American Labs vs. English Labs // I own them both!
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- čas přidán 11. 05. 2021
- American Labradors and English Labradors are the same breed, but they are different. Have I made that as clear as mud? You really should not pay more or less for one or the other.
However, you should be aware of what tendency each variation of the Labrador breed has so that you are more likely satisfied with your new buddy.
If you are watching this video, then you are probably considering a new Lab puppy and you are wondering which is better for me: American Lab or the English Lab. Watch this video and I will give you an idea of some of the slight variation between American Labs and English Labs so that you can make the best decision for your personal situation.
This is so true! We lost our black English lab last Thanksgiving of 2020 and decided to get another lab in early winter of 2021 to train while still at home due to covid restrictions. Ended up getting a lab puppy in January. This black lab was so different than our other lab puppies we've had and so head strong, I really didn't enjoy him and I felt bad about it! I couldn't understand why this puppy was so difficult. I thought I was losing my mind! Come to find out, he is an American lab and I had NO IDEA there were 2 different types of labs :( We dearly love our new puppy (who is 6 months old now), but really we are more suited for the temperament and energy of an English lab. Our puppy is so difficult that he is going away to a 4 week training camp this month to learn many of the basics so we can have a much more manageable dog. I am a pet nanny, so I work with dogs every day, and we also own a JRT, so I know about dogs, but somehow, I never knew the difference between labs. We are having a lot of fun with our puppy, and he requires a lot of work, but in return, we get lots of laughs and love from him. Thank you for this helpful video!
As an owner of an American Field lab, I'm constantly explaining the difference to people. I will have to say that the scene at 5:53 made me laugh and sums the whole thing up beautifully.
Both Labs are great dogs and you really can’t go wrong with either. I have a 2 year old yellow American and she’s the best. A ton of energy so we go on long walks or to the dog park often. But once she gets her activity in she’s is very cuddly and lazy just like an English lab. My parents who recently retired take her out for walks and the exercise has helped lower their blood pressure and relieve stress. She’s been a great addition to the family!
Well said!
You can go wrong though. Alot of people can't handle high energy dogs and getting one would not be good for them or the dog.
Awesome video! Its nice seeing the side by side comparison with explanation. I really appreciate it. Thank you!
What I see in my English is solid thick body, shorter legs, loose skin, very strong and extremely active. She does stay close or wants to but surely will take off.
My American was calm, wants to stick by your side, gentle, loving and loves to play. He had longer legs, less muscle, very lean, longer, slender nose. He was an excellent retriever.
Whereas my English has a shorter nose and very block/bowling ball style head.
I think that breeding determines temperament. And, color makes a difference. I have a fox red and she is very dingy and independent (English). My male Chocolate was a bit of a hellion for 2 years and chewed wood constantly. He was a brilliantly smart fur baby. He rentals ran and jumped over the rainbow and took my heart with him.
He remained by my side for 5 years with 5 major surgeries, and should have been a therapy dog.
Yes I lost my English Lab in 2019. We hunted together for ten years. He always enjoyed being out and running down pheasant. Close hunter unlike my friends German shorthairs. But I only get a chance to hunt about two weeks a year, so a calmer Lab was the right choice. Have 2 Newfoundlands now. Wife’s choice.
My last chocolate American style lab slowed down at about 8/9 years old, he passed at age 10 , miss him even today almost 8 years after he passed
Good to know. We are possibly looking into a British Lab after losing our Basset Hound earlier this month.
This is so strange because in Wisconsin it is the opposite. The English labs are bred to follow orders and lead in hunting. They are so sweet and squishy too but they are the patient hunters who circle and collect small game. American labs are much less predictable. We use Weimaraners to go in and hit, then English labs to circle in and collect because they can be trained to have a soft bite.
We just got a little black lab. She seems to be a mix of both American and English. She's on the leaner side with the narrow features, but loves to cuddle like an English girl. While being lean, she also has quite the stretchy skin. Plenty of energy, perhaps more than the average English, but a good 30 min walk in the sun will give her plenty of stimulation for half the day.
