It’s a pleasure to own a Labrador, so it makes sense to put as much thought into the choices regarding their care. Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds for families. Learn about labrador Retriever life span, size, temperament, and more.
Upon receiving your new Labrador puppy, you might not think about its lifespan right away. At that time, it is normal not to have this kind of thought, as you are in the middle of the most beautiful moment you will ever experience.
Labrador Retriever life span is among the most important factors to consider before getting a puppy pooch because you’ll want the best relationship you can possibly have with him for as long as possible.
Trying to estimate your labrador Retriever life span expectancy is difficult because so many factors contribute to it, including genetics and the environment, which impact its longevity.
It recommended that you carefully assess what the long-term effects will be and whether or not you may encounter potential health issues in your puppy friend.
However, if you ignore the typical life expectancy of a labrador, you won’t be able to take every step you can to ensure that your canine companion and member of your family live a fulfilling existence, as well as a long one.
There is nothing more heartbreaking than having to say goodbye to a beloved pet, and we all know it can be painful at times. In other words, you want to make sure your labrador pups grow up to be happy and healthy adults.
Today, in this article, you will get to know how long does a black lab lives and the average lifespan across the labrador breed. We will also discuss health issues you need to watch out for. Come along.
Average Labrador Retriever Life span
In the absence of any exceptional inherited diseases, health problems, or injuries, labradors can live from 10 to 14 years.
What’s The Life Expectancy Of My Lab?
There are a number of factors that influence it. With the exception of selecting your puppy’s parents carefully, you have little control over its genetics.
The truth is that as your black lab grows and matures, he will experience a variety of life events that may affect his/her life expectancy depending on how well they go with their daily lives.
A labrador retriever life span directly influenced by a variety of factors, such as injuries, excessive breeding, vaccination, overfeeding, among others.
Accidents
If you are evaluating the lifespan of a labrador, you should keep any kind of incident encountered in mind. A lot of dogs die in accidents each year.
Unfortunately, many of those deaths were preventable. When dogs left unsupervised in the backyard, accidents are more likely to occur.
Protection
It might help to secure your yard against such incidents so your dog protected. It will also be easier for you to bring him to you in case of an emergency if he knows to come quickly when you call.
Vaccination
You should never ignore vaccination if you want your black labrador to live a long and healthy life since there are still many diseases in many countries that claim the lives of unvaccinated dogs and puppies on a regular basis.
Your dog’s life can threatened by serious infections and diseases. Nevertheless, even if they survive, he may be less healthy overall. So vaccinating your dog may also affect his longevity based on where you live and how you raise him.
The Obesity Epidemic
Obesity is on the rise among dogs as a whole, as well as in labradors in particular. Overfeeding directly contributes to obesity in dogs. A little bit foody and chatty, Labradors are great at persuading their owners to reward them with food and keep the bowls filled.
“It has been proven that cutting calories can significantly increase a dog’s lifespan”
In light of obesity’s health impact, this is not surprising. Unfortunately, too many pet parents seem to ignore this message.
What Kind Of Labradors Is the longest-living?
Recent studies indicate that chocolate labs have shorter life expectancy, about 10.7 years on average, compared to black and yellow labs, which have a 10% higher survival rate.
What Determines The Black Labrador retriever Life span?
For a healthy and fit dog, being between the ages of 10 and 14 is not that old as you might think, but a variety of factors can shorten their lifespans.
The biggest factors that influence the life expectancy of a black labrador in addition to the life expectancy of any dog, can categorized into two distinct categories.
- In the first place, genetic factors determined by the parents of your dog.
- Secondly, there are all the incidents that occurred throughout his life. They span from childhood to old age. Things like accidents, illnesses, and injuries are among them.
According to statistical evidence, dogs that are comparatively small have a longer lifespan than their bigger and heavier counterparts. Generally, mutts often live one and a half years more than pedigree dogs.
How Can One Be Sure?
During 2004 and 2013, two different surveys were conducted, and the results were compared. In an earlier study, there were over 500 Labrador dogs whose median age at death was 12.5. However, subsequent research found that the average age of death of over 400 dogs was 12.5 years.
Moreover, a larger study was carried out in 2018 analyzing more than 30,000 lab dogs. Labradors in general were found to live a median of 12 years in this study. In other words, the average life expectancy of labrador seems to be about 12 years.
Time For Some Good News
I do, however, have some good news to share with you. Apparently, the lifespan of Labradors is increasing.
Despite considering only 39 dogs, a recent study suggested that average lifespan might be approaching 14 years. Perhaps our first impression of “How long do black labradors live” is shifting.
But first let us examine what contributes to causing a labrador’s lifespan to shorten, specifically those affecting the black Labrador rescues.
Are Labs Susceptible To Genetic Disorders?
