English Vs American Lab – Differences In Type And Temperament
I first heard the term English lab and American Lab many years ago when I joined retriever training and hunting forums to hang out with other folks that shared my passion for working Labrador Retrievers.
I soon discovered that in American hunting circles, the term English Lab was not a compliment. And that English Labradors were often described as fat, slow, and dare I say, stupid.
Rushing in to defend my beloved and athletic dogs, it became clear that the dogs being described as English, were not imports. They were in fact Labradors from show lines, rather than from working lines. And they were born and bred in the USA. The terms English and American had nothing whatever to do with the dog’s nationality or place of birth.
Lost in translation
In the USA the term ‘American lab’ is used to describe dogs bred for work as hunting companions whereas in the UK the term ‘working Lab’ is prefered’. These two terms are completely interchangeable and we are talking about exactly the same type of dog.
The same applies to the UK term ‘show lab’ which in the USA is referred to as an English Lab.
So when my American friends were being somewhat disparaging about English dogs, they were in fact talking about Labradors bred for the show ring. In exactly the same way, some in the British hunting community are disparaging about show labs too.
Are American Labs better than English?
The argument over which type of Labrador is better is not going away anytime soon. And the answer as to which is best for you, will always depend on your circumstances. (See ‘how to choose’ below)
My opinions on this have changed somewhat over the years, and I’ll talk about that as we go.
The split
The Labrador Retriever breed became split into two different types several decades ago now. And the differences affect both the dog’s appearance and structure, and their temperament.
The differences in temperament are particularly relevant when you are considering buying a Labrador as a family pet. And we’ll talk about those in some detail
Differences in structure
American Labs tend to be taller, more slender and generally ‘racier’ in appearance than English Labs. English type Labs are often heavier than their field bred cousins, and shorter in the leg. The English Lab is likely to have a heavier, wider head – sometimes referred to as ‘blocky’. Some lack agility, though I have known some heavyweight show type Labs that are surprisingly good at jumping.
Some would argue that the blockiness of the English Lab’s head has been taken too far, and others would argue that the narrower face of the American Lab is not in keeping with the breed standard.
The deep chest and shorter legs of the show lab is another source of contention, with some breed enthusiasts saying, again, that this has been taken too far.
To my eye, some English Labs do look very short in the leg. But part of this is what we are used to. And I’d be the first to admit that some American Labs really do look a bit greyhoundy in shape.
Another difference lies in the tail. The traditional otter tail of the Labrador, is thick at the base and tapering at the tip. In many American Labs the tail is too whippy and thin to be described as an otter tail.
Which is the best shape?
If you are raising a puppy to be a hunting companion, those physical differences are not going to be as much of an issue as you might think.
Most English Labs are physically capable of running and jumping efficiently. If not allowed to become overweight they have good stamina, are capable of working all day, and are efficient, powerful, swimmers.
So why should you get an American Lab?
Well physically, you need an American Lab if you want to succeed in Field Trials. Especially in the USA, where Field Trials have evolved into long distance retrieving contests. Where the more streamlined build and sheer speed of the dog will give you the edge.
There are other reasons for choosing an American Lab if you intend to compete, but those are more concerned with the temperament of the dog.
Differences in temperament
In broad terms, Labradors bred from show lines as pets, have a fairly robust temperament. They tend to be outgoing and friendly. Perhaps a little over-friendly when young!
When it comes to temperament American or working type Labs, they may be a little less into meeting and greeting the whole world and a little more into focusing on their family and handler in particular. But there are further differences when it comes to different regions.
In the UK for example, where competitive training methods have traditionally avoided much force, working retrievers have been increasingly bred to be sensitive.
The more sensitive your dog is, the less force is needed in training. On the other side of the coin the very sensitive dog is more likely to give up when faced with challenges. So there is a balance to be had.
In the UK we have erred on the side of sensitivity and this is important because when sensitivity goes to far, it results in reactivity. And I am seeing more problems with reactivity in dogs from working lines now, than I have in the past. I’ll explain why this is important to you, in a moment.
In the USA long distance retrieves can be very complex and challenging. A dog may have to enter and exit water several times en route to a retrieve. Dogs are taught to push on in the face of pain, from an early age. And a dog with too much sensitivity would probably not make the grade.
Perhaps this is the reason that I see less reports of extremes of sensitivity in American Labs born in the USA. And if you are resident in the USA, the over-sensitivity issue may not be a problem for you.
