English Labs, American Labs In the USA, it is quite common for people to refer to field bred labs as ‘American’ and show bred (or what they call bench bred) labs as English. In the states, quite a lot of people think that English Labradors are all the show bred, chunky type. And that athletic, fast, lean Labradors are unique to America. Most of you will know that this is not the case. I spent quite some time a few years back persuading USA members of a retriever forum, that English Labs are actually divided into field and show too. And that all English labs are not stocky and block headed. Recently, I notice this terminology creeping into dog forums here in the UK, and also into the emails that people in the UK send me. People are referring to show bred labs as English, and working labs as American. This is rather confusing. Labradors are split into ‘field and show’ here and in the USA, so there are both types on both sides of the pond. An American Labrador is simply one that has been registered with the AKC, or UKC, one of the USA's two kennel clubs. An English Labrador is one that has been registered with the KC here in the UK. I would be interested though, to know if anyone is using these terms to denote some other characteristic of the Labrador breed? Or if a breeder has told you that your Labrador is 'American' or 'English' ?
Re: English labs, American labs Nope, I'm aware of the habit but I've never had anyone use the terms in discussion with me.
Re: English labs, American labs I've not heard these terms before. I do often get asked if Harley is a 'real' lab as she is slim and fox red!
Re: English labs, American labs No never been mentioned to me either , occasionally asked if Sam is a Labrador with him being so big :
Re: English labs, American labs I've seen the American/English terms in books but can't recall ever hearing them used. I tend to use "working" and "show".
Re: English labs, American labs Had someone here tell me their dog was an American Lab, I asked because I thought it was a LabX due to it's pointier nose, long legs and body. So there's definitely that perception here in Canada.
Re: English labs, American labs [quote author=Karen link=topic=4284.msg51552#msg51552 date=1391279130] I've heard it a lot - but only from Americans. [/quote] I agree with you on that one Karen. I may be a bit mean, but makes "our" labs sound almost second rate for some reason :-\
Re: English labs, American labs I hadn't heard this either, so I 'googled' it and up came a site from a breeder in Utah which explained at length the same distinction Pippa describes. It also had an advert for 'silver labs' and pictures and comments about use of electronic collars- that's quite a bit of controversy there in one short read! I think we'll have to mark it down as a cultural difference. ???
Re: English labs, American labs When I was showing (GWPs) the terms used were always work' or 'show' bred and I found the same when in the company of shooting folk
Re: English labs, American labs My American friends are always astonished or disbelieving when I tell them that what they call 'English labs' are what we call 'show line' labs, and that we would claim what they call 'American labs' as being English working labs!!! There is another difference though - in my experience, the American 'working' labs are generally longer-legged and rangier than ours. More like Kate's Sam, than chunky little Poppy, for instance.
Re: English labs, American labs People sometimes use these terms here (Australia) - I've had a person in the dog park tell me that her Lab was 'an American Lab'. I said "oh, is he imported from America?". That confused her a bit I've seen the terms crop up here now and then too. They are commonplace in the US. I used to look at US lab forums a bit (before I joined here) and I'd say that people use both terms with pride. The term 'English Lab' definitely doesn't imply anything second rate (just to respond to Jac's observation ). Still an extremely misleading term.
Re: English labs, American labs I have only heard the term once (but seen it on the Internet many times since). On Charlie's first ever outing to Wimbledon park, he ran up to an American couple couple who said to me "he's a Labrador, right?". I said yes, and they said "yes, an English one". I remember being a bit confused, and almost said "well, his grandad was French!". ;D ;D ;D
Re: English labs, American labs I just figured it was an American thing... I've always just thought of working labs and show labs... Never English or American.... Surely they're English if they're born in England and American if they're born in America!! Lol