I've had both myself. An American female, Sabrina, was my first as a puppy, then my breeder gave my her 4 yr old English, Sunny, breed as she was done breeding her . When she passed away she then offered me her grandson Tango also an english breed. We also got a brown, Shelby, from a couple who broke up and she came a member of our family. Three yellows and one brown. I just got a black, Zeus, english male. His parents were both champions also. Sunny also produced champion puppies. Both are great dogs but , yes I lean towards the English breed, especially being 73.
lost my english lab 2 years ago aged 13,so lost without him and got another american lab 1 year ago and the difference in dogs is staggering,english lab calm,sedate,quiet and american lab the opposite,highly energetic,always looking for excitement,full of go go go,love them both dearly though
I've been adopted by one of each.
My 4 year old American is a handful, and is always on the go.
My 6 year old blond English is way more sedate.
Either way they the best!
Mine is 1/2 and 1/2, beat of both worlds. Absolutely awesome breed.
Love both, currently have a Black American Lab male 7 months old. He is beautiful, still growing, very muscular, lots of stamina. I take him hiking, running, swimming with me as well. He keeps up well. He can jump like no dog Ive ever had. I am 5’8 and he can jump from a standing position up to my head. He launches himself up and down off our 4 foot deck. He loves fetch, and working with him on frisbees. Love my good boy! and SOOOOOO smart! I DO NOT have a fenced in yard. But, I taking him out for exercise everyday, on and off leash. He does very well and for his age he listens (his pebbles dropped and can be defiant and test his independence) but overall lovely dog. He HAS to be exercised daily so I would say if you dont have land to let them run, or are in an apartment, expect to take them for long daily walks/runs/swims etc or like he said, get an English lab.
I'm so lucky. I have one of each.
Loomis is the sleek racing model with short glossy black coat and about a dozen white hairs on his left flank and weighs 80 lbs.
Bandit is 33 inches at the shoulder and weighs in at 125 lbs. This rusty blond guy has a very small black patch on his left side.
They are the best.
My girl had long legs, narrow face and really worked close to me while off leash. I thought she was an American lab. So does American labs have longer legs than English labs? Is it true that in general males are more rambunctious than females, especially the first few years? great video btw.
Thanks, excellent video - IF ONLY I had taken a show line Labrador, lol! We chose a Beagle as our second dog. He's 10 month now, wonderful temperament, but energy levels much like you describe the working line Labrador. And that's a "show line" Beagle from an experienced pro-breeder who chose the puppy for me. Thank goodness we have a securely fenced-in piece of land where he and our big dog can run and play whenever they like. Very interested in the Labrador breed once the time comes to add a third dog in the future. It'll be a head-to-head race between the Golden Retriever and the show line Labrador.
Beagles are bred for the same kind of work as the working Labradors. Lots of running, tracking, flushing.
I think it's easier to describe them as field/working Labs vs. show Labs. Same breed, just different strains which affects some behaviours and traits, like siblings with different personalities. Having said that each breeder will emphasize whatever traits they have in their line which may produce able field dogs that are stockier. Also happens with the Springer Spaniel -field or show, but same breed.
This is a great summary of their differences and purposes!
I have owned both versions and at the same time. They got on really well together and we found little if any difference other than size. Both were intelligent and easy to train. Labs have been used as gundogs for a long time in the UK and are certainly NOT just bred for shows.
Labs were originally breed in England, as gun dogs. So have defiantly been working there longer than than the US. They are still the most common dog, along side springer and cockers you will see at shoots in the UK. You do tend to see more of the show lines as pets in the Urban areas as the working lines in the UK tend to be breed to focus on the working traits and not happy sitting around all day. The fact the bark has been all but breed out of the best working lines is also a big difference.
We own one of each. Ours have the exact same dispositions that your dogs have.
Hello! Do you have a breeder you can recommend for the English Labrador
I had American style labs when I was younger and hunted hard. I’m getting an English Lab because I’m older and still want a Lab to be my companion.
In Danmark we call the them formula 1 ( American breed) and the old breed ( english).
