Labrador Retriever

America's classic family favorite

Friendly, food-motivated, and ready for anything. Labs typically love water, kids, and long walks. They'll eat anything, so calories add up fast.

largevery high energyapartment not idealfirst-time friendlyhigh shedding

Size

large

Energy

very high

Shedding

high

Barking

low

Grooming

medium

Trainability

very high

Apartment

not ideal

First-time owner

yes

Kid-friendly

high

Pet-friendly

high

Alone tolerance

low

Monthly cost

high

Best for

Weight gain and chewing if exercise and mental work are skipped.

At least an hour of active exercise daily.

Grooming: medium. Shedding: high. Plan your brushing routine — and budget — around this.

Barking is typically low. Trainability is very high. Early socialization and consistent training go a long way.

Apartment fit: not ideal. Usually needs more space than an apartment can offer. Kid-friendliness is generally high.

Cost level: high. Costs typically scale with size, grooming, and likelihood of vet visits.

Heat tolerance is typically medium and cold tolerance is typically high. Comfortable across a typical range of weather with sensible precautions.

Weight gain and chewing if exercise and mental work are skipped.

Educational matching content — not veterinary advice.

• Can I realistically meet the exercise and grooming demands every week, not just on weekends?
• Have I met adult dogs of this breed — not just puppies?
• If buying from a breeder, can they show health screening for the parents?
• Is there a breed-specific rescue near me? Adult dogs can be a great fit.
• What does my monthly budget look like for food, grooming, and routine vet care?
• Who handles the dog if I'm away or my schedule changes?