Differences in energy and excitability
All Labradors are boisterous when young, but show Labs tend to become chilled out as they mature, while some of their field bred cousins remain high energy dogs throughout their lives.
These generalisms do not always apply to your dog! I had one pure working type Lab and one part work/part show type Lab that were close in age. My working type Labrador Tess, was quite sensible by the time her first birthday arrived. My mainly show dog Rachael was still not a grown-up at ten!
Which is the best temperament?
This is where I have changed my views somewhat over the years. Most of my Labs have been from working lines, and in many decades, and many labs, I have only had two Labs that were reactive. The first was over thirty years ago, and with more experience I would not have purchased the puppy whose mother was aloof. That would be a warning sign to me now.
More recently I am increasingly coming across reports of reactive dogs from working lines. Both from pet owners that are seeking help, and from other trainers that are being asked for help.
So, if you want a Labrador from working lines, either because you prefer the look of them or because you want a hunting companion, then you need to look very carefully at both parents of your future puppy. You are looking for confident, trusting dogs that are friendly and comfortable being around strangers and other dogs.
A Word About Trainability
The American Labrador has a quick mind as well as a quick body, and lives to please. Because of this and because of their more sensitive nature, the working strain Labrador can be easier to train to an advanced level.
It’s worth repeating that extremes of sensitivity can lead to nervousness, and reactivity can be a problem in some working lines. Reactive dogs make very challenging pets and a robust confidence, with no trace of shyness, is an important characteristic to look for in the parents of your puppy.
Outdoors in the open, American Labradors may have very strong hunting instincts and be more likely to pursue your local wildlife if not supervised and well trained. This can be a problem for those living in rural areas or exercising their dogs in countryside populated with rabbits or squirrels!
Some (not most) American Labs will have so much ‘drive’ that an inexperienced owner will struggle to gain control on their daily walks together. Especially if they don’t pay enough attention to the dog. This is something to consider if you like to relax and chat with friends whilst out walking your dog off the leash.Working bred labs respond best to lots of human contact, a structured training program, and a more managed approach to exercise outdoors.
On the other side of the coin, as juveniles, some English Labs can be over-friendly and distractible which can be a challenge, especially if you exercise your dog in busy dog parks around a lot of other dogs. But it’s generally an easier issue to solve than a dog with a propensity to pursue the local wildlife.
One final thought, in the UK, working labs are less likely to be prone to whining than show Labs. Simply because noise is a disqualifying fault in a field trial and has been ‘bred out’ of working lines to an extent. As you can see, there’s a lot to consider. And of course, these are broad generalizations. All dogs are individuals and the very best guide to how your dog will turn out, it to meet and get to know, both parents.
(paid link)English or American – how to choose
If you want a Labrador for a pet, for long walks, fun with the kids, an all round family dog, then an English Lab, that is to say a Labrador from show lines, is a perfectly good choice.
That is not to say you should rule out Labs from working lines. Usually, when you buy a puppy from a breeder, the stud dog is not available for you to meet. But perhaps, and especially if you are in the UK, be very insistent on meeting both parents, if you are buying from working lines.
If you are intending to compete with your dog, and especially if you are looking for a dog that you can compete in Field Trials, in either the USA or Europe, you really do need a Labrador from working lines. An American Lab will have the speed, agility, and trainability that will give you a chance of success. The same applies to dog agility. American Labs have good focus, tend to be attentive to their handler and responsive to training. And have the flexibility and speed to succeed in this very competitive sport.
If you simply want to train your family dog as a hunting companion, you may want to look for an American Lab, but don’t rule out an English Lab. Many of them make perfectly good hunting companions and most still have a decent retrieving instinct. The truth is, that many English Labs will do a passable job of fetching a bird for you. And many American Labs will do a good job of being your family pet.
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I have owned several Labs both English. One named Odin ended up having hip and elbow problems and had to be put down at 12 years old. He was wicked smart though. Our newest lab was born the day Odin was put down. His name is Buddy and it fits him to a tee. He loves everyone!! We had to send him to a trainer for two months of obedience BOOT CAMP to stop the Jumping and pulling. It has been hard being without him but having just seen him, I can say without a doubt that Raney Ranch Labradors in the San Diego area are great Trainers. He is much improved!!! While Buddy shows 0% Interest in Field work, His interest in people will be put to work as a dog visiting patients in the hospital my wife works in.
