Labrador Retriever: temperament, care and good with kids
The Labrador Retriever is one of the world's most popular family dogs. They combine a friendly nature, a willingness to work and real resilience — an ideal companion for an active household.
Temperament
Labradors are good-natured, sociable and almost conflict-free. They love people and other dogs, enjoy retrieving and work happily for a reward. They're easy to train, which makes them a rewarding choice for beginners — but without exercise and tasks they get bored.
Good with children
★★★★★
With children, Labradors are among the very best. They're patient, tolerate noise and small clumsy handling, and love being part of the action. As with any large dog, supervise contact with the smallest kids because of their size and enthusiasm.
Care & upkeep
The short, dense coat sheds — brush once or twice a week, more during shedding season. Labradors love food and gain weight easily, so watch portions and condition. Otherwise they're a hardy, low-maintenance breed.
Exercise & daily routine
They need plenty of exercise — ideally 1–2 hours a day including retrieving, swimming or running. An under-exercised Labrador gets fat and finds their own entertainment. Great for families who enjoy being outdoors.
Can you handle the daily care?
TestDog simulates the real routine of caring for a virtual dog — feeding in set windows and walks tracked by your pedometer. Try the responsibility for real before you get a Labrador or any other breed.
Download on theApp StoreWho the Labrador suits
The Labrador is a great choice for active families, beginners and sporty owners. They're less suitable for people with no time for daily exercise or those wanting a calm apartment dog with no activity.
Compare with other breeds in our dog breed guide.