Labrador Retriever — temperament, care and breeding in Dog Kennel Simulator
A sociable British retriever with roots in Newfoundland — one of the most commonly kept dogs in many Western countries.
About the breed
History
The Labrador Retriever was developed in the United Kingdom from St. John’s water dogs imported from Newfoundland, and it is named after the Labrador region of that colony. It was bred as a retriever gun dog, retrieving game after the shot.
The American Kennel Club lists it in the Sporting Group and recognised it in 1917. Its common nickname is the Lab. Today it is among the most commonly kept dogs in many Western countries.
AKC lists the Golden Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever as related breeds.
Temperament
AKC describes the Labrador as active, friendly and outgoing, and the breed is famously sociable. AKC rates its energy level 5 of 5, its trainability 5 of 5 and its barking level 3 of 5.
AKC recommends early socialisation and puppy classes because of the Lab’s strength and energy, and notes that it wants to be included in family activities.
Care
According to AKC, the Lab is very energetic and needs lots of exercise every day; its favourite activities are retrieving and swimming. Labs take part in agility, obedience, tracking and dock diving, and many work in search-and-rescue and detection or as service and assistance dogs.
The coat is dense and hard — a thick, water-repellent double coat that sheds — and AKC recommends occasional baths. The standard colours are black, chocolate and yellow. AKC rates its shedding level 4 of 5 and its grooming frequency 2 of 5.
Males stand 57–62 cm and weigh 29–36 kg; females stand 55–60 cm and weigh 25–32 kg. The life span is given as 11–13 years.
In Dog Kennel Simulator the breed goes by the shorter name Labrador.
AKC trait ratings
The American Kennel Club rates each breed from 1 to 5 on its breed page. These are real-world ratings, not game stats.
| Energy levelCouch potato → High energy | |
|---|---|
| TrainabilitySelf-willed → Eager to please | |
| Mental stimulation needsHappy to lounge → Needs a job | |
| Grooming frequencyMonthly → Daily | |
| Shedding levelNo shedding → Hair everywhere | |
| Barking levelOnly to alert → Very vocal |
Source: AKC breed page, "Breed Traits & Characteristics" — AKC — Labrador Retriever
Real breed vs in the game
| Aspect | Real Labrador Retriever | In Dog Kennel Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Height | male 57–62 cm; female 55–60 cm | 54–62 cm |
| Weight | male 29–36 kg; female 25–32 kg | 25–36 kg |
| Coat | Dense and hard; standard colours are black, chocolate and yellow | 4 coat colours: black, golden, dark brown, brown |
| Life span | 11–13 years | Puppy, Junior, Adult, Senior |
The Labrador in Dog Kennel Simulator
In the game the Labrador is a standard breed that is available from the start. Its strongest stats are Orientation and Charm.
Stat ranges
Each bar is the range a Labrador's stat can fall in, on the game's 0–100 scale.
- Tier
- Standard
- Unlock
- Available from the start
- Size in the game
- Large · 54–62 cm, 25–36 kg
- Pregnancy
- 3 days (real time)
- Litter
- 2–4 puppies
- Coat colours
- 4 coat colours, 9 variants
Life stages
Puppy
Junior
Adult
Senior
Coat colours
- Black · variant 1
Black · variant 2
Black · variant 3
Golden · variant 1
Golden · variant 2
Dark brown · variant 1
Dark brown · variant 2
Brown · variant 1
Brown · variant 2
A Labrador pregnancy takes 3 days of real time, and the timer keeps running while the app is closed. A litter has 2–4 puppies. Its strongest stats are Orientation (75–95) and Charm (70–90).
Train both parents before you pair them, in the stats you care about most. Read the breeding guide
Where this breed is strong
Of the game's competitions, the Labrador is best suited to the Obedience Trial. The Local Agility Cup is its weakest fit.
- Best fitObedience Trial — mostly about Obedience; opens at kennel level 2.
- Good fitRegional Championship — an all-round test, and the only one where Charm counts; opens at kennel level 3.
- Weakest fitLocal Agility Cup — mostly about Agility.
Sources
Real-world facts on this page come from these sources. Game data comes from Dog Kennel Simulator itself.
Updated