English vs. American Labrador

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

I have a 13 year old "English" lab and a 6 1/2 month old "American" lab. I obviously love them both like crazy. Personally - I like the boxy look of my old puppy - he has a big blocky head and thick otter tail. He also has the sweetest face ever - and I thought I would never want a different kind. He is also very very calm and very mellow.

So - time will tell with my puppy - and at first I honestly just did not think he was as cute as Moby - but now I think he is absolutely gorgeous. He has an impish personality, is very smart and although he has lots of energy and is a scamp - I don't think he will be too crazy. (One can really really hope.) His breeding line was a hunting line - which I have no interest in but it is interesting to watch him walk on leash with me with his head on the ground sniffing like a bloodhound.

I think, generally, all labs are wonderful and with lots of love make the best possible members of the family.

[dxboon]

Yeah, I'm not sure why there seems to be such terminology about Labradors. I read on the Labrador retriever club website that they do not differentiate between the two kinds. Mostly, it has been breeders and people I know who mention the two. I honestly didn't know about it until I started speaking with people and doing some reading.

It's become a bit of a casual shorthand for people to convey what type of dogs they feel they breed. Unfortunately, these terms get co-opted all the time by people who aren't breeding for any sort of type. I think it would be more accurate to describe dogs bred in America as coming from either conformation (show or bench bred dogs) lines or field lines. There are some reputable breeders who are working with pedigrees that contain dogs from both venues, but I think the majority of reputable breeders are either largely in one camp or the other.

If you are planning on going to Potomac, feel free to send me a PM closer to the show if you'd like to meet up there and get introduced to some of the club members/reputable breeders in your area. I am staying on the grounds in Frederick with one of my breeder friends and would be glad to arrange for some introductions.

[Lyra]

I don't know that two 2-3 miles on leash walks (or did you mean off leash?) would be enough for a young lab no matter the lines. a lab should still remain a sporting dog even if they are not "edgy and crazy" and generally need an hour or so of OFF LEASH play DAILY during phases of their life (6 months - 24 months ish). for a teenage lab to be "ok" with that would be an EXTREMELY VERY lazy line.

The walks (actually running) are what I start at, there is also lots of play and training time in between the morning and evening walks. I used to take my pit mix over to play with my sister's boxers almost everyday in a large backyard. Once a solid recall is established I am fine with off leash walking, especially for when I go on hikes. I also live on a lake so there will be plenty of play time in the water along the trails as well.

[Sue-Ram]

The walks (actually running) are what I start at, there is also lots of play and training time in between the morning and evening walks. I used to take my pit mix over to play with my sister's boxers almost everyday in a large backyard. Once a solid recall is established I am fine with off leash walking, especially for when I go on hikes. I also live on a lake so there will be plenty of play time in the water along the trails as well.

From what I have read on here, running with a puppy or young dog would not be a good idea until they are fully grown due to joint issues.

[voodoo]

chili is a mix of both american/english. but I have no idea what that really means as I never seen the parents. He just a lab to me.

[3ChocMom]

If I was retired I am sure I could manage the extra energy the hunting lines require, but as of right now any dog I get is stuck to a 2-3 mile walk twice a day and 1-2 hikes a week.

Actually, this sounds like more than adequate exercise to me. It's more than my dogs get during the week. I have a long commute to and from work and I am single so, especially this time of year when it gets dark early, my dogs don't get walked much during the week. They get one short walk in the morning and one in the evening. And they do perfectly fine. I have 3, a 9-year-old, 2-year-old and 7 month old puppy. That said, they have each other and they wear each other out better than I ever could by myself. Don't forget that doing training exercises are also a good way to tire out a young dog. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. And I agree with the poster above who said you shouldn't run with a young puppy. If you want a jogging partner, please wait until your dog is at least 18 months old before you even start running with him/her. Forced running on hard surfaces while they are growing can lead to elbow and/or hip dysplasia.

