Table of Contents
The yellow Labrador stands out among dogs in the USA as a classic, a favorite, and an absolute winner among pet owners. Why? Temperament (aka personality – these dogs are fabulous with people!), and size are likely two of the greatest contributors to their fame. Let’s examine some of what makes the yellow Labrador special, as well as how it is the same or different from its black and chocolate counterparts.
Why is the yellow lab special?
Well, this could be subjective in some ways, but if you keep reading, we’re pretty sure that you’ll come to agree with us that these dogs are indeed a delightful addition to a household.
Labradors in general are known for being excellent family dogs. Think, “This is the dog my children will grow up with,” or “Grandpa always had one of those around the place when we went to visit.” As an anecdotal tidbit, this author’s grandpa had a massive black lab named “Bear.” Bear was the best! Unless you were comparing him to the distant relative’s stunning yellow lab ~1000 miles south… also named “Bear!” And then the Bears were equal. 🖤💛 But neither of the Bears could quite measure up to Twin Oak’s Sir Duke or Dixie the 1st. These dogs were truly the best, maybe because they were our own childhood animals. 🥰
Great with children, fabulous with the elderly, energetic for the young (they are bred hunting dogs, after all, made for running on command!), stable for the weary; you just can’t go wrong with the overall temperament of a Labrador. Individuals will certainly vary in their personalities, just like people, so be sure to find a breeder who knows their dogs and pays careful attention to each litter! You can read more about the Labrador Retriever breed here.
Yellow labs vs black and chocolate labs
In all reality, there shouldn’t be any fundamental difference between the varying colors of labs. Some owners have a distinct preference for one of the colors over the others, but the good features of temperament and all-things-Labrador should be consistent, regardless of the pigmentation in the coat. For a more in-depth look at Labrador colors, please read our overview page on this subject.
Yellow Lab – the breed
This is such a delightful topic! We absolutely love watching Labradors in their element, such as performing retrieving tasks, swimming in the pond out back, playing with children, loafing around the house (even on the sofa!), visiting with friendly passers-by in dog-friendly stores and parks, and so much more. As for the question of all-things-Labrador and traits of the breed? We’re delighted to provide you with detailed information on our Labrador Retriever Breed page.
Obtaining a yellow Lab
This is a big question, and one that demands careful attention. Should you give a forever-home to a retired breeding dog? Pick up that stereo-typical yellow lab mix from the local shelter? Plunk down a couple hundred for a “purebred” puppy in the grocery parking lot (please don’t)?
There are many answers that could be given, and the good ones at least should be looked at with care to determine which avenue of ownership will be best for your situation. For example: a well-cared for breeding dog that is being retired could be an excellent fit, especially if you are an empty-nester yourself with time to dedicate to bonding with a dog who needs stabilizing in its new environment.
If you fall for the grocery parking lot puppy, there’s no way of knowing the dog’s parentage, family health history, personal health record, or socialization status, so that option involves more risk than most knowledgeable people would want to undertake.
Shelters can provide happy-ending outcomes, but these are again a basket of risks that often turn into basket cases. There are simply too many unknowns, not the least of which is, is the dog even a true yellow lab? Breed mixes can have other traits that you may not have considered and if you don’t know what other breeds are included in the package, you may get a product you didn’t bargain for.
Purchasing a puppy from a breeder is most often the best way to go, because you are able to find out more about the parents, the litter, siblings, overall health, and more. You may even be able to see where your new companion has spent the first 8 weeks of life, which is an important factor in discerning the quality of the breeder. It can also be an exciting family field trip if you have children. Seeing Rover’s first home is sure to make happy memories for little people and grown-ups, provided it is a good situation.
Some of the benefits of getting a puppy fresh from a breeder include bonding with pup from the start of its life, being able to begin training with your preferred methods or trainer as soon as is appropriate, acclimating the dog to your lifestyle from the start, seeing your children have those precious months with the new puppy, and so much more.
There’s so much that can be said on this topic, so take a look at these pages if you’re interested in learning more.
Labs for sale | Lab Puppies for sale
Yellow Lab for sale SC
DogSmith Purebreds specializes in producing family raised yellow lab puppies, socialized and “started” with your home in mind. Our puppies come with early potty training, a health guarantee, ENS training, and so much more. We love letting new owners meet Mom when it works out for that to happen.
Read about us to learn more, and please subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings. We are pretty excited about sharing this wonderful breed with families and individuals alike, so please reach out to us with any questions you may have about the breed, our dogs, and/or the process of getting one of our puppies as your own. You won’t regret it!