My lab, Finn, is a wonderful dog. He's not hyper, but, does have a lot of energy. He's great indoors, has never been hyperactive. Not all labs love the water, but, keep in mind that MOST of them are obsessed with it. Finn is happiest when he's in the water. He will retrieve all day long. As for running away, Finn would if he wasn't trained. He's still not 100%, meaning I wouldn't walk him off leash on a sidewalk next to a street. If he saw a squirrel or cat, he'd be gone. But, he's getting better. He comes back to me every time I call him now, but, I don't unleash him unless he has room to run around safely. We have an open range area that we take our dogs to, and, they are able to run a good 100 feet in any direction without worries (I think the park is a couple hundred acres). They do require CONSISTENT training. Don't go a day without working with the dog. Finn responds best to food rewards, praise just tends to get him excited. He sheds a lot, but, as far as grooming...I just have a comb that I use once a day, usually about five minutes. And, that helps a lot. Training is essential in having a pleasant dog, no matter what the breed. Good luck.