I’m trying to convince my dad to let me get a dog.I want a Labrador retriever
You will not regret , and family will love them more than you
I have an English lab (female ) , my neighbour has a American lab (male) . Thinking of interbreeding them. I Hope the pups won't lose the Labrador traits ?
Please don't.
How could they if both of the parents are labs?
i have an english lab that turned out to be an incredible duck retriever and upland dog. Its really the parents...look at the parents. If an english lab puppy like to chase balls and retrieve...like to look at birds,,itll be a good hunter
well, guess that means i'll need 1 of each!
Good call!!
My mom’s friend used to have a field/working Labrador she didn’t know what she was getting I was the one who had to babysit a dog and I took him everywhere I told him how to swim he was such a good dog unfortunately the owner got rid of the dog
Fatty Rolls - best English Lab trait.
Yes, I have British Newfoundland. Don't even get me started on My Irish Chihuahua
Can an English lab work as a pheasant hunting dog?
If you want something like an English and athleticism of an American, get a British Labrador. British is the working line of the English/Show Labs. A lot of hunters are leaning towards Brits now.
My English is so energetic, run with me while cycling. I live in north India, and my dog is best.
Had several Labs over 20+ years. Hadn't thought there was these 2 types animal but looking back at Charlie, he would be that more athletic slender American. The others, all bitches, were the stocky deep chested presumably English type. The bitches, Bramble Honey and Maizie, were athletic and stocky and ran for miles with me. As for temperment, Charlie wanted to be the alpha whilst the girls let him think he was. Cannot fault the breed in any way.
American field Labradors are the best. Bigger, shorter coat, much more athletic.
I on my 3rd Chocolate now.
I am converted.
Can you still take a English Lab out for waterfowl and upland hunting?
Yes. And they do great.
@@DogFocusTraining thx man. We found the best breeder around but for English cream golden retrievers. Solid pedigree and proof of great health. That was very important to us. Cant wait to start training for waterfowl and upland. I was told they are still great gun dogs?
Yes!
You will love those dogs. They make amazing upland game dogs and if you work then into it, great duck dogs as well.
@@polarisoutdoors3105 it's funny how you asked the question using the word "still". It's as if you think it may be illegal to use those dogs to hunt or maybe they haven't been as capable so you thought asking a CZcamsr was the way to go. Then, as if you were anxiously awaiting the response, they reply with yes they're great, you find the best breeder around lol, and make the purchase. I like how you point out how their health was important to you as if anyone laying out a couple a grand really doesn't give a dam lmao. What are the chances this is a fake account set up by this channel to fool people into believing there is good info here. Maybe I have it wrong but it sure looks reallllll sketchy!!!
I never knew there was a difference. I got a lab because I thought they had strictly English characteristics. I accidentally got the American lab. Lol!!!!!!! Boy is he a handful. I love him but I was hoping for a calmer dog. He is now 4 yrs old. I got him at 8 weeks old. He is still so hyper. Lol
😂😂
There seems to be a lot of misinformation that mainly comes from America about the difference. I had a working English lad for 14 years. He was massive, over 100lbs, built like a classic English dig with a 26 inch neck. His energy levels were off the scale. 3 hours swimming a day with a long walk was still not enough to wear him out. Trying was dead easy, only need to show him something once or twice.
You had a working English lab? What does that mean?
so I have a lab. He's not purebred, of course, since he's adopted, but they did tell us he was kind of an english lab. But anyway. The point is, he looks like an english lab but...a bit to the left. Huge, thick legs and paws, big, blocky head and short-ish snout, whide shoulders, you know, standard english lab His body, though, it's pretty slim and athletic, which makes his legs, specially his arms, look even bigger. Imagine the legs of some kind of large mastiff stuck on to the body of an american lab. Plus, he has the thick tail of an english lab...but it's also freakishly long. It's a weapon, that thing, it's as thick as my arm. He's a lil funky looking. Also he's a great swimmer but gets tired somewhat quickly when running and prefers to play fight or splash around or retrieve stuff. Idk, he's pretty interesting. There's definitely some working dog in him but he's also been a great indoor pet (with lots, and I leam LOTS of exercize and training). He has perfect health, so he's not the product of bad breeding, but I do wonder how he ended up in the pound. Probably abandoned or lost as a puppy, which is pretty sad.
