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Labrador Retriever
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A black Labrador retriever stands on grass outdoors, facing left with its mouth slightly open and tail raised. Playful and friendly Dog surfing A great service animal Doggie bingo Labrador Retriever (left) A Laborador retriever fetches game from the water
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Various retriever dog breeds sitting in a row. L-R: curly coated retriever, golden retriever, Labrador retriever, duck tolling retriever, flat coated retriever. hunting sporting dogs
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A black Labrador retriever stands on grass outdoors, facing left with its mouth slightly open and tail raised.
A favorite breed Labrador Retriever.

Labrador Retriever

breed of dog
Also known as: Lab, Labrador
Written by
Caroline Coile
Caroline Coile is the author of the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds and more than 30 other books.
Caroline Coile
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Labrador Retriever, breed of sporting dog that originated in Newfoundland and was brought to England by fishermen about 1800. It is an outstanding gun dog, consistently dominating field trials. More solidly built than other retrievers and with shorter legs, its distinctive features include an otterlike tail, thick at the base and tapered toward the end, and its short dense coat of black, brown (“chocolate”), or yellow. Breed data The Labrador Retriever is characteristically rugged, even-tempered,...

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