Introduction

The Labrador retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. There are many reasons why the Labrador Retriever became so beloved, but one of them is definitely its unique physiology. Even though Labs have been around for over 300 years and have been bred over and over again, there are some distinct physical differences that set this breed apart from other retrievers like golden retrievers or flat-coated retrievers.

Labrador Retriever

There are a few interesting aspects of the Labrador’s physiology that make it stand out from other breeds. The average life span of a labrador is 10-12 years, but they can live up to 15 years.

The breed standard does not set a standard weight range for labs, because they can weigh anywhere from 55 pounds to 100 pounds! If you have owned or know someone who has owned a labrador, then you probably know that there are many different sizes and shapes of these dogs. However, some people may find this fascinating: the Labrador Retriever was actually originally bred as water dogs by fishermen in Newfoundland!

The breed standard does not set a standard weight range.

The Labrador breed standard does not set a standard weight range, height range, color range or coat length range. This means that all Labradors are allowed to be any size they want to be!

The only thing you can say about the Labrador is that you want them to be happy and healthy. If you want your dog to lose weight then it’s up to YOU as the owner of the dog whether this happens or not by choosing what food you feed them (and how much of it) and having lots of exercise every day so they burn off those extra calories. The same goes for gaining weight – if this is something that interests you then again it’s up to YOU as an owner and what food/exercise regime works best for YOUR labrador rather than following some breed standard which says ‘you must feed your dog x amount daily based on their height/age/breed etcetera.’

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disease that affects the thyroid gland. The most common sign of hypothyroidism in dogs is weight gain, which can be mild or severe depending on how much thyroid hormone has been produced by the gland. Other signs include lethargy and skin problems such as hair loss or dry flaky skin.

Conformation

Conformation is the physical appearance of your Labrador. The first step in assessing conformation is looking for symmetry and balance. Your Lab should be evenly proportioned, with all four legs, ears, and tail in equal length and size. Another important factor to consider when evaluating conformation is breed standards. A dog that meets these standards has been bred to produce animals that look similar to each other. If you’re unfamiliar with how a breed standard works or want more information about what it means for your dog’s conformation, visit our [article](https://www-03.ibmcloudant/c5/prism/public/docs/en_US/bio-labrador-conformation/) on Labrador Conformation Standards here at PetMD!

Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia

You may have heard that Labrador retrievers are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, but what exactly is it? Here’s what you need to know:

• Hip and elbow dysplasia are both joint disorders where the bones don’t fit together properly. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball of their thigh bone (femur) doesn’t fit into its socket in the pelvis. This can cause pain when walking or running. The same thing happens in elbow dysplasia—the dog has pain when he tries to walk normally because his forearm bones don’t fit together as well as they should. If left untreated, these problems can get worse over time and make it difficult for your Lab to even get around without pain or trouble!
• Symptoms include limping on back legs only when walking or running; difficulty getting up after laying down; making sudden turns while walking or running; difficulty jumping up onto furniture or into vehicles such as trucks/SUVs/cars; being reluctant when asked “are you ready?” because they’re worried about hurting themselves (which causes stress). Other signs include lameness with paws rotated inward toward each other causing an unusual gait pattern when walking/running around which results in a swaying motion rather than straight forward posture normally seen in healthy dogs without this issue present.”

Health and longevity

Labrador Retrievers are generally healthy, and can live 10-12 years on average. Some labs have been known to reach 15 years or more. However, there are a few health issues that Labs are prone to:

• Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia (common in large breeds)
• Overweight dogs are prone to joint problems

The average life span of the labrador retriever is 10-12 years.

Labrador retrievers are known for their calm, friendly demeanor and playful nature. However, they can also be obedient, protective and loyal pets if they are trained properly. Labradors have a sturdy build that allows them to swim long distances in water to retrieve objects or animals. They are strong swimmers and love swimming in pools during summertime or even on hot days when the weather is too warm for humans!

Labrador Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs by the French-Canadian trappers in Newfoundland (Canada). They used these dogs for catching large game such as otters, seals or fish by helping them hunt down animals that lived under the ice of frozen ponds or lakes using their sense of smell which is one of their strongest senses along with hearing & sight – it’s estimated that 80% of what we perceive is through our sense of smell!

Conclusion

We hope that you enjoyed learning about the unique characteristics of Labrador Retrievers. They are a very special breed, and we love them for their devotion to us.