Everyone knows that the Labrador Retriever is the American family dog. Known for its friendly demeanor and loyalty, the Labrador has become a staple of the ‘All American’ household. As a pre-vet student and a labrador owner, I will be the first to tell you that the Labrador exhibits remarkable and trusting personality characteristics that easily find their way into most peoples hearts. But what is it that influences these special canines to be so well behaved, trusting and loyal? Is it simply in their blood? Is it how they are raised? Or perhaps it is something much more complicated.
So, does the color of a Labradors fur affect their temperament? In short, no. There is no evidence to support that the color of a dogs fur has any effect on the personality of a dog. Labradors, regardless of the fur color are well behaved, sweet-natured dogs who have a natural love for being around people.
Now you know the short answer to the question “does the color of a labrador affect its temperament?” let me give you some more useful information about the color and temperament of a Labrador.
The Color of Your Labrador and its Personality
Is it possible that perhaps the color of our canine friend’s fur could play a role in its temperament? Do blondes really have more fun? Is there possibly a link between personality and fur color? Let’s take a look.
There are loads of Labrador owners out there that will swear that each Lab, although the same breed, reflect very different temperaments. For example, it is a common belief that yellow labs tend to be a bit lazy, black labs make the best hunters for the avid outdoor folks, and chocolate labs tend to be hyperactive and messy. According to the American Kennel Institute, there are only 3 colors of Labrador Retrievers:
Black: Black labs are all black, a spot of white is permissible and common.
Yellow: The yellow lab is interesting because it practically ranges from almost white, to a cream and even a golden yellow or fox red. These color labs are often times confused with the golden retriever because of this.
Chocolate: The chocolate lab ranges from light to dark chocolate brown.
Although the American Kennel Association has strict standards on what can be considered a true pure Labrador Retriever, most of us believe that there are other varying shades as well. For example, many Labrador owners claim the fox red Lab as its own category, and as well as the new addition of the silver Lab.
So Then, What Does Play a Role in Their Personalities?
The greatest thing to affect a dogs temperament is attention and lack of activity. A dog, especially a Labrador Retriever who has had very little attention or had very little recent activity will begin to be restless and appear hyperactive.
Labs are highly physical dogs who require a lot of outside time and exercise. Training a Labrador when it is a puppy can always ensure that it behaves the way that you want. The time and effort you put in as a dog owner will play a significant role in how your dog ends up as an adult, much like a child.
“Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don’t mistake his easygoing personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires a lot of exercises, like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit.”
AKC
There are two distinct lines of Labradors that are bred in the United States. These are ‘field lines and ‘show lines’. Show lines refer to Laboradors who are bred to AKC standards, while field lines refer to Laboradors who are considered hunting dogs or sports dogs.
Field lines are considered to be more energetic and driven than their show line counterparts. Although it should be noted that show Labs can still make for decent hunting dogs, they will however not be as fast or hyper as a field Lab.
What are Some of the Differences Between Show line and Field Line Labs?
Let’s take a look at some of the in-depth differences between a field Lab and a Show Lab.
Working Lab/Field Lab
A working Labrador, hunting Lab or field line lab will be easier to train. The working Lab is also a quick learner, hyper and has a distinct and natural instinct in nature. The field Lab lives to be rewarded and praised while hunting or retrieving. Typically these Labradors appear taller, slimmer and can run faster than a show line Lab.
Show Labrador
The Show Labrador is shorter, stocky and often times heavier. Most show Labs are less agile and hyper than their field lab kin. As young pups show line Labradors tend to become easily distracted, and silly. This is what causes them to be a bit harder to train. Show Labs tend to take longer to fully mature as well.
Is There Anything I can do to Influence my Labradors Temperament?
This is an easy question because everything you do can and will influence your dog’s personality. This question is one you may ask before you get a Lab or even afterward.
To begin, before you get a Labrador, think about why you want one. I own a Labrador because of it’s kindness, trust, love of outdoors, and it’s even temperament. It is these traits that make the Labrador Retriever surpass many of our other canine counterparts.
When I got my Lab, “Ammo”, I wanted him so I could take him to duck hunt, swim and be my gun dog and loyal companion. I knew before I even owned him that I wanted a dog who would end up being an avid outdoors dog. It is because of this, I chose to get a ‘field line’ Lab.
If however, you do not think you will participate in activities such as hunting, then a ‘show line’ may be a better fit for you. Keep in mind, however, that no matter which line of Lab you chose, each and every Lab out there requires a healthy amount of exercise and outside activity.
Now, if you already have a Lab there are several things you can do to aid in the temperament of your canine buddy. If your Lab is perhaps getting agitated, consider things in your dogs daily routine or environment they may be causing stress. Once found, remove those stressors for improvement.
