How They Look

The Labrador Retriever is a large breed with a double layered coat that’s smooth and short. American Labs generally have a coat that’s solid black, yellow or chocolate in color although grey or silver ones are becoming more common. British Labs also include a fox red color. Tails of Labs should be pretty straight and are left full.

How They Grow

Labs are a large breed that tend to grow pretty quickly. For adult dogs, the height usually ranges from 21 to 25 inches from the ground to the highest point of the shoulders and weight usually ranges between 55 and 85 pounds. They’re well known for their appetites, though, so it’s best to avoid overfeeding and keeping your Lab working year round to maintain proper condition.

How They Hunt

Labs are versatile hunting retrievers that handle cold air and water conditions well. They’re a tough and durable combination of rugged build with speed and agility. Labs will quarter in front of the hunter to flush upland birds and should stay within comfortable gun range. They’ll also range out at the hunter’s direction for long marks and retrieves in a waterfowl setting.

How They Behave

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular registered dog breed in the world for a reason. They’re generally a very versatile breed that’s also intelligent and very social. They’re known as good workers that are easily trained and they get along well with other dogs as a rule. Because they’re so social, they tend to make great companions but not the best watch dogs.

What To Feed

As Labs generally maintain weight well, Active 26K is the best starting point. For a dog that has a harder time keeping weight, we recommend switching to the Power 30K formula during heavy training, hunting or competition.