Male vs Female Labrador: Main Differences (With Pictures)

The beautiful and lovable Labrador Retriever held the top place of the most popular dog breed in America from 1991 to 2020. While they may not be sitting at number one currently, they are still within the top 5. These incredible sporting dogs excel at hunting, retrieving, and being well-rounded family pets.

When deciding on bringing a new dog into the family, it can be difficult to decide whether you should decide on a male or female. While similar overall, there are some key differences between male and female Labradors. Read on to learn more about the differences between the two and hopefully it will help you decide which is right for you.

Visual Differences

At a Glance

Labrador 101

The Labrador Retriever originated in Newfoundland, Canada but was further developed after being imported to England. Initially bred as water retrievers, this unique and lovable working breed quickly captured the hearts of many and became a widely owned and beloved family pet.

The Labrador’s thick, water-repellent coat comes in three recognized coat colors including yellow, chocolate, and black with varying shades within the variations. Unlike some may believe, coat color does not play a role in personality traits.

To this day, the Labrador is used for hunting and retrieving, as well as maintaining its spot as one of the most popular dog breeds among families around the globe. This breed is exceptionally intelligent, outgoing, enthusiastic, and good-natured. They are typically great with children and other pets and make wonderful house pets if their exercise needs are met.

Like any dog, they should be kept up to date with regular veterinary checkups, preventative care, and parasite preventatives. They should also be fed high-quality dog food that is appropriate to their age, size, and activity level. Labradors have a unique double coat that will shed all year round, so frequent brushing can help reduce excess shedding.

Male Labrador Overview

Personality/Character

While male and female Labradors are known for being loving, affectionate, and sweet-tempered dogs there are some differences in personality traits between the two. Males are typically eager to please and tend to attach to their humans more. They love social interaction and will go out of their way to get some much-needed attention.

They tend to be goofy, fun-loving, and have the potential to be more territorial and protective than females.

Training

Labradors are very intelligent dogs that tend to be easy to train. Males do mature more slowly than females, so they may become bored more easily and could get distracted during training, so it’s a good idea to implement variety as well as consistency. They do display more of a desire to please their owners, so getting started at a young age is very beneficial, as with any dog.

Positive reinforcement goes a long way, and your male Labrador will undoubtedly enjoy any time spent with their people.

Health & Care

Labrador Retrievers are known to be at risk for certain health concerns including canine elbow dysplasia, canine hip dysplasia,  and patellar luxation related to their size and activity level. For males, getting them neutered can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer which has a higher chance of occurrence later in life when left unaltered.

Breeding

Breeding should only be done by reputable breeders under veterinary supervision to ensure the dogs pass all necessary health checks to ensure only top-quality genetics are being passed along. Male Labradors left intact for breeding purposes may display some unwanted behaviors that are natural for mature males like marking territory and mounting other pets, people, or even objects. Males are also more prone to roaming because of their instinct to find a mate.

If you do not plan on breeding your male Labrador, discuss neutering with your veterinarian to see when the best time would be to complete the procedure. Neutering helps eliminate unwanted behaviors, and the risk of unwanted litters, and even has some health benefits.

Female Labrador Overview

Personality/Character

Female Labradors tend to mature more quickly than males and display more independence. While males tend to be more up in your face and demanding of love, females tend to pick up more easily on the surrounding energy and will act accordingly.

That’s not saying that females don’t absolutely love attention and affection, because they certainly do. Females just tend to have an emotional maturity that males can lack.

Training

Female Labradors will mature more quickly than your average male, so during the puppy stage they can be much more responsive to training and pick up on things a bit quicker. Females are also more independent by nature, which could potentially impact training. As with any other dog, it’s best to start training from an early age and keep it consistent.

Since Labradors are intelligent and active, you need training that fits their needs.

Health & Care

Like males, female Labradors will have the same genetic health concerns that are common to the breed. It’s highly recommended that you speak to your veterinarian about spaying your female Labrador to help prevent uterine infections and the risk of breast cancer that can potentially develop in unaltered females.

You will also be preventing messy heat cycles that will occur approximately every 6 months and last about 3 weeks.

Breeding

Only reputable breeders should partake in breeding litters and as mentioned previously, this should be done under the supervision of veterinary professionals to rule out any health concerns within the bloodline. There are so many benefits to spaying your female that it is advised you speak with your veterinarian about the procedure and when would be the ideal time to have it completed.

Common Health Problems for Labrador Retrievers

Labradors are an overall healthy breed but regardless of whether a Labrador is male or female, they can be predisposed to a few common health ailments.  Fortunately, many of these conditions can be prevented or reduced in severity by completing genetic health testing, implementing high-quality diets, and keeping up with routine veterinary care throughout their lives.

Which Gender Is Right for You?

Both male and female Labradors share a keen intelligence, and sweet-natured temperaments and make loyal, loving, and gentle companions.

While the differences between male and female Labradors may be subtle, there are a few differences between the two that could play a deciding factor in which one is more compatible for you, but only you will be able to decide what would work best for you.

Featured Image Credit: (L) Helen Sushitskaya, Shutterstock | (R) Ajtai Krisztina, Shutterstock