Understanding the differences between a field lab and an English lab

Despite being badly bred (my boy has had numerous health issues influenced by his genetics), he's exactly what I hoped for in terms of energy/temperament. He's a show/bench line and I have to tell him to move away from the lawn mower, vacuum, etc. Nor is he bothered by fireworks or storms...that's not to say he wasn't a typical bouncy and exuberant puppy, but at 18 months now, he's very easy-going and not easily startled or frightened.

My friend's Golden Retriever is a nightmare. He's a lovely dog, but extremely highly strung...he has to be sedated during storms and is terrified of the sound of even small appliances being used (toaster, griller, etc.).

My current boy is my 3rd Lab...and all have been show/bench lines - and all have had similar temperaments in terms of confidence and stability.

 

I have one show line Lab that I could walk off lead through a field of squirrels, and one show line Lab that chases everything that moves. I'm sure you could find two working line Labradors that you could say the same about.

I think there is as much variation between dogs of working lines, and between dogs of show line, then there are between the two strains.

If you don't want a working line Lab the size of a pony, or the size of a whippet, that doesn't look anything like a Labrador, well, don't buy a puppy from parents that look like that.

And if you don't want a show line dog that is far too heavy, over done, and looks like it would struggle to run round the park let alone do a day's work, then again, don't buy a puppy from parents that look like that.

But the other thing is....when people with working line dogs say 'working line dogs tend to be lighter' or 'more racy' or 'more agile' etc. I do wonder a bit if they a) have very thick rose tinted glasses on - because there are certainly plenty of working line dogs around that look to me like they need a serious fitness boot camp and b) if they are really thinking of a stereotype of show line dogs.

My show line boy is 27kgs, and my show line girl 21kgs. Neither of them are remotely heavy weight. Both are physically very able to keep up with working line dogs Gundog training.

There are moderate working line dogs that still looks like nice Labradors, and there are moderate show line dogs that - in my view - look fabulous.

In terms of trainability. Well, I think the same applies, really. I've met many working line Labradors that are retrieving machines and just as many that have zero drive to pick up a tennis ball. Same with show line dogs - they vary. I suspect more is to do with early training than inherited abilities, unless you are in the sphere of Field Trial Champions etc. but pet gundog stuff, pffft - you could probably train a French Bulldog to do it. It's just a game of fetch with a few extra rules.

The one difference I do think is very real is, as @snowbunny says, I think working line dogs tend to be on the nervy side. Not all, but there is a definite tendency I think based on the dogs I've met (and I've met a lot of working line dogs). I think if you choose parents carefully, and socialise a puppy well, all may be fine.

 

I wanted to post an update to our decision. We placed a deposit on a male yellow that is a field lab. I spent a lot of time talking to the breeder about the dispositions of the parents and feel we made the right decision. He'll be ready to come home on 5/6. Here are a couple of pics of the litter.

 

I have been trying to find out if there are individual physical characteristics between the English & American Labrador types that can be seen in a Labrador puppy?
I suspect Tui (my latest Lab pup -13 wks old) is English as she looks very like my last dog Rosie who was a definite English Lab...but can you tell this distinction so early on?
Would love some expert opinion on this.

 

Litters out of a miss-breeding with a non-Labrador will often look like they are all Lab until they are matured. Pedigree study, viewing the parents and verifying what the breeder is telling you is the safest way to determine what "type" of Labrador your puppy may be at maturity. And even then, genetics can have result in a puppy that exhibits more of one type or another.

 

My fiance and I recently got in contact with a lady about her labrador puppies for sale. They are only 3 weeks old right now so we have a while before we can bring him home. The mother and father are both american looking labradors and do not have blocky heads but our sweet pup looks like his head is going to be blocky. Can anyone help me determine whether he will outgrow his head or if we will be blocky?

this is our puppy at 3.5 weeks old.


these are the parents

 

Hi @tegan schmidt, no idea! So much depends on the genetics of the dogs. Meaning, if the breeder has been breeding dogs like in the photos for a while, then this is probably what the puppy will look like as an adult. At 3.5 weeks though, just too young to call.

I would at this stage, however, be more concerned with the health checks of both parents, than looks. Have you met them, and have you met the dam with her pups. It is an odd photo, with one puppy on a trampoline. (I hope you don't mind me mentioning that..)

How are the pups being raised? Inside with the hustle and bustle of normal life, or outside in a kennel/barn. That can have quite an impact on how resilient pups are later in life. Quality enriched rearing and thoughtful breeding are key factors for me when considering a puppy.

Just a few of my thoughts.

 

Thank you for the information!! They have had more than 3 litters from these parents and they are WELL taken care of even though they do stay outside 24/7 She took individual pictures of all 7 puppies that why its my random boy on a trampoline lol. Do you think it will make a difference whether they are outside vs inside? They do spend alot of time wit them outside with their children as well but they are outside in a heated house. His parents are both so small and slim and his face just looks huge and we already have a 110 pound lab so we are not ready for another huge baby lol

 

Personally I think both of the parents are great looking labs. I'm partial to the field dogs, and the Chocolate in the picture looks a lot like Cooper. Cooper is 1/2 super competitive, high energy retriever, and 1/2 couch potato. She is happy running, swimming or sleeping.