What Are the Pros and Cons of a Labrador?
When you look at the list of top dog breeds in any given year, there’s one breed that will consistently be in the top ten – the Labrador Retriever.
Labs are known for being friendly, fun-loving, and family dogs, and that’s probably why there are millions of them bringing doggy sunshine to families around the world every day! We love labradors, but even the best dog breeds have both pros and cons. So, let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from your labrador on both sides of the coin.
First, the Good News About Labradors
We always like to start with the positive side of things, so we’re going to look at the pros of owning a labrador first.
- Labradors are generally friendly, gentle dogs that are good with kids and other animals, which makes them ideal as family dogs
- While they’re not at the top of the smartest dog breeds list, there’s also not at the bottom, and they’re reasonably easy to train and eager to please
- As a medium to large dog, they’re right in the middle of the pack in terms of size – not too large to fit in the car, but not so small that you can’t keep track of where they are!
- Well-bred labradors have even temperaments, and they usually don’t get overly excited or aggressive unless heavily provoked – they probably won’t be barking at the fence for hours every day!
- Labradors are rarely picky eaters, so you won’t have to try and guess what they’ll eat from one day to the next
- Their coats are pretty much immune to any kind of knotting or matting, so you won’t be doing a lot of heavy grooming
- They’re always up for an adventure and are happy to explore with their owners
Labrador retrievers really are a little ray of canine sunshine in most homes, and they’re sure to be at least one family member’s favorite dog. Sorry, not sorry.
Recommended Reading: |
|
|
Living with dogs is much like having kids - you never really know entirely what to expect from one day to the next! Fortunately, when you choose a pure breed like a labrador, you can learn from the wisdom of people who have lived with many labradors before you. This guide to living with labs has been written by an expert, and labrador breeders and other experts endorse it, so you know you're getting the best possible information about the breed. Well worth reading if you're adding a lab to the pack! |
 |
Now, the Not So Good News About Living with Labradors
Unfortunately, there’s no perfect dog breed out there, and while labradors have many great traits that make them perfect family dogs, there are also some that aren’t that great. Those include:
- Labradors love to eat, and they’re not too picky – that might include your shoes, a garden chair, and other things they shouldn’t be chewing on, and that goes for adult labs and puppies!
- They love to eat food, too, and labradors are one of the breeds that are most prone to getting chunky, especially as they get older and if they’ve been spayed or neutered
- Labradors are retrievers – it’s what they were bred for – fetching ducks and other animals that their hunting masters downed. That sometimes means that when you do something like plant a new shrub, they might do you a “favor” and retrieve it for you. You’ll never lose anything with a labrador, either, but that does complicate things a bit!
- Even though they don’t have long hair and their coat will never knot or mat, which doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to fur. Labradors have a thick, downy undercoat that creates a warm layer under their bristlier outer coat, and you will need to brush them often (preferably with a rake) to keep it under control!
- Finally, labs tend to have a very loose idea about personal space. They tend to think like lapdogs long after they’re too big for yours, and you might find that you need to physically move them from inconvenient lounging spots from time to time!
Recommended Product: |
|
|
When you live with labs, an ordinary brush is just not going to get the job done. Their thick undercoat is great at keeping them warm when they're splashing around in the water - retrieving ducks or otherwise - but it's way too much for an ordinary dog brush to handle. You NEED to get yourself a heavy duty rake like the Furminator to keep that undercoat in check and prevent itchy dogs and fursplosions in your home. |
 |
Labradors really are great dogs. They’ve got life figured out. They enjoy good food, love hanging out with their friends, and can be prone to being just a tiny bit lazy.
But even with all the cons we’ve listed here, they’re still one of the best family dog breeds out there. You really can’t go wrong!