The Labrador Retriever Labrador Retrievers are sporting dogs. They were originally bred to retrieve birds, like pheasants. With Labs helping them, people long ago could find food to eat. These days Labs can work as assistance dogs for people with disabilities, as search and rescue dogs, as drug detection dogs with the police, and more. Labrador Retrievers can grow up to 24 inches tall and weigh between 55-80 pounds.
Males are bigger than females.
These large dogs have short, thick hair, and and they do shed. They don't need lots of grooming, but do they need to be bathed and brushed regularly. Labs need exercise quite often. It would be a good thing to walk your dog everyday even if he has a large yard. Labrador Retrievers are very muscular and strong.