At a glance
- Type
- Purebred, FCI No. 122, Group 8 (retrievers)
- Height
- Dogs 56–57 cm · bitches 54–56 cm
- Weight
- Typically about 25–36 kg (the FCI standard sets no weight)
- Life expectancy
- About 10–12 years
- Coat
- Short, dense, weather-resistant double coat; black, yellow (cream to fox red) or chocolate
- Grooming
- A weekly brush; more often during the spring and autumn moult
- Exercise
- At least 2 hours a day once grown; puppies less, in short sessions
- With children
- Excellent with children; a heavy, bouncy youngster can knock a toddler over
- In an apartment
- Possible with a lift and long daily outings; happier with a garden
- Cyprus summer
- Black and chocolate coats overheat fast; summer walks only early and late
- Our price
- from €1,400
About the Labrador Retriever
The Labrador started on the Newfoundland coast, where fishermen used dogs of this type to retrieve from cold water. The dense weather-resistant coat and the thick otter-like tail that works as a rudder both come from that. British sportsmen imported the dogs in the late 1800s and made the breed what it is; the standard still lists a keen love of water among its defining traits.
Labradors are the most popular pedigree dog in Britain for good reason. The standard describes them as biddable and eager to please, and rules out both aggression and undue shyness — a fair account of a well-bred one. They are easy to train, honest with strangers, reliable with children, and adaptable enough to work as guide and assistance dogs.
Two things catch owners out. The first is energy: a young Labrador needs more than two hours a day and stays genuinely boisterous until about three. The second is appetite. This breed will eat whatever is available and gains weight quickly, and a heavy Labrador ages badly — measure meals and be strict about scraps.
Grooming is easy, a weekly brush, though he sheds steadily all year. In Cyprus, swim him rather than run him through the summer and keep exercise to the early morning and evening. Expect an uncomplicated, affectionate dog for ten to twelve years.
Origin, purpose and temperament follow the official FCI breed standard; exercise, grooming and family suitability follow The Royal Kennel Club (UK). Every puppy is an individual — ask us about the one you are considering.
Living with a Labrador in Cyprus
Hungry by design. Many Labradors carry a POMC gene variant that dulls the feeling of being full: the begging is wiring, not hunger. Family lunches and barbecues are the risk: guests slip him halloumi, and cooked bones, skewers and corn cobs can block or tear the gut. Weigh his daily food and ask visitors not to feed him. In a lifelong study, Labradors kept lean lived about two years longer, with less strain on their joints.
Black and chocolate coats. A dark coat turns sunlight into heat: stroke his back after ten minutes in the July sun and you will feel it. From June to September walk at first light and after dark, on shaded routes. Dusk is also when sandflies feed, and from about May to October their bite can give a dog leishmaniasis, so agree a repellent and vaccine plan with your vet. For ticks, see our puppy care sheet.
Sea and pools. Swimming is his best summer exercise. Pools are the danger: a dog cannot climb out over a vertical wall or a ladder, and a tired one can drown. Teach him the way to the steps from the first swim. Afterwards, hose off the salt and dry inside the ear flaps.
The chewing stage. Until about a year old, a Labrador puppy chews everything. Tiles survive; sandals by the door and garden irrigation pipes do not. Give him chews of his own and keep shoes out of reach. The adult is gentle and sociable, but left alone in the yard all day he digs and chews from boredom.
