Skip to content
PetPrep
Get early access

Animal register · DogIn the app

Labrador Retriever

Labrador

The Labrador Retriever is a large, strongly built gundog from Great Britain, bred to retrieve. Its standard describes a good-tempered, kindly and adaptable companion that is keen to please and loves water. The coat is short and dense, in black, yellow or liver/chocolate.

UK charities describe the Labrador as a family dog that bonds with the whole household when it is well socialised. It is very active and highly food-motivated: treats help with training, but Labradors are also prone to putting on weight.

Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).

Updated:

Labrador Retriever — photo (AI)
AI-generated photo

At a glance

Size
large — The Royal Kennel Club S50
Adult weight
males 29.5–36.3 kg, females 24.9–31.8 kg — American Kennel Club S52; 25–35 kg — PDSA S53; measured average: males 35.2 kg, females 30.4 kg — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55
Daily exercise
more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S50; at least 90 minutes a day — Guide Dogs S59
Brushing
once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S50
Shedding
sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S50
Lifespan
median 13.1 years — Scientific Reports S54; median 12 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55; more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S50

Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.

Who it suits

Good for:

  • an active familyS50S59
  • family lifeS53
  • a large house and gardenS50
  • homes with other petsS60

Keep in mind:

  • shedsS50
  • needs lots of exercise every dayS50S59
  • loves food — watch the weightS53S59

The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.

What it needs

From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.

Exercise

  • Daily exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S50
  • Daily exercise: at least 90 minutes a day — Guide Dogs S59

Coat and grooming

  • Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S50
  • Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S50
  • Grooming needs: moderate — Woodgreen Pets Charity S60
  • Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S50

Meals

  • Strongly motivated by food — helpful in training, but watch the portions. — Guide Dogs S59

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • 8–12 weeks: 4 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 3–6 months: 3 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • 6–12 months: 2 meals a day — ASPCA S18
  • Adult: at least 2 meals a day — VCA Animal Hospitals S19
  • Senior: 2–3 meals a day, smaller portions — Dogs Trust S14

Lifespan

  • Lifespan: median 13.1 years — Scientific Reports S54
  • Lifespan: median 12 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55
  • Lifespan: more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S50

Life stages

  • Reaches adult size at: about 15–18 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10

General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):

  • Puppy: until about 6–9 months — AAHA S11
  • Young adult: until 3–4 years — AAHA S11
  • Senior: the last 25 % of the expected lifespan — AAHA S11

Size and weight

  • Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S50
  • Height at the withers: males 56–57 cm, females 54–56 cm — FCI S48
  • Height at the withers: males 56–57 cm, females 55–56 cm — The Royal Kennel Club S51
  • Height at the withers: males 57.2–62.2 cm, females 54.6–59.7 cm — American Kennel Club S52
  • Adult weight: males 29.5–36.3 kg, females 24.9–31.8 kg — American Kennel Club S52
  • Adult weight: 25–35 kg — PDSA S53
  • Adult weight: measured average: males 35.2 kg, females 30.4 kg — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55

Training

  • No. 7 in Stanley Coren's ranking of working and obedience intelligence. — Wikipedia S35
  • FCI standard no. 122, group 8 (retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs); origin: Great Britain. — FCI S49

Questions and answers

Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.

How much exercise does a Labrador Retriever need?

According to our sources, the Labrador Retriever needs this much exercise: more than 2 hours a day — The Royal Kennel Club S50; at least 90 minutes a day — Guide Dogs S59. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How long does a Labrador Retriever live?

According to our sources, the lifespan of the Labrador Retriever is: median 13.1 years — Scientific Reports S54; median 12 years — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55; more than 10 years — The Royal Kennel Club S50. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.

How big does a Labrador Retriever get and how much does it weigh?

Size and adult weight of the Labrador Retriever, according to our sources: Size: large — The Royal Kennel Club S50; Adult weight: males 29.5–36.3 kg, females 24.9–31.8 kg — American Kennel Club S52; 25–35 kg — PDSA S53; measured average: males 35.2 kg, females 30.4 kg — Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 S55.

How much grooming does a Labrador Retriever need?

Coat and grooming of the Labrador Retriever, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S50; Grooming needs: moderate — Woodgreen Pets Charity S60; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S50; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S50.

Who is the Labrador Retriever a good fit for?