A number of traits are common to all pedigree labradors, which shared with other pedigree dogs. A dog’s genes determine more than just the color of his coat, the shape of his ears, and how long his tail is. Its genes can also affect how he behaves and how susceptible he is to certain diseases.
Genetically inherited diseases can limit the lifespan of pedigree dogs, which is a major disadvantage.
How Health Affects Their Lifespan?
Labradors have some advantages over other breeds, because they blessed with a physical trait or body shape that tends to make them strong and balanced. There is no possibility of back problems since their snouts and legs don’t extend that much. In addition to being well-balanced, they are extremely athletic.
The Labrador’s face is not short, causing breathing disorders, and the dog’s skull is not small, causing damage to their brain.
Dogs’ behaviors are influenced by their genetics, too. Moreover, his ability to run, hunt, or fetch things also comes into play.
The genes they inherit affect various aspects of their character, including their fearful nature. How they are raised, however, is also a major factor.
“Studies have shown that anxiety and fear reduce the lifespan of dogs”
Occasionally, dogs are put down due to aggressive or disruptive behavior. When considering the lifespan of black labradors, temperament also plays a role.
Genetic disorders often associated with various inherited conditions, such as dysplasias of hips and elbows, epilepsy, and many forms of vision problems.
Before a dog is used for breeding, a few tests must be conducted on it. You can minimize the likelihood of getting these disorders by making sure that your puppies come from breeders that had their parents tested beforehand and determined that they do not carry these problematic genes.
Do Purebred Labs Live Longer?
By the very nature of being a pedigree dog, there is a certain limit to the amount of life that you might be able to give to your pet.
According to a study that came out in a vet journal 2013, stated that mixed breed dogs live an average of 1.2 more years than bred dogs. No, it does not mean your boxer is going to live longer than your nearby pedigreed dog. This is all based on averages.
Do Black Male Labs Lifespan Differ From The Female Ones
It is common knowledge that Labradors live the longest of all dog breeds. Typically, the life expectancy of both male and female labradors ranges from 12 to 12.5 years.
The Best Ways To Expand Your Buddy’s Life
Our labradors live an average of 11 years versus 13 for most labs. We also need to keep in mind that altering our dog’s lifestyles will make them live longer.
Although this will not always be the case, by emphasizing the factors listed below, you can increase the lifespan and quality of life of your black lab.
Dental Care
I would recommend that you start with your labrador’s teeth. A healthy teeth set will always lead your lab dog to a healthy life.
It will not come as a surprise when I say that lab teeth a largely ignored, and they are merely considered aesthetic.
Yet, there are several things that scare us about this area of a dog’s body, including the likelihood that dogs over the age of 3 will develop gum disease. Unfortunately, the problem does not end there. Labradors can suffer from gum disease outside of their teeth as well.
Health Care For Joints
It is imperative to take care of your labrador’s joints since they are prone to problems due to their large size, as well as when overfed, which can lead to obesity and joint damage.
The good news is that joint problems can avoided. A condition like this won’t just appear overnight, but it begins to develop gradually in the joints of your dog, and you can prevent it in a number of ways.
Initially, you should prevent your dog from becoming obese since obesity may shorten his life. Besides the general rule with regards to humans, dogs with excessive weight are at greater risk for joint problems.
If you want your dog to stay healthy, you should keep him on a low-calorie diet, plus, research has shown that canines on diets with limited calories live nearly 2 years longer than dogs on other diets.
Last but not the least, always try to provide your canine with the best of the best nutrition so that he can stay longer with you in this world.
FAQs
What accounts for chocolate labs’ shorter lifespan?
Researchers found that chocolate labs have a higher risk of ear and skin problems, as well as a higher mortality rate. They speculate that genetics might be involved. Various studies have found that the color of labrador retrievers’ coats has a direct correlation to their life expectancy and health.
What is the expected lifespan of a black lab?
Yellow labs and black labs have an average life expectancy of 12 years. Although chocolate labradors live quite a bit shorter than their counterparts, at least 10.8 years.
Is there an older black lab than the one I currently have?
It was a labrador named Adjutant who was the oldest lab to ever exist. While the oldest dog in history lived to 27, he no longer reigned as the oldest dog on the planet. The length of someone’s life can vary depending on their genetics, care, and other factors.
When does a black lab become gray?
The average age at which black labradors begin to have grey hair is five years old. Age plays a role in this, as it does in the production of your lab’s color-stopping cells. Although black and chocolate labs tend to have more greying, labradors of all colors can get grey around the snout.
Where does my black lab’s white hair come from?
Graying hair is most commonly caused by aging, which is the most common cause of graying hair in black labs. In addition, there may be genetic factors, stress, or other underlying health issues. A dog’s hair can also turn white if she has vitiligo, but this is a rare condition and probably not to blame.
