SO YOU WANT TO BUY A LABRADOR PUPPY?
Characteristics and Temperament
The main characteristics of Labradors are their coat, tail, head and temperament. They have a double
coat: a soft downy undercoat that keeps them dry and warm in cold water and a hard outer coat that
helps them repel water. Even though their coat is short it is very dense, Labs shed a lot of hair when they
moult. Their tail, best described as an otter tail, is thick at the base and tapers to a narrower point. Their
head is clean cut and somewhat broad, with hanging ears. Their expression is alert and intelligent and
conveys a kind, friendly temperament. Their best feature is their temperament. Labs are loving, people
oriented dogs. They are happiest when they are with you. Labs are retrievers and will bring you things
they find lying about your house and yard. They tend to be quite patient with children and wonderful
family dogs, They are not guard dogs. They may bark protectively but will generally not act more
aggressively. Labs are wonderful people dogs more likely to lick someone to death than hurt them. They
tend to be stable, not easily upset by strange things or occurrences. They will take many things in their
stride.
Labradors come in three colours: black, chocolate and yellow. Yellow Labradors are often mistakenly
called Golden Labradors. The term yellow refers to a range of colour from nearly white to gold to fox red.
The Golden Retriever is a separate breed from the Labrador Retriever although there are similarities.
Parents
You will probably be able to see the mother of the puppies. It is often not possible to see the father as
breeders usually use stud dogs owned by other breeders. It goes without saying that if you don’t like the
parents, don’t buy one of their offspring! The mother should be happy and friendly – not nervous or
suspicious- although she will not look her best after having raised a litter of puppies. It is worth noting that
in Labs two yellow parents can only have yellow pups while if on