In about a year I'll be in the market to finally have a dog or 2 of my own as I plan on owning a home then. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to dogs, but my finace on the other hand isn't quite as much since the dog she grew up with (lab/springer mix) just happened to be the perfect dog. It took them 1 day to house break their dog. Her dog was never destructive and never craved attention to the point of being overbearing. I badly want a chocolate lab since I'm in love with them and had a chocolate lab when growing up and loved her incredibly. Her hang-up is that her experience with pure-bred labs is that they are "dumb" "clumsy" and that she worries about other issues common with purebreds.

Now, I know plenty of purebreds out there have short comings due to coming from a breeder that doesn't know what they're doing, so if I get a purebred, I know I'm going to research breeders thoroughly. The next issue is what kind of lab should I look into? There are American labs that are more bred for field work and are a bit smaller with longer muzzles and longer legs and then there are English labs that are bred to have blocky heads and be a little larger. The English bred is typically associated as being a better "family dog". While I'm wanting a dog as a companion and not as something to assist me in hunting (probably won't be hunting with it, but it is a possibility), I'm wondering if the field dog is more intelligent and not as attention crazy. The dog we had when I was little I remember as fitting the field bred type, and as a matter of fact she came from a farm that bred hunting dogs.

I plan on enjoying the outdoors with my dog, taking it to the lake, maybe even going camping with it, so it's not like I'm going to be needing solely a house pet. To me it seems like the field breed would be better for me, but my concern is reading that they are "high strung". To what degree are they "high strung" and what is it in their actions that make them more high strung than others?

[Yogi]

I think for purpose of definition you may want to check this site for reference as to Show/Bench when researching which one you are looking for.
English or American Lab?

Thank you very much, I greatly appreciate that link.

I think I'm still leaning towards a field type, but the stereotype that they aren't as calm worries me some, but I'm sure those worries will be laid to rest when I actually learn about the potential pup's parents and previous litters.

Bso, I just saw a "pure white" Lab, I think it said australian, don't know about temperament, but the color was stunning.

I am a woman, so I do notice those things, of course.

Just my two cents regarding Labs... I am do conformation shows as well as hunt tests and while I do not own labs I am sure around enough of them between shows, tests and working as a groomer. The American vs. English Lab question come up all the time. The Show bred/blocky labs are correct the "field" labs are NOT. Besides being very unattractive "field labs" have been bred like many breeds with the sole purpose of developing field drive (they often throw looks to the wind AND loose the soft, sweet temperament the breed is know for). There for they do not look like labs, are they are VERY high drive, high energy, bordering crazy! If you hunt or run miles everyday this may be fine. If you are looking for a family pet you want a correct lab from a breeder who breeds for correct type and correct temperament as well as health (make sure the breeders dogs are free of hip, elbow, eye and other issues commonly seen in the breed) You can contact the AKC to find the parent club (Labrador Retriever Club of America, etc.) and they can help you know what the breeders should test for and also help you find quality breeders who are members in good standing with the club. FYI "SHOW" labs have every bit the working ability. The TOP WINNING LAB IN BREED HISTORY also has his JH title which he got at 9.5 years old!!

Originally Posted by orangedog

Just my two cents regarding Labs... I am do conformation shows as well as hunt tests and while I do not own labs I am sure around enough of them between shows, tests and working as a groomer. The American vs. English Lab question come up all the time. The Show bred/blocky labs are correct the "field" labs are NOT. Besides being very unattractive "field labs" have been bred like many breeds with the sole purpose of developing field drive (they often throw looks to the wind AND loose the soft, sweet temperament the breed is know for). There for they do not look like labs, are they are VERY high drive, high energy, bordering crazy! If you hunt or run miles everyday this may be fine. If you are looking for a family pet you want a correct lab from a breeder who breeds for correct type and correct temperament as well as health (make sure the breeders dogs are free of hip, elbow, eye and other issues commonly seen in the breed) You can contact the AKC to find the parent club (Labrador Retriever Club of America, etc.) and they can help you know what the breeders should test for and also help you find quality breeders who are members in good standing with the club. FYI "SHOW" labs have every bit the working ability. The TOP WINNING LAB IN BREED HISTORY also has his JH title which he got at 9.5 years old!!

I'll definitely keep this in mind. I am not a fan of the blocky heavy look for labs, but temperament and health are top priorities as well as intelligence. I'll just have to research specific breeders and find what I prefer the best, but until then I think I'm just going to be adopting sweet dogs that just need a loving home.

have you looked into Abopt-A-Lab and other Lab rescues? That may be a good idea as you will be able to see the look, temperament and activity level of each dog.

My mother in law has a what you would refer to as the "english" lab who is very docile, loving and gentle, another family member has one that came from the same breeder, and she is very high energy, intense and mischevious, same breed, same colour, same blood lines, two very diffrent personalities. Both still lovely dogs, but there is no likeness when it comes to their overall nature comparisons.