5 Facts You Need To Know About Labrador Retrievers

The friendly Labrador Retriever is, for many American families, the first choice for a family pet and they occupy the number one spot on the popularity scale of the American Kennel Club. Labradors possess numerous endearing traits: intelligence, easy to raise, and excellent family companions. In addition, they are energetic and loving. They can be trained, and labs generally get along great with children and other types of pets. Labradors come in three coat colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. 

Let’s dive into why all Labrador Retrievers (black, chocolate, and yellow) should be your next choice for a pet and long-life friend.

How Large Do Labrador Retrievers Get?

Labradors are a versatile breed thanks to their high intelligence and drive. The Labrador Retriever, also called the Labrador or Lab for short, is the most popular dog breed in the United States. This breed can range from a medium to large-size.

Labrador males can weigh up to 65 to 80 pounds and grow up to 225 to 245 inches. Labrador retriever females weigh 55 to 70 pounds and have a size of 215 to 235 inches. 

The maximum height for males is 24 inches, which puts them in medium-sized dogs, but they have a robust stature to make them appear taller.

Female Labrador retrievers can weigh between 55 and 70 pounds and are between 215 and 235 inches tall.

Do Labrador Dogs Shed?

Labradors lose a lot of hair during the year, but hair loss is most apparent in two short periods when the seasons change. For example, about three weeks before you find out that your lab is shedding, your lab will lose its heavy winter coat, and by autumn, it will have lost its summer coat and be ready to plump up for winter. In other ways, the summer undercoat thins to help the dog stay cool and calm.

Chocolate Labs have a double jacket with a wiry outer coat that helps the double jacket repel water. Their undercoat is thick and fluffy to keep them warm at cooler temperatures, but they start to shedding their undercoat all year round when the weather changes.

Labrador double coats are vital for dogs because they protect the body against UV rays, repel water, regulate body temperature, act as insulators in cold weather and keep dogs cool in summer. But double shifts also mean that labradors lose a lot as the seasons change, and they have to prepare for the transition to different weather. This can affect a dog's health and make it more susceptible to disease and vulnerability.

How Long Do Labrador Retrievers Live?

Compared to other dogs, the Labrador falls into the middle range of life expectancy. The Labrador retriever is a reliable, durable breed of dog. According to the study, black labrador retrievers live an average lifespan of  12.25 -12.5 years. The average life expectancy is 12 years, while the average age of a chocolate labrador is 10.7 years.

Get Ready For Your Labrador

Now that you have all the information about how great labradors are, we’d love to help you showcase your proud pet parenthood with our great line of products. It’s easy to shop our great products by product type, age/gender, or look at our products geared toward your labrador’s coat color.

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