As far as the English/American, I agree with the others. It comes down to the look and temperament you prefer. Of my 3, one is field bred and two are show bred. I have raised a lot of field bred puppies and I can tell you this. My 2 show bred dogs were MUCH easier as puppies (well, one is still a puppy, but he's the easiest puppy I've ever had). My field bred girl is pretty chill in the house though. She becomes a straight up nut if you even think about showing her a bumper, and she's constantly bringing me toys to throw in the house, but she is also one of the most obedient dogs I've ever had and she will stop when you tell her.

Temperament is important and I think it goes hand in hand with finding not just a reputable breeder, but a really good breeder. By that I mean, someone who spends a lot of time with their puppies, believes in keeping them stimulated and exposed to new things (normal household noises like the vacuum, TV, normal kitchen sounds, etc.) and knows each puppy's individual personality. It's not uncommon for a really good breeder to pick your puppy for you. Some people don't like that, but don't get hung up on it. It's a breeder's job to know those puppies well, they spend the first 8 weeks of their lives with them, and it would be silly of any puppy buyer to think they could do a better job picking the right one after spending an hour or so with several cute puppies running around. So when you get to the point of finding a breeder, ask how they raise their puppies and make sure you like what you hear.

ETA: As far as size goes, use the parents of your puppy to get an idea of that. My girls are small, even by the Labrador standard. Brandy, my field bred girl, is about 58 pounds. Lily, my 2-year-old bench bred girl, is 55 pounds soaking wet and short (about 17" tall at the withers). Jax isn't done growing yet, but he's also bench bred. He's 7 months old and around 66 pounds now. I expect him to be around 80-85 when he's full grown.

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Daisy would be considered "English" and I have to tell people that all of the time. They ask me if she has rottie in her or what mix she is. They tell me she is small and how old is she? So I tell them she has "show" lines but I think that sounds snobby. I don't really understand the term "bench" lab--where did that term come from? So after I say "show' lab and sound extremely snotty and I get blank stares I say "uh, you know, like an english lab" And I say that she is actually standard size for a lab but people are just confused.
But they all say she is beautiful
She has also calmed down a bunch lately and she is almost 2 years old. My brother's "American" lab (picked up from a farm in Ohio) took about 5 years to calm down. He was good for my brother though because they exercised him a bunch and he runs with him every day. He still has the awesome lab personality of being extremely friendly and loving to all people, children, and other animals.
My brother told me once that golden's (when I was researching breeds and thinking about a golden) were for sedentary people! haha. He's kind of an exercise nut. I would only recommend getting an "American" or Field lab if you are extremely active!!

[BaconsMom]

What I think about when it comes to labs is what their job is. Bacon is a Field Bred lab, his parents are award winning hunters, and he is a slender, muscular, energetic lab. Bench Bred labs are going to tend to be a little blockier in build, calmer labs. Bacon as a hunting dog needs several hours of fetch and training per day to keep him happy.

In terms of running with a pup, DO NOT run with a pup until they are at least 18 months. Running on concrete on leash can lead to joint issues. Off leash play is fine, and encouraged! If you want a field bred lab, be prepared to exercise your dog, a lot. Even when it is -20F, We are outside with Bacon.

[Tanya]

The walks (actually running) are what I start at, there is also lots of play and training time in between the morning and evening walks. I used to take my pit mix over to play with my sister's boxers almost everyday in a large backyard. Once a solid recall is established I am fine with off leash walking, especially for when I go on hikes. I also live on a lake so there will be plenty of play time in the water along the trails as well.

added playtime in a big yard makes a big difference!
no running with puppy until they are 18 month of age (running - you go running with dog on leash) though

[Lyra]

From what I have read on here, running with a puppy or young dog would not be a good idea until they are fully grown due to joint issues.

Yeah, I realize that which is why I had originally stated As soon as they are able to at least! I knew I would get a lot of heat if I stated that I ran with a puppy, so I should have clarified further. The running is for 2yrs and older, I realize that as a puppy, they may not always have the energy to go 1 mile on a given day.

I also believe in not spaying/neutering before 18months too (if you have to at all), but I realize that can be a whole other debate.