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  1. #1
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    Are Labs considered a Large Breed Dog?

    I would love to hear opinions on this subject. Are Labradors really considered a Large Breed Dog?

    I see that many people are feeding their new pups a "large breed puppy" food. These foods are formulated for large breed dogs...
    I am assuming for slow growth etc.

    But I personally never looked at a Lab as a Large Breed? I feel they are more of a Medium sized dog. When I think of Large Breeds, I think of Great Danes, Mastiffs,
    St. Bernards, etc.

    Do Labs really need to be fed a Large Breed puppy food?

    Any thoughts?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog Jeff's Avatar
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    Labs, Goldens, etc are large breed. Great Dane, Mastiffs are classified as Giant Breed. It goes by weight usually, then depends kind of who you ask. Like AKC vs UKC etc, however medium breed say 25-50lbs Some have it 30 lbs as minimum, some have 60 has maximum but all around that area. Large breed are going to be 50-100 lbs again some say min is wherever their medium leaves off so could be anywhere between 50-60, and maximums are 90-110 lbs, anything over the maximum is going to be giant breed.

    This is based kind of on the breed average weight as you can have larger and smaller dogs of the same breed as I have known labs that were not overweight fat but large in the 130lb range and smaller labs in the 50lb range, but most labs run in the large breed weight class.

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  4. #3
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    I think it all depends on what your ranges are. Small, Medium, Large, Labs would be Medium. Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, Labs would be Large.

    I was at a fast food place a while back, and ordered a small fry. Counter help tells me they don't have small. I ask what do you have. She says medium, large, x-large. I ask her how can you have a medium if you don't have a small???? Got the millennial blank stare.

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  6. #4
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    I forgot about the category of "Giant Breeds" and that makes perfect sense that Great Danes and Mastiffs are considered Giant Breeds.

    But..I never looked at my Lab as a large breed.

    Barry...that's a funny story about the small fries...lol!

  7. #5
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    I had one Lab that I considered Large....Brutus was 90 lbs. at good weight. So were my Akitas.

    Hershey and Baffle were both 75 and Honey was 65. I considered them Medium...but none had the stockier show build and heavier coat. 75 lbs. of great breeding most likely would have struck me as Large.

    Sunnie and Danny are 42 and 37 lbs., respectively. I consider them Medium.

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  9. #6
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    Barry ~ my standard order is "the smallest size you have". That blank stare goes hand in glove with not being able to make change.

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  11. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by SunDance View Post
    Barry ~ my standard order is "the smallest size you have". That blank stare goes hand in glove with not being able to make change.
    I love messing with them making change. After they ring up my stuff I'll hand them a bill which they enter in to the computer and tells them what to give me back, about that time I'll give them some random change which makes them have to calculate it in their head. Seldom goes well and I usually have to tell them what to give me. Mind you I only do this when no one is in line behind me, but it is pretty fun!

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  13. #8
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    We had bullmastiffs for several years and got a lab because we wanted a smaller dog, which seems funny to me now since I don't think of labs as especially small. The bull mastiffs were 120-140 pounds, Chase topped out at about 85-90 pounds.

    One of our lab breeders (of the male) said to use regular ProPlan puppy food, then switch to regular ProPlan adult at about 4 -5 months of age. The other breeder (of the smaller female) said to use ProPlan Large Breed Adult food starting at 4 months, after starting out on regular ProPlan puppy food. I guess it depends upon the breeder and what (s)he believes works for their particular line. I just go with the breeder's recommendation and try not to overthink whether they're one size or another, as long as they're doing well on whatever they're eating.

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  15. #9
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    According to the standard, they are a Medium-sized dog.
    -8-22-2018-9-37-04-am-jpg

    Large breed food isn't necessary.

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  17. #10
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JenC View Post
    According to the standard, they are a Medium-sized dog.
    -8-22-2018-9-37-04-am-jpg

    Large breed food isn't necessary.
    Took the thought right out of my head, no opinion or vote needed, they are a medium sized breed.

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