Hi, welcome to the board! I have three Labradors - Buck, Luka, and Nova.

What do the owners think of the breed?
I can't imagine my life without a Lab. My life would be so boring without their silliness, their antics, and their cuddles and kisses. They are absolutely perfect for me.

How high is their energy level?
HIGH. Usually though, they are not hyper-active. They require daily exercise but are also very adaptable, so when you are having a bad day, they are fine cuddling on the couch all day.

Do they tend to run away?
Only if they aren't properly trained. With lots of consistent training, they can become a very well rounded dog. My Labs are all great off leash, even my 7 month old puppy. Buck and Nova both have urges to run up to people or dogs they see, so I don't let them off leash where I know they will be. Usually they will come when called but sometimes they do have selective hearing.

My Labs have no desires to go out of the doors when I open them, except for the back doors. I guess they know they've got it good here. I can stand at the front door with it wide open and they will do nothing but look outside.

They never have dug out, and I never hear of Labs digging out of their yards.

How much grooming do they require and how much do they shed?
Grooming is minimal. As for the shedding ...





How much training do they require? Are they easy to train?
Like all dogs, they require consistent training throughout their lives. They learn tricks and commands fairly quickly. Buck and Nova can pick up on things very quickly. Luka takes a little longer, but she's "special"

They are the easiest breed I've had to train and with firm commands and lots of praise, they do very well in obedience. I took Nova and Luka to obedience classes but am training Buck on my own, and he is doing great! At 7 months he can reliably stay, which is a biggie for me.


Probably the most complete website on Labradors
Labrador Retriever Articles

If you're interested in hearing from other Lab owners, you can join this message board. My username over there is Sarah Beth
Labrador Retriever Chat Board