A happy Labrador smiling in the woods

Labrador Insurance, Care and Health Advice

They’re lively, lovable and loyal, and that’s what makes Labrador Retrievers one of the most popular dog breeds on the planet. These furry friends can make the perfect family pet; they have a huge appetite for life, adventure and of course… FOOD!

If you want to learn more about Labradors, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about loving and living with a Lab.

Labrador Facts

Dog breed type icon
Type
Working dog
Dog breed lifespan icon
Lifespan
10 - 12 years
Dog breed size icon
Size
Medium
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Weight
25 - 35 kg
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Height
54 - 57 cm
Dog breed temperament icon
Temperament
Lively, loveable, loyal
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Exercise
30 - 60 mins 2x per day
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Grooming
Low maintenance

Is a Labrador Right for Me?

Labs are playful, energetic and outgoing - perfect for anyone who likes to stay fit and active. If you’re down for a long lap around the park twice a day then you’ll get on just fine - and if you’re into long walks and playing fetch for hours, even better!

While they love being part of a family, their clumsy nature can mean a few bumps along the road, and not just for them. Being quite a big and bouncy dog breed, Labradors are best suited to bigger homes with plenty of outdoor space for them to run and play.

Labrador behind a tree

What Are Labrador Puppies Like?

Cute, adorable, fluffy, the adjectives can just go on and on when it comes to Lab puppies. As a potential owner, you should know that as pups and teens, Labs can be boisterous and a bit nippy. It’s just their way of showing affection, but it will need to be addressed so they don’t turn to the chomping on the furniture. So make sure you have a puppy toy box full of chew toys.

A Labrador relaxing in the sun

Life with a Labrador

Labradors are curious (it comes with being smart) and famously clumsy (it comes with being big). Thoroughly puppy proofing your home is a good idea from day one: get rid of breakables and valuables, tuck away any exposed wires and don’t leave small objects around if you don’t want them chewed, or worse, completely eaten.

Family dogs they may be, Labradors are needy and demand a lot of attention. This means they don’t like being left alone all day, this can lead to separation anxiety and trigger behaviour you don’t want to come home to. Barking, howling, chewing on the furniture, and leaving ‘little surprises’ on the carpet are all signs your absence is affecting your dog. If you’re out of the house all day, think about getting a second dog or a professional sitter/walker to keep them company.

Caring for Your Labrador

Jumping, playing and running around can really work up a Labrador Retriever’s appetite! But when it comes to their food, you’ll need to keep an eye on them, whether it’s in their bowl or off your plate. Labradors are known for their insatiable appetite, to the point that they will eat until they’re sick. And you don’t want to be clearing that up.

As a Labrador owner you’ll need to resist those big puppy dog eyes and go easy on the treats and measure their dog food. And try not to leave food in sight or within reach, they will have it. When it comes to dog food itself, focus on a high-quality feed recommended for the breed, following your vet’s advice on what, when and how much to give them as they grow.

For grooming, Labradors are low maintenance. Hair tends to be short and thick - meaning it dries quickly. That said, if you like a hair-free house, Labradors might not be for you: they shed a lot! Daily brushing and a protein and oil-rich diet can help to keep it to a minimum, but be prepared to spend a lot more time hoovering!

As a short-eared dog, Labradors are also prone to ear infections. Regular ear cleaning is recommended to reduce the risk of this.

Being clever and super keen to please, Labradors are generally pretty easy to train. They love to play and will do anything for a treat, so start them young and keep it fun and interesting to nip bad habits in the bud during puppyhood.

To exercise these lively but loveable pups you may your work cut out. A fully-grown lab will need around 30-60mins exercise twice a day. 

Labrador Pet Insurance

If a Labrador Retriever is your breed of choice, great, but it’s not just all bounding paws and waggly tails. Now’s the time to start thinking about pet insurance. But that’s where Everypaw can help, we know you’re in it for the long haul, that’s why we are too.

Everypaw’s Lifetime Dog Insurance has a range of cover options to choose from that can protect those paws now and in the future. Oh, and we’re not just here to cover your vet bills either, you’ll get 24/7 access to a Vet Team with Petcall and a load of other benefits to help when you need it most.

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Common Labrador Health Problems by Vetstream

There are several common Labrador health issues that owners need to be aware of. Everypaw has teamed up with veterinary experts Vetstream to explain a few of these problems.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy PRA is a group of inherited eye conditions. It affects over 100 different breeds but is most commonly seen in Labrador Retrievers. It causes sight loss and eventually leads to blindness which can happen over a period of months or years. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t any treatment and blindness is unavoidable, but luckily most dogs adapt well to living with the condition and live long and happy lives. 

There are DNA tests available to prevent further breeding from carriers of this disease.

Epilepsy is caused by abnormal brain activity that causes repeated fits or convulsions. These usually happen when the dog is relaxed, lying down, which fortunately reduces the risk of injury. If you think your dog is having a fit, don’t intervene, it’s best to let the fit run its course.

Epileptic fits last around 1 and 3 minutes. Your dog will appear dazed afterwards but will probably just carry on as normal. 

Medication can be given to help control epileptic fits. It’s unlikely they will stop completely though. It’s a good idea to make a note of the dates and duration of the fits so that medication can be adjusted if necessary.

This is an inherited disease commonly seen in middle to older age dogs. The hip joint doesn’t develop normally so the ball-and-socket joint of the hip doesn’t fit together properly. This causes rubbing and damage to the surface of the joint. 

Hip dysplasia will cause pain, hind leg weakness and limping. Although it’s an inherited condition, nutrition and exercise can also be factors. If a dog is overweight or exercised too much this will put added stress on the joint.

To avoid symptoms, dogs must not get fat and their exercise should be restricted. Hip dysplasia eventually leads to arthritis, but this can be controlled with medication. In severe cases, surgery might be the only option. Hip replacement is also an option, but this is complex surgery and can be very expensive!

The knee joint has two cruciate ligaments. These can tear if the knee is twisted which is known as a cruciate ligament rupture.

If a ligament tears suddenly when the dog is exercising this can cause the dog to hold up the affected leg and hop around. When standing, only a toe will touch the ground and they won’t be able to bear any weight on the affected leg.

Thankfully, damaged ligaments can be replaced with specially designed tape. Larger dogs, like Labradors, will need this type of surgery to help them recover. Recovery is a slow process which involves lots of rest in a small area and controlled lead exercise for at least 6-8 weeks.

Quick Labrador Q&A

Labradors are known for leading pretty lengthy lives. On average a Labrador will live for 10-12 years, or even longer if they have good healthy genes!

Labradors shed a lot! If you're a lab owner or looking to be one, you will need to keep up on the grooming. Daily brushes will keep you ahead of the shed. Labradors shed their seasonal coats twice a year, once in the spring when they're done with their winter coat, and in the autumn when summer is over.

This breed matures fairly quickly and they’re usually up to height by around 6-12 months old. But they’ll continue to develop and muscle up until they’re around 2 years old.

Exercise is very important; Labradors are a very lively breed with plenty of energy to burn! Any Labrador owner needs to be prepared to give their dog around 30-60 minutes of exercise at least twice a day. Luckily, they love to chase balls and go on long walks, so exercising a Labrador can be lots of fun.

That’s All You Need to Know About Labradors

It’s no wonder that Labradors are so popular - they're loyal, playful, affectionate, obedient, quick to learn and eager to please. They can like their food a bit too much though and will need at least an hour of exercise every day, so be prepared for long walks and endless games of fetch. They may not be happy if left alone too long and will want your attention, but these loving dogs make perfect family pets.

Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.

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