When we got our first lab, what mattered most was that she was purebred. Having grown up with lab mixes, my childhood dream was to own a black lab. I would look through my dad’s hunting magazines and daydream over the pictures of sleek coated, black labs. I decided that the first dog I would own when I married my husband would be a purebred black lab. Lucky for me, my husband is a dog lover and though he was used to small breed dogs, was excited to have our own dog. Our Aurora won him over to large breed dogs with her gentle, loving nature.
We lucked out with Aurora because we had no idea there were different temperaments, body styles and different drives within the breed. A lab was a lab and that was what we went into our puppy purchase with the assumption of. I started noticing after she matured that she didn’t really look like the labs I had grown up dreaming about with her blocky head, jowels and loose skin; she also wasn’t nearly as hyper as I had heard a lab was. Fast forward 12 years, the search began for our next lab with Aurora’s temperament in mind. We started seeing words to describe different breeders’ labs like English, American, British and Pointing lab. Huh? Why are there so many terms to describe a lab? What is the difference? Are there really that many different variations of the lab?
Perhaps you are here- in the same boat we were in, reading on our website or social media that we breed English labs scratching your head- what the heck is an English lab? Let me break it all down for you. But first, it’s helpful to know a little history of the breed.
The History
The labrador retriever started as a duck and fisherman’s dog in Newfoundland (Canada) in the 1800’s. They were true water retrieving dogs with a thick double coat to repel water and keep them warm in the cold coastal water. A few British nobles came over to Canada and spotted this fine specimen of a dog and brought some back to England- where they refined and standardized the breed.
In the beginning of the breed recognition, the labrador retriever was just that: a retriever with a thick, short, double coat and thick otter tail to help it turn easily in the water. Since then, certain characteristics within the breed began to be emphasized- or bred to specifically enhance that desired attribute. These days, there is usually a notable difference physically and temperamentally within the breed that is broken down into two main categories: English and American.
The English Labrador
The English labrador is known today as a stocky, blocky, mellow dog. They are commonly referred to as “the gentleman’s dog.” Physically, it is characterized by having short legs, a thick body, loose skin- most notably around the face and neck- and typically a wide, squarish head with a shorter snout. They are the style of lab that you will see in the show ring at AKC conformation events because of their more mellow, calm nature. When you are looking at a pedigree, a CH after the dog’s registered name is a good indicator that there are “English” bloodlines in the lineage.
These labs generally have a laid back, calm temperament. They are perfectly happy lounging around with their owners and though they do need exercise and mental stimulation- do not require a lot to be a good house companion. Typically, the drive to retrieve is medium but if you ask any of their owners- they would happily spend their afternoon playing fetch.
The American Labrador
The American labrador is known today as a lean, muscular, energetic retrieving machine. It is also referred to as “the working lab.” Physically, it is characterized by having longer legs, clearly defined muscular structure, a more narrow face and longer snout. They are typically lighter bodied and more agile than their English cousins making it easier to cut across a field on a retrieve. These labs were bred for performance. You often will see them on the cover of Ducks Unlimited as well as tearing it up in hunt tests and field trials. Their abounding energy is an avid hunter’s dream as with the right conditioning, they will not quit and their focus on their job is incredible.
These labs generally have a high spirited, energetic temperament. They are usually not content to just lounge around without a good amount of exercise and mental stimulation each day to satisfy their drive. They are high drive retrievers, and thus the energy matches their drive to always be retrieving. When looking at a pedigree, a NC, NAFC, FC, and AFC after the registered name are an indicator that there are “American” bloodlines in the lineage.
Which is right for you?
To keep this pretty easy to understand the main differences between the labrador styles, I have made generalizations. It is not intended to cover every little nuance within the breed. There are variances in EVERY breed and each dog will not be cookie cutter from the general description I have provided. Every breeder looks for different attributes and prioritizes different things in their programs- so there is a wide range of personalities, appearance and energy levels in both styles. Your first step should be to find the style of lab you align with most. Once you have determined the style, find a breeder or two who breed that style and research their dogs to see if their dogs’ temperaments are what you envision living with for the next 15 years.
You probably figured out that Aurora with her blocky head, extra skin and laid back demeanor was from English lines. That is why we went with the English style when we chose our next dogs- they match our current lifestyle best. If you’re interested in chatting with us about our dogs, fill out our contact form! And as long as you’re here on the site, you can get your cuteness overload with our puppies. We wish you the best on your search for your next family member!