Our sources describe the Labrador Retriever as a good fit for: an active family — The Royal Kennel Club, Guide Dogs S50S59; family life — PDSA S53; a large house and garden — The Royal Kennel Club S50; homes with other pets — Woodgreen Pets Charity S60. Keep in mind: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S50; needs lots of exercise every day — The Royal Kennel Club, Guide Dogs S50S59; loves food — watch the weight — PDSA, Guide Dogs S53S59.

Game rules, not veterinary advice

How PetPrep simulates it

In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.

Life stageStartsMeals a dayDaily step goal
Puppyarrives at 2 months4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 21,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 9,000 from month 9
Young dogmonth 929,000 steps
Adultmonth 36 (3 years)29,000 steps
Seniormonth 118 (9.8 years)26,800 steps
  • Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 90 minutes, so 9,000 steps a day.
  • Learns commands 1.8× as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
  • Becomes a senior in month 118 (9.8 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
  • Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
  • Combing once a week.

Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PLOS ONE, PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, Science, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Scientific Reports, Guide Dogs S8S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S42S45S50S54S59

Health

For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.

  • Puts on weight easily — portions and treats need watching. — PDSA S53

Before you buy: what to check with the breeder

Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.

For every breed

  • See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
  • The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
  • Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
  • Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
  • National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
  • Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10

Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.

Health tests of the parents for this breed

Tests the Royal Kennel Club recommends as a minimum

  • Hip X-ray screening for hip dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Kennel Club K16
  • Elbow X-ray screening for elbow dysplasia (UK: BVA/KC scheme) — The Kennel Club K16
  • Eye examination by a veterinary eye specialist (UK: BVA/KC/ISDS scheme; for some breeds with gonioscopy) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for centronuclear myopathy (CNM) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for exercise-induced collapse (EIC) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for hereditary nasal parakeratosis (HNPK) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for skeletal dysplasia 2 (SD2) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) — The Kennel Club K16
  • DNA test for Stargardt disease (STGD) — The Kennel Club K16
  • Genetic diversity — check the inbreeding coefficient — The Kennel Club K16

These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.

Similar breeds

Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.

Sources

Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.

  1. S8PLOS ONE — Salt C. et al. (2017) Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0182064https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5584974/
  2. S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
  3. S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
  4. S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
  5. S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
  6. S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
  7. S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
  8. S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
  9. S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
  10. S42Science (2022) — Morrill K. et al. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. doi:10.1126/science.abk0639https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9675396
  11. S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
  12. S48FCI — FCI-Standard N° 122 — Labrador Retriever (EN, dated 06.10.2026; official valid standard published 08.09.2026)https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/122g08-en.pdf
  13. S49FCI — Breeds nomenclature — Labrador Retriever (122)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/LABRADOR-RETRIEVER-122.html
  14. S50The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Retriever (Labrador)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-labrador
  15. S51The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Breed standard: Retriever (Labrador) (last updated 1 April 2025)https://www.royalkennelclub.com/breed-standards/gundog/retriever-labrador
  16. S52American Kennel Club — Official Standard of the Labrador Retriever (approved 12 Feb 1994, effective 31 Mar 1994) (PDF)https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
  17. S53PDSA (UK veterinary charity) — Labrador Retriever breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/labrador-retriever
  18. S54Scientific Reports (LJMU repository copy) — Author Correction: Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death (McMillan et al. 2024, doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w) (PDF)https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22506/8/Author%20Correction%20Longevity.pdf
  19. S55Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 5:8 (2018) (RVC repository copy) — McGreevy P. D., Wilson B. J., Mansfield C. S., Brodbelt D. C., Church D. B., Dhand N., Soares Magalhães R. J., O'Neill D. G. Labrador retrievers under primary veterinary care in the UK: demography, mortality and disorders. doi:10.1186/s40575-018-0064-xhttps://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/OutputFile/1385522
  20. S59Guide Dogs (UK charity) — Our breeds: Labrador Retrieverhttps://www.guidedogs.org.uk/getting-support/guide-dogs/our-breeds/labrador-retriever/
  21. S60Woodgreen Pets Charity (UK) — Ask Woodgreen pet explorer (2025-01-31) — Labrador Retrieverhttps://ask.woodgreen.org.uk/pet-explorer/results/labrador-retriever
  22. K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
  23. K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
  24. K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
  25. K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
  26. K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
  27. K16The Kennel Club (UK) — Breeds A–Z: Retriever (Labrador) — health (thekennelclub.org.uk)https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/gundog/retriever-labrador/

PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.

Ready for a pet?

Be among the first families to try PetPrep. We will email you when it is ready — nothing else.

By subscribing you agree to receive emails about PetPrep. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy