Anyone breed smaller Labs?

[JumpQH]

This may sound weird, but I am interested in getting a smaller Lab, possibly next spring. I don’t want the big, huge, 100 pounders - looking for more like a 50 pound female. Does anyone breed such a beast? Seems like with Labs, the bigger the better prevails. Just to get a little more specific, I would be looking for a gold or chocolate female that will stay on the smaller size, although I do like the English style build! I live in AZ, but would be willing to ship for the right dog.

Oh, and please feel free to PM me!

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

I have friends who have a very moderately built little black female named Gracie. She’s maybe 55lbs, 9 years old, and is essentially the perfect dog (a title I do not bestow lightly). They got her as an adult when her owners had to rehome her because their child developed severe dog allergies, but her breeder was a big part of the rehoming efforts.

I was impressed with the breeder and remain very impressed with Gracie’s personality, health, and general behavior. Here’s a link to her breeder:
http://www.vonhausman.com/

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Our lab is 53lbs at her ideal weight. Absolute best dog ever! She’s laid back, sweet, smart, and just easy. Plus she absolutely gorgeous, with the perfect lab head.

The breeder is Susan Patrick in Victor, NY (http://www.kreslandkennels.com/index.php). She’s not the most ethical breeder (she tries to get a free breeding out of most of the females she sells), but her dogs are treated very well and are bred to be family dogs. I’ve met upwards of 20 Susan dogs in the area and everyone is like mine, just sweet, gorgeous family dogs. They are all on the smaller side, 50-70lbs.

Here’s my Katie dog a few years ago (14 years old next month!)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122020064522057&l=ded7d0dd3f
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122017661188964&l=c60758ff0a

[WorkingDrive]

Field-bred Labs are “smaller Labs.” The 100 pounders you’re talking about are primarily the “British” / “Blockhead” Labs. There is also a difference in their appearance (bet you can’t guess which one has the blockier build.) I have experience with the Huenergardt’s kennel “Labs R It” - http://www.labsrit.com - in Montana that have the smaller field-bred (titled, health tested) Labs, but I don’t know anyone in your area other than visiting an animal shelter or maybe a Lab rescue.

And just a side note, but there is no such thing as a “gold” Lab. The colors are yellow, black, and chocolate. Normally when a breeder hears someone say “gold Lab,” they point them in the direction of Golden Retrievers or think someone hasn’t done their research on the breed.

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;7320496]
I was impressed with the breeder and remain very impressed with Gracie’s personality, health, and general behavior. Here’s a link to her breeder:
http://www.vonhausman.com/[/QUOTE]

Gracie may be moderate but the dogs on this breeder’s site are not. The black male Bolo on the homepage is obese, short-legged, short-muzzled and overall like what you see in the AKC breed ring. Personally, I think the males’ heads, as well as bitch Cat, are disproportionately small for their torsos.

As you can tell, I dislike the current AKC Lab style.:lol:

ETA: on the gallery page, half of the photos are of fat dogs laying down. Yep, that’s what these guys are good at.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7320844]
Gracie may be moderate but the dogs on this breeder’s site are not. The black male Bolo on the homepage is obese, short-legged, short-muzzled and overall like what you see in the AKC breed ring. Personally, I think the males’ heads, as well as bitch Cat, are disproportionately small for their torsos.

As you can tell, I dislike the current AKC Lab style.:lol:

ETA: on the gallery page, half of the photos are of fat dogs laying down. Yep, that’s what these guys are good at.[/QUOTE]

I agree that they keep show Labs morbidly obese. I know a lady (not Gracie’s breeder) who does agility with her conformation Labs… she told me she waits until they finish their conformation careers, then takes ~20-25 lbs (!!!) off of them so that they can get around an agility course. In addition to being unhealthy, I think carrying so much extra weight distorts their appearance and makes them look like little heifers. I can attest firsthand that Gracie, at a healthy weight, is a very moderate dog (including normal length legs :lol: ).

THAT SAID… if the blocky head isn’t OP’s preference, she would definitely be better off with a field bred dog… but since she says she likes the “English type,” I’m guessing her preference is something a little blockier than the American field lines. :yes:

[Murphy_s_Mom]

I know someone who breeds field trial labs. They are smaller and beautifully bred. Her prices might send you into sticker shock though. She is a very ethical breeder and sells to people all over the country.

[BuddyRoo]

My dog is a field style lab and he’s svelte at 96 lbs and 27 inches at the shoulder. I know there are smaller dog type breeders but with the field labs (in my experience) they breed for taller in those because they’re going through brush and what not.

Being tall helps.

For a smaller lab, I think the English/bench lab folks might be your best bet. If you want short.

If you want light weight, that’s going to be a challenge on the research because it does seem like many breeders are trying to go “big”.

[Bicoastal]

Aww Thank you LazyPalomino for taking my comment in good humor! I was a little worried after I hit “submit reply.”

Interestingly, I just read a long thread on Retriever Training Forum in response to a new poster seeking a 100lb Lab.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=Bicoastal;7321441]
Aww Thank you LazyPalomino for taking my comment in good humor! I was a little worried after I hit “submit reply.”

Interestingly, I just read a long thread on Retriever Training Forum in response to a new poster seeking a 100lb Lab.[/QUOTE]

:lol: I’ve been doing the “internet forum thing” for long enough to know that if you don’t have a sense of humor, you’re gonna have a bad time!! :lol: :lol:

I personally don’t really understand the obsession with huge dogs. Moderate size and shape = healthier, longer-lived, more portable dog. What’s to not like?

Final random thought: IME, the vast majority of people who claim to have a “100lb lab” or a “120lb rottie” are actually owners of morbidly obese animals. I’ve found the folks who follow up their dog’s weight with, “and s/he’s all muscle!” to be the worst offenders. I wish I had the guts to say, “your dog does not have a 3 inch padding of muscle over his ribs, and it’s reprehensible you’re proud of letting him blow up to 150% the size he should be.”

OP, you might be better off having an ideal height and build lab in mind rather than weight. That’ll make it easier to sort through breeders who have very tall vs. just fat bench dogs.

[S1969]

[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;7321528]
OP, you might be better off having an ideal height and build lab in mind rather than weight. [/QUOTE]

I agree, although a 50lb lab is not going to be an easy find. My male Brittany is 40lbs and they are a much lighter build than labs; if a 50lb dog is your criteria, you may not find it in a lab.

So…you may want to expand the ideal size of the lab, or consider other breeds? Or a rescue?

This little 38lb mama is looking for a home…

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152147033433674&set=a.406333298673.186856.131448788673&type=1&theater

[Cornerpost]

Although there seems to be a much interest in the over sized over weight Labs many people bought from my last litter specifically because my girl is smaller. She is 65 lbs and well proportioned. So there is interest beyond just yours in a Lab that is a more correct size.

My girl is currently bred to a male who is also moderate in size (70 pounds approximately) because I think that is the best size. Big but not taking over the whole couch while snuggling!

[Big_Grey_hunter]

I do agree that labs tend to be heavy breeds, so don’t be put off too much by weight. My hound/BC mix is taller, longer, and more muscled then my lab, but he still weighs ~10 lbs less.

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;7320496]
I have friends who have a very moderately built little black female named Gracie. She’s maybe 55lbs, 9 years old, and is essentially the perfect dog (a title I do not bestow lightly). They got her as an adult when her owners had to rehome her because their child developed severe dog allergies, but her breeder was a big part of the rehoming efforts.

I was impressed with the breeder and remain very impressed with Gracie’s personality, health, and general behavior. Here’s a link to her breeder:
http://www.vonhausman.com/[/QUOTE]

Thank you so much! My childhood dog was a 45-50 lb Lab, and I thought she was perfect! It is good to have a personal reference regarding health and behavior.

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=Natalie A;7320696]
Someone at my barn an adorable little field Lab that she got from the SPCA. Poor girl was a breeder who was dumped at 3 years.

My Lab X Golden is definitely not small at just under 70lbs, but I can’t imagine a 100lb version of him! :eek:[/QUOTE]

For some reason, breeders out here think 100+ pounds is better…can’t figure out why!

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=Big_Grey_hunter;7320748]
Our lab is 53lbs at her ideal weight. Absolute best dog ever! She’s laid back, sweet, smart, and just easy. Plus she absolutely gorgeous, with the perfect lab head.

The breeder is Susan Patrick in Victor, NY (http://www.kreslandkennels.com/index.php). She’s not the most ethical breeder (she tries to get a free breeding out of most of the females she sells), but her dogs are treated very well and are bred to be family dogs. I’ve met upwards of 20 Susan dogs in the area and everyone is like mine, just sweet, gorgeous family dogs. They are all on the smaller side, 50-70lbs.

Here’s my Katie dog a few years ago (14 years old next month!)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122020064522057&l=ded7d0dd3f
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=122017661188964&l=c60758ff0a[/QUOTE]

Katie is beautiful! I would for sure be spaying as soon as I possibly could - no breeding for me!

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=WorkingDrive;7320823]
Field-bred Labs are “smaller Labs.” The 100 pounders you’re talking about are primarily the “British” / “Blockhead” Labs. There is also a difference in their appearance (bet you can’t guess which one has the blockier build.) I have experience with the Huenergardt’s kennel “Labs R It” - http://www.labsrit.com - in Montana that have the smaller field-bred (titled, health tested) Labs, but I don’t know anyone in your area other than visiting an animal shelter or maybe a Lab rescue.

And just a side note, but there is no such thing as a “gold” Lab. The colors are yellow, black, and chocolate. Normally when a breeder hears someone say “gold Lab,” they point them in the direction of Golden Retrievers or think someone hasn’t done their research on the breed.[/QUOTE]

YES, exactly! I love the British look, but not size! I have actually been poking around the shelters, but find them full of Chihuahuas, and if there IS a larger dog, it’s a pit-type. No Labs or Lab types to be seen! Again, you are right - I meant yellow, not gold. It’s been THAT LONG since I’ve looked for a dog, LOL!

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;7321317]
THAT SAID… if the blocky head isn’t OP’s preference, she would definitely be better off with a field bred dog… but since she says she likes the “English type,” I’m guessing her preference is something a little blockier than the American field lines. :yes:[/QUOTE]

Yep, exactly. I prefer that blocky look!

[JumpQH]

PM sent, Murphy’s Mom!

[JumpQH]

[QUOTE=Lazy Palomino Hunter;7321528]
OP, you might be better off having an ideal height and build lab in mind rather than weight. That’ll make it easier to sort through breeders who have very tall vs. just fat bench dogs.[/QUOTE]

Hmmmm, thank you for the suggestion. I never thought of doing it that way!