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How Long Do Labrador Retrievers Live? Average Lifespan, Data & Care

Chelsea Mortensen Profile Picture

By Chelsea Mortensen

chocolate labrador retriver sitting on grass

Labs are one of the most popular dog breeds, and it’s not hard to see why. Whether black, yellow, or chocolate, Labrador retrievers are beautiful, friendly, and loving. They also tend to be fairly healthy breeds. But are they long-lived?

Yes and no. In general, big dogs have shorter lifespans, so your black lab might not live as long as the average Chihuahua. But they are a healthy breed for their size, and the average lifespan of a Labrador Retriever is around 12 years.

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What’s the Average Lifespan of Labrador Retrievers?

The average Labrador retriever will live 12 years—that’s on the longer end for large breed dogs. There’s a pretty big range in lifespan, with most dogs in the breed living for between 9 and 15 years. A healthy lab might even live a few years beyond that if you’re lucky! The exact lifespan of a dog is impossible to predict, but there are some factors that make a difference.

labrador retriever
Photo Credit: Ivanova N, Shutterstock

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Why Do Some Labrador Retrievers Live Longer Than Others?

1. Nutrition

Food is fuel, and giving your dog good fuel is the key to long life. Dogs with good nutrition will avoid nutrient deficiencies that can lead to improper aging. Keeping an eye on your dog’s nutrition is also key to preventing obesity, which leads to many health complications down the road.


2. Environment and Conditions

Along with good food, giving your dog good living conditions will help it live longer. Dogs that live mostly indoors live much longer than outdoor dogs. Give your dog an environment with plenty of clean water, shelter, and space to play. Most importantly, make sure that your dog’s environment is safe. Leading causes of death in dogs are accidents and injuries, so preventing your dog from running away or getting hurt at home will add years to its life.


3. Exercise

Healthy dogs need plenty of exercise, and larger breeds like labs can struggle to get enough exercise at home. Walking, hiking, and playing outdoors regularly will help your dog stay in shape and be happy.

Black Labrador Retriever in the water
Photo Credit: 858106, Pixabay

4. Size

Bigger dog breeds tend to have shorter lifespans, and that’s true for individuals as well. If your dog happens to be on the smaller end, it might age a little more slowly.


5. Sex and Neutering Status

Gender plays a role in life expectancy as well, but that changes based on spaying and neutering. A recent study has found that spayed female dogs are the longest-lived category of dogs, while unspayed females live much shorter lives. Male dogs have a lifespan somewhere in the middle, and neutering gives them only a slight lifespan boost. In short, if you want your dog to live a long, healthy life, get a female and get her spayed.


6. Genes

Genes play a big part in lifespan, and that includes dogs. There are hundreds of genes that can affect lifespan, so we don’t know all the factors that go into it yet. But picking a dog with parents that are healthy and no known genetic diseases will give your dog a better shot at a long life.

labrador
Image Credit: Chiemsee2016, Pixabay

7. Coat Color

A different recent study of Labrador retrievers has given some surprising results. Labs come in three main color morphs—black, yellow, and chocolate—and despite their similarities, they aren’t all the same. In fact, chocolate labs had a significantly shorter lifespan—about 10.7 years.

Although the exact causes aren’t known, it’s likely that this has more to do with a smaller gene pool in chocolate labs and not the color gene itself, so finding a chocolate lab with some other colors in its parentage may help boost lifespan.


8. Inbreeding

Purebred dogs might have long pedigrees, but they actually tend to live shorter than other dogs. That’s because they have a closed gene pool, with more similarities in their ancestors’ genes.


9. Healthcare

Finally, healthcare makes a huge difference in dog lifespans. Dogs with proper vet care throughout their lives can be treated for conditions that shorten their lifespan and avoid many diseases. Making a plan to pay for regular health checkups and routine care, as well as having a plan for health emergencies, will add years to your dog’s life.

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The 4 Life Stages of a Labrador Retriever

1. Puppy

Labrador retriever puppies sitting on grass
Image Credit: sobaka777, Shutterstock

Labs are considered puppies for the first 12–18 months of their lives. In this time period, they will grow quickly, gaining weight and height. They typically become sexually mature at around 6–9 months of age, but it will take them several more months to reach their adult size and weight. Puppies need more food and exercise than adult dogs and will be much more energetic. A special growth formula food will help them stay healthy.


2. Young Adult

Even once your dog reaches adulthood, expect changes over time. Once your dog is fully grown, it will be a young adult. These dogs are usually high-energy and will have a higher metabolism. They might eat more food and prefer higher protein content than older dogs, and they often need more exercise.


3. Mature Adult

labrador retriever standing in the grass
Image Credit: Alexander Rim, Shutterstock

A lab is considered a mature adult at about 3–4 years old. There isn’t a specific marker between young adulthood, mature adulthood, and senior age groups, and changes will happen gradually. You may need to keep a closer watch on your dog’s weight and food intake, but otherwise you should expect good health and energy. Although your dog will lose the last traces of puppy exuberance, exercise is still important and your dog won’t have trouble getting around.


4. Senior

Labrador Retrievers begin to hit their senior years at around 7-8 years of age. During this time, you might see your dog’s energy levels drop as exercise becomes more difficult. Senior dogs may also begin having age-related health issues such as arthritis, heart disease, and other common ailments.

Regular vet care is always important, but it is especially important as your dog ages. Eventually, you should expect strenuous exercise to be too much for your senior dog, but continue to encourage whatever activity you can unless a vet advises otherwise. Switching to a senior-formula food will help support your dog’s health during this time.

Divider 1How to Tell Your Labrador Retriever’s Age

If you adopt your lab as an adult, it can be hard to tell your retriever’s age. A vet can often examine a dog’s teeth to get an idea of age due to wear and tear. You can also look for signs of age including mobility, gray hairs, and energy levels. However, once your dog is no longer a puppy, there’s no way to get an exact age.

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Conclusion

Labrador retrievers are healthy, active dogs that usually live good lives. They live about 12 years on average, but lots of different factors can affect that age. Some labs can live 15 years or more! This means that adopting a lab puppy is a big commitment—you should expect that dog to be a part of your family for a long time.

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Featured Image Credit: Zontica, Shutterstock

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