How Big Do Labrador Retrievers Get?
by Anna Hart
Filed under Labrador Information
Here’s another bit of information on Labradors that prospective owners forget to ask before falling in love with a puppy: how big do Labrador Retrievers get? All puppies are little and adorable, but they all grow. Labrador Retrievers grow a lot! We know that, but really – how big do Labrador Retrievers get by the time they are full grown?
American Kennel Club Information on Labradors
The American Kennel Club (AKC) information on Labradors begins with this description of the breed:
“The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized dog.”
If that were the only information on Labradors they gave, you might picture a dog the size of a Border Collie. But that is not the only information on Labradors they give. If you read further on their website, you will find more detail.
* AKC measures the Labrador’s size at the withers, which is the ridge between the shoulder bones of the Lab – near the base of the neck in back. A full-grown male Labrador will be 22 1/2 to 24 1/2 inches. A female Labrador, when full-grown will be between 21 1/2 and 23 1/2 inches.
* An adult male Labrador Retriever that is in working condition (not overweight) will weigh between 65 and 80 pounds. An adult female Labrador Retriever that is in working condition will weigh between 55 and 70 pounds.
Missing Information on Labradors
What’s missing from the AKC information on Labradors? You know how tall the dog is at the withers, but remember that its head will rise several inches above that. If you have a toddler in your home, the dog may be nearly as tall as the baby. They can kiss easily!
Also missing from the AKC information on Labradors is what that weight really means in your home. The toddler mentioned above will not weigh nearly that much. The Lab will easily be able to knock the baby down. It will knock down other things as well, and you will want to train it early and well to avoid damage.
The third missing item from the AKC information on Labradors is the energy that is packed into that height and weight. Lovable Labradors are bursting with energy. They love to run and play, so any information on Labradors must include their immense need for exercise.
Finally, remember that larger dogs like Labs need more food and more space. Be sure you have a yard or living room big enough to meet his needs!
We have a black and a yellow lab from the same litter. They both weigh just over 155 lbs. They were bred to be larger dogs.
Our AKC reg. black lab puppy is 4 months old and is already 40lbs, I guess it’s a good thing I don’t plan on showing her, lol. I’ve been wondering if we should invest in a saddle!!!
My chocolate lab (male) is 7 mo./85lbs……..lean and active. we were told his mom was 85-90 and the father 128. So much to LOVE…
We have a 14 week old black lab. He weighs 16 lbs.
My old boy, Wodgie the black lab is a good 80lbs on his lighter days, he is full of love and is definitely my boy. We have recently gotten 2 new labby boys, littermates Rosco and Gunner. They are 14 weeks old, Rosco is weighing in at 30lbs and Gunner at 25ish! I’m gonna have some big boys on my hands! If anyone is discouraged, or investigating making a labby part of their family, don’t focus on the negative comments all over the internet. I’ve been a dog mommy all my life, and my labbys are by far the most loyal, gentle and loving I’ve ever had……yes they do stay a puppy a lot longer than others, but any dog takes work and it just doesn’t get better than a labby.
i just got a yellow lab golden retriever mic.he was 6wks wheni got him and weighed 9lbs.now a week later he weighs 14.5 lbs!!!!!i also have a pure bred golden retreiver thats weighs 90lbs.so i will def have two biiggg boys on my hands!!
I have a 7 month old female golden lab mia and she weighs only 50 lbs wondering if she will get bigger
so now my yellow lab retreiver is 11wks old..and he weighs….25LBS!!!SO HES PUT ON 10 LBS SINCE MY LAST POST!
I am looking for a large yellow lab. Anyone know of any good breeders? I live in long island NY.
I have a 9-month-old male yellow lab named Marley. (Yes, like from the movie). He is a solid 60 pounds. The vet told me he is exactly where he needs to be right now, and that when he is finished growing his top weight will be between 75 and 80 pounds.We live in a townhouse with plenty of space in the front for him to play. He hasn’t wrecked my furniture yet, but he has certainly eaten plenty of my shoes and stuffed animals! He’s a very good puppy. He can be rambunctious at times with the kids running around the house because he always wants to be right in the middle of the action! But once the house is settled down and quiet, he too settles himself down and goes to sleep. So it is possible to have a lab in your apartment without losing your mind! Just make sure he goes out often and gets plenty of play time. I have learned the hard way that if you don’t GIVE them something to do, they will FIND something to do!!!!
I have a 6month old black lab puppy, named Houdini. Right now he weighs about 50lbs. His mom weighs somewhere in the 60-70lb range and his dad is about 70-80lbs. He is estimated to weigh about 75lbs like his dad but I think he is gonna be more like his mom where as his brother, Shadow, from the same litter, has already surpassed his weight and height and is obviously gonna be a much bigger boy. Houdini is a wonderful puppy, he runs and plays outside everyday with his best friend, who is a boxer named Bear, then comes in and either plays for a bit or settles down into his bed and takes a nap until it is time to go out again for more play. He is a very calm lab he doesn’t chew anything other than his toys and bones and knows the difference between indoor and outdoor behaviors. He is the best dog I have ever known and many of my friends and family with dogs are jealous of how well tempered and trained he is.
i have a Labrodor about nine months old now he was the biggest out of his litter and i want to know if that will make him a bigger fully grown dog when he is older ??
please add me on facebook ‘Corey Shortland” (14 years of age) and tell me
Thank you
Corey
I have a 6yr old English Lab (block head) and he weights over 110lbs, and is NOT considered overweight.
He is much larger than a normal Lab.
I’m 5’3 and he comes up to about mid thigh, where as his brothers ans sisters only go about to my knee.
I don’t know why he’s so large, but everyone thinks he’s a beautiful dog.
both his grandparents are star dogs.
his grandmother was a champion show dog, and his grandfather was a champion hunting dog.
This is all very interesting. While fishing last night, I ran into a guy that claimed he had a chocolate male that weighs 170lbs. and stands almost 7ft tall when up on his hind legs w/ forearms on owner’s shoulders. I immediately assumed he was embelishing by 2ft and 40lbs. He said he runs him 3-5 miles daily and that the dog is solid muscle. He kept saying that it was because it was “one of the original labs from Canada.” I had all I could do to not correct him, being that labs originated across the pond. Very interesting and entertaining to read about all these other large labs, though. Let’s see some pictures, people!
Side note: I have a 9wk old yellow male(Zeke) who was neither the largest nor the smallest in his litter. Not sure how much he weighs at present, but mother was 55lbs and father was 65-70lbs. Very curious as to how big he will end up being as well as if there are any puppy/dog foods out there that encourage bone growth? I would love to have Zeke end up being an athletic 75-85lbs.
Thanks
Expounding further on my previous comment… Zeke has shorter legs than his brother that I looked at. I really would rather not have a lab that appears short and squatty. So, if there is anything at all I can do to try to influence his adult height, I would LOVE to hear about it.
Cheers