If perhaps your Lab seems hyperactive or restless, always be sure to take a look at how often your dog is getting exercise and good quality time with you or others in the home.
If
Is your Labrador around kids frequently? If not, get them out there. Labradors are America’s number 1 family dog for a reason. They love to play and they love kids! Kids enjoy a big dog, and Labs love the playfulness and attention children give them.
In What Way Does the Color of The Labrador Matter, or Contribute to their Personalities?
While fur color may not have an impact on a Labrador’s temperament, each color has been associated or fixed to a particular life. For example:
- Black Labrador is considered a working dog, hunting dog or gun dog.
- Yellow Labrador or white (to some) has been long considered a well trained seeing eye dog and rescue dog, and finally.
- Chocolate Lab has been long associated with being a family dog or a show ring dog.
Ultimately, personal preference is what plays the largest role in what each individual person thinks about a dogs personality and the connection to fur color.
It is likely that many people chose black Labs as a gun dog because of their toned down color instead of their actual personality, and later adapt to claiming that it was chosen for its personality. Or, it is likely that they have always heard the rumor that black Labs make the best gun dogs, and of course ‘old habits die hard.’
Which Color Labrador is the Calmest
If you are looking to find a Labrador that is calmer than some of the others out there, it is always more important to ask about their bloodline over their fur color. If the Labrador that you are interested in was bred to be a working dog or field line, you will find that these lines will be far more hyperactive than a dog who was bred for the show ring.
It is likely that you will find that each color Labrador may be excessively hyper or laidback. Some people swear that yellow Labs are the most laidback of all, but as a yellow Labrador owner myself, I can tell you this does not ring true with me. My Labrador is also a gun dog, and of course, he is not a black Labrador.
Those who wish to enjoy a hyper lab (which, I do) will benefit from looking specifically at dogs who were bred for the field. Now, let’s take a look at why it is more important to look at the dog’s genetics over the fur color.
The Best Labrador Color and Genetics
No matter where you go, you will always find self-proclaimed Labrador Retriever experts who swear that yellow Labs are harder to train in the field, or that yellow Lab have more brains than their black counterparts. Some even go so far as to claim that a chocolate Lab is a terrible field dog because the field training has been totally bred out of them.
The truth is, the color coat of a Labrador puppy is determined by its genetic makeup. This is inherited by both of the pups parents of course. There are nine genotypes for a Labradors color, which as you can see, can allow lots of options in terms of color. Let’s take a look at some of those combinations:
- Yellow and a Yellow: Two yellow Labs will produce all yellow puppies.
- Black and a Black: Interestingly, two black labs can have any combination of colors produced when breeding.
So, as you can see from above, to claim that a chocolate lab has been bred out of the field, makes no sense because it could have been the product of two black Labs.
Some people prefer a certain color dog and later claim it’s personality. Although it may ring true at some points, these owners likely do not take into account the overall personality of the actual Labrador Retriever, it’s environmental influences, and of course, the bloodline.
I know a photographer who only likes the fox red Lab because of it’s photogenic appearance, while he also thinks black Labs are terrible to take pictures of.
What Labrador Retriever is Right for Me and My Family?
This is an interesting question. Many families who are looking for a Labrador or any dog for that matter most likely want a dog that will not be too hard to handle.
If you and/or children love to play and are outside a lot, a field line working Labrador would be permissible. However, if you are not the type of person who gets out much, and you live in a large city and work 24 hours of the day, you’ll probably be better off with something like a show line Labrador.
Although, it should be noted that all Labs require constant exercise regardless of bloodlines or breeding purposes. Obesity is a severe issue with these dogs, and overfeeding and under-exercising directly contributes to this issues.
When looking at what color preference you prefer, think about which color is aesthetically pleasing to you. Then, remember to ask about the dog’s bloodline or parents. Find out what the personality of the Labradors parents is before moving forward. It would not be fair to adopt a Labrador who loves to hunt, and you as the owner, never take them.
Labradors are a very popular dog, so you can likely find the type of Labrador you want through diligent research. Look for responsible breeders who can ensure the health of your Labrador and that your Labrador is AKC certified as well.
If perhaps you do not care about the AKC certification, you can also look into adoption from local shelters in your area. There are typically always Labradors of all shades, who need a home.
So, What can we Take Away From This?
In conclusion, The coat color of the Labrador ultimately has no effect on the temperament of the dog. However, a dogs personality can be influenced by breeding, bloodline, activities or lack thereof, and of course, the family who owns the Labrador. Labradors have a rich background and will likely remain America’s most popular breed for many more years to come, no matter what color they are.