I’ve owned 3 labs. 2 English Show type and 1 more agile and slender but with a lot of muscle definition. Sometimes I love to watch (Sassy, the working type) her because she is true balance with a lot of drive and strong desire to please. All 3 were and are reactive. Lots of training, hard work and apologies. I understand these guys so much better after reading this article. Thank you!
Isabella is my second lab. She’s American. She’s flown commercially 60 times. Gets on the plane and sleeps for the 2+ hours under the seats on the trip to Mexico. Ella te gusta la playa and that may be an understatement. She had a paw problem a few weeks ago and the vet in Los Angeles took care of it and charged me $640. The same problem happened again in Mexico. It cost me $37. OUCH!
That’s quite a difference in cost!
We had a pure-bred black Lab, Cleopatra’s Midnight Diamond (Cleo) who was of excellent field trial stock with both parents being champions. She fits this article for the American Labrador perfectly. She would swim in our pool daily, by herself, playing fetch in the pool by nosing the ball in and watching if float away until she decided to get it. She would dive to the bottom of the 8-foot end to retrieve a toy and loved to swim side-by-side with me. As a retriever, there were none better taking directional commands when I would try to launch a ball out of her site. She knew the colors of her toys including identical ones and if she wanted to play with one that day, don’t throw the other.
Cayenne (for her coat color) was a pure-bred Norfolk Terrier (floppy ears) which is described by some as the Lab of the Terrier group. With the exception of the water where she was a very reluctant swimmer, she too exhibited much of the American Lab’s traits. Unlike so many Terriers who must be on your lap, she was happy to lay by my feet, sleep under the bed, and played fetch until she would happily fall over in a slump. Cayenne also knew her toys and the funniest one was 3 tennis balls from the same can which I had marked with dots to tell them apart. If she wanted to play with ball #1 that day, don’t throw ball #2 or #3. Sometimes I would present one ball to go outside and play and that one was not “the one” that day so she would hunt and hunt in the house until she found “the one” for the day.
Our current dark chocolate American Lab, Henry, was a failed foster. He too exhibits all of the traits. I just came in from the back yard having thrown the ball with the ChuckIt(R) as far as 50 yards. It is amazing how he “turns it on” if I throw the ball just beyond him down low. Conversely, it is amazing to see him jump as much as his whole-body length into the air to catch a fly or bounced ball. He too knows his colors and I tell him the little orange ball he will get it when there is a slightly larger orange ball or a yellow glow in the dark ball of the same exact size from the same manufacturer. He loves to play with the Kong(R) flying disk as well leaping into the air to catch it. As with Cleo, if he loses the ball in the field he will stop and look to me for commands and upon seeing my arm in the direction he must head, then goes about searching in that area. Sometimes he gets so “on a mission” that I have to call his attention to get him to stop to take the next directional command. He is a bit ornery in that he will get on the bed at bedtime with wistful eyes saying to you: “tonight, daddy, may I sleep in the bed?” He gets 5 minutes of loving and then is ready to go to his bed on the floor on my side.
As a failed foster, Henry has helped us bring 15 other fosters to our home and ultimately to their forever homes. He helps teach them to ring the bells hanging on the door handle to let us know they/he wants to go out. He has even walked a puppy by holding the puppy’s leash in his mouth and stopping to let him use the bathroom and then bring him back to the house. Henry loves to swim and run the entire block with my son who rides his One Wheel(R) alongside.
Henry also has a big heart towards cats and other dogs but suffers from some PTSD having been raised by a breeder more interested in profit than the dog. Gunshots, suspenders, and straw or wide brimmed hats cause him to cower and shudder. He was very tentative going into the barn for the longest time. Unfortunately, while he could be a great field/hunting dog, I don’t think the PTSD would allow him to be. He also sits on the floor for long rides as opposed to in the seat or head out the window like so many other dogs. I also attribute this to his foster ride in the back of a van with 7 other puppies who had not yet been sold for Christmas from Pennsylvania to Ohio where we met him. My wife had to climb into the kennel in the back of the van to retrieve him at 4 months old. It was a sad beginning but now he is a happy member of our family.
While I wasn’t certain that I wanted another permanent dog after Cayenne’s death and thus we decided to foster temporary dogs, God had different plans for me and gifted me the best dog I could have ever wanted.
