Breed hub
Labradors
The world's favourite family dog, and a working retriever underneath. Everything we've learned about living well with a Labrador, from the first thirty days to the senior years.
New · interactive handbook
The Complete Labrador Owner’s Handbook
The articles below answer one question each. The handbook puts the whole breed in order: the eating machine, the joints, the mouth, the adolescence that lasts three years, water and the outdoors, jumping and pulling, the coat, barking, and health by age. Twelve chapters with tools you tap, slide and tick, a joint sign checker, a portion calculator, a Labrador-proof home checklist, a true-or-myth test and a certificate.
Before you get one
Honest answers for the thinking-about-it stage.
Are Labradors Good for First-Time Owners? The Honest Answer
Friendly, forgiving, easy to train, and thirty kilos of working retriever who doesn’t grow up until three. The honest pros, cons and costs of a Labrador as a first dog.
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Your Labrador Puppy’s First 30 Days: What to Do, in What Order
The first month sets the next twelve years. A week-by-week plan for a new Labrador puppy: sleep, toilet trips, the swap game, protecting growing joints, alone time, and the jobs to do before day one.
Read more →Food, weight and joints
The two things that decide how long a Labrador lives.
Why Labradors Are Always Hungry: Weight, Feeding and the POMC Gene
Many Labradors carry a gene that switches off fullness. The waist test, how much to feed, treats that count, slow bowls, the bin problem, and the emergency signs of bloat and swallowed objects.
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Labrador Hip, Elbow and Joint Problems: Dysplasia, Cruciates and Arthritis
Hips, elbows and knees are the breed’s weak spot. What dysplasia, cruciate injuries and arthritis look like, the exercise rules that protect growing joints, and when a limp means the vet.
Read more →Labrador Health by Age: Puppy, Adult and Senior Care
Labradors live eleven to thirteen years. What to watch at every stage: puppy growth and neutering timing, the adult weight, ears and allergies, and the senior signs that are not just age.
Read more →Training and behaviour
The mouth, the teenage years, and the manners.
Labrador Puppy Biting, Chewing and Swallowing: The Mouth Guide
A retriever needs something in its mouth. Why Labrador puppies bite so hard, how to stop mouthing, the chewing phases, the swap game that prevents guarding and swallowed socks, and what to do when one goes down.
Read more →Labrador Adolescence: Why Your Teenager Forgot Everything (Six Months to Three Years)
The recall vanishes, the manners go, the energy doubles. Why Labradors take until three to grow up, what to do about it, and the mistakes that make it worse.
Read more →Labrador Jumping Up and Pulling on the Lead: The Two Manners Every Lab Needs
Thirty kilos of joy launched at visitors and a lead like water-skiing. What actually rewards jumping and pulling, and the step-by-step fixes for four paws down and a loose lead.
Read more →Not a Labrador question?
Our Dog Language Handbook reads any dog’s eyes, ears, tail and posture, and the plan finder matches one problem to one step-by-step plan.