My American lab was the best , very easy to train , energetic yet calm, very agile and handsome .
My American Lab won’t slow down enough for me to even pet him. 😂😂
5:54 believe it or not but I’ve seen English labs jump like that before.
As much as I like the content of this video - Obviously the call is fake. The call icon on the phone would be red if you were actually on a call. Anyway thank you for an informative video.
In a wheelchair thinking of getting an English one since they stay close more.
Even the English or Show Labs are high energy when they are pups
I could see the phone screen hahaha
My English Labrador is chocolate.
Where I come from we call them working line and show line.
That is pretty common around here as well.
Can labs be purebred and bi colored?
Not normally. Very occasionally a labrador will be mis-marked. If you do an internet search on labrador mis-marks you should be able to find some information and pictures
all white pigmented labs are english labs. (no not all yellow labs are english, as the red fox colour lab is american)
Where do you get that information? I have heard that said about Golden Retrievers. But I have never heard anyone say that about Labradors
Some of it is male vs female
The term American and English is only used in America. The rest of the world uses Show and working Lines.
America uses them too - at least in field trial and hunting circles. The average person has come to know them as American / English. To tell you the truth, I can’t find when that terminology started.
@@DogFocusTraining The odd thing is all Labs originated in England, as working dogs, and the heavier show lab originated in the US as the US kennel club described the breed as heavier set the the UK kennel club. An upside down world!!
So backwards and upside down. Thanks for the info!
how many times do we have to hear this bull from you guys in the USA , english v american...working v show.... we have excellent working strains over here, some are bigger and stronger and some are built like your skinny greyhound versions over there, you guys really need to come over and actually watch some good working dogs and not just the ones used for field trials either , and one last point about something you yourself highlighted with a dog close in V a dog pushing out, you cant shoot a pheasant or anything else at 100 yards when your American dogs puts it up ! and it wont see the bird you shoot at twenty yards as its still hunting up on its own 100 yards away from you , lastly if you have never had a so called "English" lab jump in the back of the truck you are buying the wrong strains i'm afraid. It's strange how we never see American teams competing in the world championships isnt it !
The truth is, that there are very few “working” strains in the USA. The large majority have become just family dogs. Breeders have started breeding just for looks rather than abilities. But, the terms over here are what they are. Maybe I will do a video suggesting new terms for the different strains in USA.
HELP: Can an English Lab jump in & out of a 4Runner (which is not lifted)?
I want a lazy Labrador, but it needs to get in and out of my 4Runner on its own. I have heard that some English Labs are so lazy, they need to be lifted in and out of the truck/suv. If they can, they sound perfect for my household.
I have a 110 pound+ English lab that can jump on a full sized pool table. As long as your English is in shape and you have him jumping from a young age you should be good.
Mine never jumped in his entire life. We got a ramp.
@@Wockaflockafish It's all fun and games until the CCL goes out. My American was in fantastic shape and weighed 75 lbs. She could easily jump into the front seat of my F150 4x4. We hiked several miles several times a week. One morning, she's walking on 3 legs. CCL doesn't fail due to a sudden event, like we see with humans (ACL). They fail over time...wear and tear. Knee (stifle) anatomy. Even when standing still, the ligament is under stress. After her $4500 TPLO surgery, I bought a ramp. Should have had one from the get-go. She could still jump easily into the back of my 4Runner, but i didn't let that happen too often. You'd never know she'd had a knee problem after she healed. Letting your lab jump off the pool table isn't doing a 110 lb. body any favors, either.
Why is a Canadian dog called an american lab? 😂
😂😂. Never thought about that. Probably because Canadians are too polite to throw a fuss. 😂😂
Canada is in North America. Maybe that's why?
Portuguese Water Dog, Bavarian Mountain Hound, German Shepard, German Shorthair, Belgian Shepard, Small/Big Munsterlander - take a guess where their names came from?