The Labrador is the world’s most popular dog for good reason: friendly, biddable, and brilliant with children. They are working retrievers, so plan on 60-90 minutes of real activity a day and plenty of mental work — a bored Lab is a destructive Lab. Food-obsessed and prone to weight gain, so measure meals and skip the table scraps.
Labrador Retriever
- Vet-reviewed by Dr. Amara Okafor, DVM
- Last updated June 2, 2026
Breed character
Exuberant, food-mad and irrepressibly friendly, the Labrador is the world's favourite family dog for good reason — outgoing, trainable and game for anything, especially if water or dinner is involved.
Temperament
- Outgoing
- Even-tempered
- Gentle
- Trainable
- Enthusiastic
Likes
- Swimming and retrieving — it lives for water
- Food (will work hard for it)
- Family company and rough-and-tumble play
- Having a job: gundog work, scent games, training
Dislikes
- Being under-exercised
- Long stretches of boredom and isolation
- Being left out of family activity
Habits & quirks
- Wagging the whole back half of its body
- Mouthing and carrying objects everywhere
- Begging and counter-surfing (watch the waistline)
- Bouncy, jumpy greetings without training
Great for
- Active families
- First-time owners willing to exercise daily
- Assistance and detection work
Think twice if…
- Apartments with no exercise plan
- Houseproud owners who can't tolerate shedding
Is this the right breed for you?
Take the 3-minute Breed Match — a few honest questions about your home, time and energy, and a shortlist of dogs that genuinely fit your life.
Care, gear & guides
Guides for this breed are coming soon.