As I have taken some time to write this, Henry is now asleep at my feet slightly dreaming of something.
In hot temps of summer, at night my guy Dash tends to get very warm on our bed. Pants heavy. I wet towel in cold water & put on him. Seems to help. Husband says with the type of coat they have, is possible cold, wet towel creates steam & may make Dash even hotter. Dash is English lab, weighs 115, 10-1/2 yrs old & more of a house dog now. What do you think?
I had an English Lab. I ended his bought of cancer about a year ago. Buck was an English/British Lab. Laid back, but one of the fastest labs I have ever seen. He was a beast in the field in SD, great nose! Broad chested with a block head. That boy was very trainable and had professional field training. I am now awaiting the birth of a distant relative of his in late April.
Our first lab …American Chocolate girl….loads of energy…wonderful disposition…very loving towards humans and other animals. We now have our 2nd chocolate American girl …she’s even smarter! Chocolates are active but worth it! This one catches many fly balls.
My yellow lab could have played with the Yankees😂
We have an English Lab who is 4 years old. Libby weighs 90 pounds, and I think that’s where she’s going to stay. She’s on special food and we run/walk every day. She is active, but would prefer to lay down and rest. She is a wonderful girl and we love her to pieces. She’s very good with other dogs. We had a special needs dog who had seizures and was partially paralyzed. Before he would have a seizure she would get up and leave the room (didn’t want to stress him out), she was our early warning system. My daughter has a 6 month old poodle and they LOVE to play together.
Had an American for 12 years before she passed away from Lymphoma. She was a crazy lady, a serious handful. Insatiable energy, run, bike, climb mountains, skiing, you name it, she was up for it, for hours on end. Great dog and very trainable, but a serious amount or work.
Now we just adopted a 5 month old puppy who is an english-american mix. Much more laid back and easy going. Loves to sleep at my feet. But is always up for a romp in the backyard. She is very smart, and is easier to train. Is more attentive and less distracted come training time. I love them both, but as I age up a bit, it is much easier to live with our current pup! Of course its up to you, but that is my experience to share!
Do female English labs weigh 100 lbs? A breeder told us this. Never had labs but love English types
Possibly. We have a male and he is 113 lbs!
I currently have a 18 week old English/American mix named Fergus! My sister has his half sister from a previous litter. The female is showing alot of American traits and my boy is showing alot of the English traits. We have always had English/American mixed labs. We love them bc it’s the best of both!
We have one of each and you can definitely see the difference in behavior and physique. They are both amazing dogs with oodles of energy the American loves to run if he gets the chance he’s out. The English likes to run but is not as much willing to sneak out to do so and my grandchildren can’t get enough of them.
I have owned an American and an English. I prefer the English.
I have an American and he runs like the wind…needs two solid long exercise sessions off leash everyday. Fits every example of an American…though his anxiety prevents any grooming and barely trips to the vet. At home lounges around from kid bed to kid bed to finally his bed. An odd duck for sure and hates being pet unless on his terms. He’s a keeper though and even my non dog friends love his disposition and allow him around their houses. He’s my second American in a row had Shaggy for 13 and Hank is coming up on 6.
Hi I have two black labrqdors one “English”and the other “American” this article describes their differences perfectly. I have always had a Labrador in my life (I am now 56) and always will they are perfect family dogs. My English lab is now a grand old age of 15 and the other is 4.
I have a 3yr old Bench/American mix. He’s an odd duck. He sleeps and lounges around a lot and want’s to run to China when he isn’t. lol
I am considering an American Lab male pup to add to my female working line German Shepherd of 6 years. She is intense but with a good off button, well trained and never shown any form of aggression towards dogs or people. She does have a high prey drive that is under control. She adjust her activity level to mine but of course she gets plenty of exercise and play. I am retired as pet dog trainer. I
At the start of the year we had 3 black American labs, all from working parents. Unfortunately, due to age (15 & 13), we now only have 1 left. If I ever take the plunge again it will definitely be American 😊
I have an American 5 yr old the Vet says he should weigh 85# he weighed that at a year!! he’s 5 and weighs 112# he runs like the wind everyday how much should an American mail weigh im 5′ and when we stand at a window he is the same height as me!! People tell me he’s the biggest Lab they ever seen! I wish I could post our pic
Hi Debbie, that’s fab! If you’d like to email us a photo to [email protected] we would love to add his image to the article for you!