Ok so this is just out of interest , iv always been curious why Labradors always top polls like the other night I was watching Britian  favourite dog breeds top 100 and the lab won again , why does the lab always come out on top? Goldens , setters are similar but yet they are always beaten by the lab?

I think people get drawn to labs as opposed to goldens because they think that because the lab has a short coat it won't moult as much as a golden. They do, but in a different way. Golden hair floats about like tumbleweed and lab hair weaves itself into the nearest carpet and is hard work to get out. And yes, they both moult the same amount of hair

I think their popularity is down to their popularity. If you're not a "dog person" (not into showing, canine sports or breeding) you probably only know about the breeds you see in the park. I know zero nice standard schnauzers. The only goldies and pointers I know I met in obedience classes. But I know a dozen nice labs. Literally everyone I know with a larger breed dog has a lab apart from one who has a labradoodle.

So when people start looking for a pet dog they think of the dogs of people they know.

I wonder what began the trend - it's snowballed in recent decades but what first popularised the lab as a family dog?

You may find these statistics for 2016 of some interest;

33,856 Labrador Retrievers registered
21,854 Cocker Spaniels registered
7,232  Golden Retrievers registered

Gundog Group Registration Numbers - 2016

All Breed Registrations Numbers can be located HERE

I am very surprised to see the difference between the Labs and Golden Retrievers registration numbers. At one time (I am going back a long way) there was very little between the two breeds and they used to be on a par registration wise. There is now a marked difference in the numbers registered.

I found this article that might explain why labs are number 1 http://totallygundogs.com/the-labrador-retriever/

It's shocking to see the difference in registration numbers.

When I was talking to a Labrador breeder many years ago they told me that the KC reckoned that for ever KC registered Labrador bred there were at least as many unregistered Labradors born. For some reason they were considered to be the ideal family pet, despite the fact that they are a breed with a high incidence of epilepsy, HD, ED etc & that unregistered puppies rarely come from health tested parents, as well as being quite unruly as untrained puppies & young dogs.

Unfortunately from a farmer/shepherd point of view they are also one of the breeds most likely to be involved in stock worrying because basically there are more out there.

There is no ideal family pet breedwise, the dog that suits a family situation is the one that temperament etc fits in with individual situations.

At one time the GSD(here in the UK) was thought of totally unsuitable for families, because of the poor temperaments(& breeding)of available dogs.

I don't watch much TV especially "pet"programs the content is rarely impartially collated & I still cringe when Golden Retrievers are called "Goldies"-after the late Blue Peter Golden Retriever guide dog brood bitch instead of the correct "Goldens".

I do wish these programs would include full health information for the breeds & perhaps start to educate Joe Public I to how to find a healthy well bred puppy. Had to stifle a comment the other day when I overheard a soon to be new puppy owner proudly state that their new puppy had been tested for HD by the breeder & found to be perfect. Obviously a breeder with Xray eyes & an ability to see into the future.

I think labs are probably one of the most versatile breeds there is - the number of different jobs they are suited to, from customs/detection dogs, to search and rescue, to service dogs, to well-rounded family pet with a happy go lucky personality, to gundog work, and so on forever.  It's hard to think of a canine job they're not well-suited to and easy to see why they are the most popular breed.

BUT BUT BUT BUT....

There are HUGE variations amongst labradors.  In fact, I think although they are defined as one breed the bazillions of different 'types' of dog within that one breed almost means it has many different strains within it - and combinations thereof.  Of all the different breeds I see, there is no one single breed with as much diversity in type - personality and physical appearance, behaviour and ability/performance traits - as the labrador. 

So, when people say they want "a" labrador, they really really need to do their homework into the different types of labs, spend time with different labs and try to define exactly what they have in mind and how to find it.  I think this is important for all breeds but especially so with labs.

round here its all Staffies, doddles & tiny cross breeds ie chi x =yorkie  . v few labs.  few KC dogs at all really.   the crosses are all v v expensive.  the staffies are v cheap.

A lot of people think they will be an all-rounder, good with kids, visitors etc, and easy to train and raise.  Many of those people are also knocked for six when they discover that labs can actually be quite difficult pups to train precisely because they love everyone and with gusto!

Yes similar to weimed round here, very few Labradors.

I'd put the fall in numbers down to their size, desire for something a bit more exotic and the sheer quantity of overweight examples knocking about in 1980's / 90's.

Seriously I'm struggling to think of spotting an overweight  dog in the 20th century that wasn't a Labrador. Maybe its just down to the increased diversity of dog breeds these days.

I've noticed that there don't seem to be many at shows we've been to. And yes, we always refer to them as Flabradors!

hard to know, they don't do it for me, but are the breed I am advising my daughter and son in law to have, but black for less hassle with work wear.

Son in law wants a dog that will not range like my breed and will retrieves, play fetch etc. 

His family tended to have Lab or rescue Spaniel crosses. 

He loves mine, but would not find walking them as relaxing, having always to be thinking about whats ahead, with my hunting breed.

Sorry to lower the tone in response, but a certain brand of toilet paper.

On the same line of thought, possibly that people see Guide dogs and you get 'Oh they must be easy, they are always so well behaved'
Same idea that because of obedience and sheepdog trials people get the notion that Border Collies come ready trained