity. As in humans, obesity is associated with a number of conditions including arthritis, diabetes mellitus, certain cancers and a reduced life expectancy. Anecdotally, their greed may explain why Labs are a common breed that require surgery to remove stuck foreign objects from their stomachs. While being a Lab doesn’t guarantee they will become obese, they are much more prone to weight gain without proper management at home. 

Skin Diseases

Labradors are often bothered by skin disease. Allergies to parasites, food or things in the environment can result in chronic itchiness, discomfort, skin damage and infections. Irritated and infected ears are also commonly linked to allergies, though do occur independently too. Some Labs also have a condition called seborrhoea where their skin glands overproduce oil, resulting in greasy and scaly skin. This also makes them prone to ear and skin infections. Both of these conditions can be difficult to treat, and often require regular cleaning at home and drug treatments. 

Cardiovascular Disease

Finally, we know of a number of heart, lung and blood vessel conditions that are sometimes seen in Labradors. Two of the most common are portosystemic shunts (where toxins are not broken down by the liver but enter the bloodstream) and tricuspid valve dysplasia (where the valves of the heart are leaky and result in ineffective heart pumping). Labradors in later life may also develop heart diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy that results in a thin heart muscle. Most heart diseases cannot be effectively cured. They must be managed with daily medication, management of exercise and excitement, and regular check-ups.

So, Do Labs Make Good Family Pets?

There’s a lot to consider when getting a new dog, and whether a Labrador is the right dog for you. 

First consider the physical space, exercise and time requirements that a Labrador needs 

A family with a big garden might suit a Labrador well, but someone with a busy job living in an apartment may struggle. Are you somewhere with a lot of dog parks, open spaces and things for energetic dogs to do?

Always consider the financial side of things too 

Labradors can easily live for 10 years or more, so are you financially able to care for them their whole life? Insurance is always recommended to keep these costs down. 

Next consider their suitability to your family

Remember that although Labs are known to be affectionate and caring, and often good with children, this will vary from dog to dog – does that particular Lab suit your family’s lifestyle? Are you looking for a companion, a family pet, a working dog or one for sport? Labradors may suit all of these roles.

Finally, spare a thought for their health

Again, not all Labradors will get every disease listed above. You can minimise the risk of genetic diseases by having a crossbred Lab, or purchasing a dog from a breeder who has done genetic testing on the parents. As always, we do encourage you to adopt dogs from shelters first. Regular check-ups by a vet are crucial to ensure your dog is growing well, any diseases or problems are identified early, and treatment can begin. Many of the above diseases have better outcomes when identified early. Again, insurance will help cover the costs of veterinary care. Be prepared for at least one chronic disease, especially in later life. 

So, in summary, Labrador retrievers are generally very suited to a wide variety of families and do make good pets. However, always do your research first, get to know the individual dog before you commit, if possible, to see if they suit your lifestyle, do your best to give them a positive upbringing to avoid behavioural issues, and be aware of the possible diseases Labs are likely to get.

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