Hi
We have noticed that the American Labradors seem to be slimmer and have longer rather than the broader shaped head. A member of our family has a yellow lab from a rescue in Florida callled Oakley. He is a lovely, wonderful dog and just what we are looking for not at all chunky. All the labs we have looked at here are heavy set and chunky. Is there much of a difference between the two types in temperament and does anybody know of anyone who brees the American labrador in the UK????
Thanks

There is a difference between working and show Labs. The working having moderate bone and a more athletic appearance, the show/pet Labs are inclined to be heaver all round and more suited to being a pet dog, but it will still need lots of exercise and attention but some what less than the working lab.

Hopefully one of the Lab people who really know what they are talking about will reply to you soon, but I thought I would answer you even if I have to bow to the experts later.

yeah my working lab daisy is lovely and lean, and quite petite compared to my show types milos and amber who are total blockheads.lol, but still gorgeous.They don't have to be American to be slim though:)

Hi Van

Mars our first ever Lab was half American and was a big girl height and length wise but alway had a lean look with a longer snout. She was a lovely girl. We breed her with a typical chunky show type boy and ended up with Min who is the best of both worlds !!

MB our latest pup is from working lines and has a more lean look although I am sure she will not be as big as Mars was but has a similar look.

I can give you the details of the breeder of MB if you are interested ?

Lucy

I have to say i like the chunkier look!!

Have to say I like a slim working type, gleaming black coat, and compact but defined muscles. ;) talking Labs, of course.

The American breed standard is totally different to the UK standard. The US Labs are taller and there is a weight listed whereas the UK standard for some reason does not list a weight.

Height, US dogs:- 22.5 to 24.5 inches. UK dogs:- 22 to 22.5 inches. US bitches;_ 21.5 to 23.5 inches. UK bitches:- 21.5 to 22 inches.

Weight, US dogs:- 65 to 80 Lbs. Bitches:- 55 to 70 Lbs. How many UK labradors fall inside those weight limits even allowing for the fact that our dogs are smaller?

Regards, John

Asides from the difference in weight, height etc is there a huge difference in temperaments between the UK & USA labs also?

Going by hearsay and reputation only, one respected (now dead) British gundog trainer/breeder was astonished on visits to Trials etc in the US at the harsh methods used to train working labs - even those actually being worked on shoots had shock-collars for control. Whether it was the fault of the trainers I don't know, but they were amazed when she told them that British dogs aren't allowed to wear collars of any sort in competition- "How do you control them, then?" was the response.

Hi Lucy
Thanks for your message. Is MB an American type Lab? If so I would like the details of the breeder that would be great, how to I go about giving you my details?
Van

Hi Van, don't know the answer to your last question about temperment but I would hope not, one of the nice things about a lab, even a show lab, is it's attitude to life.

MB 2 is a british working lab through and thro but she has a certain look facially wise of MB 1 but is not going to be as tall.

I can send you some pictures of the girls so can can see the differences.

To contact me securely go to www.helpalabrador.co.uk and go into the messages and then mail me with your mail address via my profile under lucy.

Lucy

Hi Lucy
Thanks for that I am trying to get into the help a labrador site but the URL just does not seem to be working. I am going to try and check again tomorrow.
Best wishes
Van

It should be working Van! Try this link http://www.helpalabrador.co.uk/

I think you will find that the American Labrador originated from English stock. Selective breeding in isolation from the original gene pool has meant that the breed has developed in a slightly different way as in fact any breed would do.

Regards, John

Hi John
Thanks for sending the link again, it really really doesn't work for me which is so strange cause the link works for my husband from his work so I will have to get him to look at it for me.
Thanks again
Van

[deleted]

No problem Van. I am just trying to sort out all our photos so I will mail you with a rogues gallery in a few days as we are trying to download some from another PC and it is taking a while !!!

Will be in touch !! :)

Lucy

Hi Lucy
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately the pics did not come through. Is it possible for you to try and send them through again????? I have sent you an email in response also.
Thanks and Best wishes
Van

I have been on 2 "Labrador" holidays to USA, Labstock in 99 and Labfest in 2002.
The US Labs are as varied in type as ours - the chunkier show type Labs and the leaner, longer working type. There are Labs of this type available over here - I suspect you are looking for a field type Lab rather than a show bred Lab.
Many of the Labs I met are very very closely related to my own Lab. However I did meet 2 Labs (both poorly bred and sadly with multiple halth problems but absolutely fab and adorable) that were ENORMOUS and would dwarf some Danes!!!!! (Totally incorrects as per either the K or US breed standard though).

Hi chaps-

My two labs are both working type. In the USA in the 1950's and 60's, lots of working type labs were imprted from Britain to renew the breeding stock, so there are about as many different 'looks' over there as there are over here. If you are interested, there is lots of info available on the www - if you look under american hunting/gun dogs, then you can see just how many bloodlines and kennel affixs match between the two countries. I agree with the message about USA gun dogs wearing electric collars - it seems the 'norm' to some people. Never used one, couldn't comment!!!!

hi, is there much difference in temperment, between working and show labs, and can you see much difference between them as puppys.

Not speaking as a Lab owner, I understand there is. The show Lab being more able to cope with the average pet home than the working type. They, the working type need rather more to do, but no Lab will accept a total lack of work, exercise and interest.

Hi again! - i would say that the main difference between work and show types is the amount that you can get with not doing (if you get my meaning!). Some people would say that show types are calmer, more placid and biddable and work types were very busy, maybe even a bit 'nervy'. If you get to watch any trained gundogs working, you'll soon change your mind. The working lab HAS to be steady, and has to be able to take instruction for its handler. That said, they then have to concentrate a great deal to find their 'target' to retrieve. Show type labs don't usually have the same 'prey' drive to find articles (not so usefull in the show ring) although I'm sure that there are plenty who would if given a chance!. As pups, they all look pretty similar, maybe the show type have a generally more 'rounded' look.
One point that I'd like to make is that both types can be incredibly destructive if bored, and that they both share the hereditary health problems.
Hope this clarifies things a bit

so i should go for show type, if i am looking for a chunkier type. is this right

i am getting really confused now, help

To generalise - Show type thicker set, heavy bone, eaiser as a pet. Working type lighter build, moderate bone, requiring lots to do so not ideal as a pet.

Hope that helps, but remember they are living things and sometimes you get a hyper show type or a lazy working. So you have to be prepared for your particular dog to be a bit different to the norm, also remember that all Labs are inclined to be full of themselves and are realy good at digging.

Hi chaps-

I think that Jacki has got it just about spot on!