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Update: I receive more than the occasional ‘what the hell?’ comment when sharing this article on Facebook, that calls into question the beloved chocolate labs intelligence. So I’ve just recently fleshed out this article in response.
A Chocolate Labrador Retriever can vary in color from a medium brown coat through to a very dark brown.
They usually come with a broad brown nose and matching brown eyes. So your typical chocolate Lab is kind of chocolate all over!
However, chocolate Labradors can have skin pigmentation on their lips, nose and eye rims. They can carry recessive genes that affect the color in these areas.
Also, not all chocolate Labradors are the common shades of brown we would expect. There does exist a so-called ‘Silver Labrador‘ too.
This color of Labrador is (usually) a chocolate lab with a ‘diluted’ coat color that gives it a silver sheen. However, these labs are still chocolate labs and are not recognized as a separate color in and of themselves.
QUICK RECOMMENDATION: We’ve read many books and magazines about Labrador Retrievers. One of our favorites, Your Labrador Retriever Puppy is a great resource for all Lab owners.
History of The Chocolate Labrador Retriever
During the 1800s the chocolate color, or ‘liver’ as it was known, was undesirable in comparison to blacks. Along with yellows they were mostly just culled at birth. For many, many years, society said that a Labrador must be black.
However, blacks and yellows can carry the chocolate gene and because of this, in particular pairings of sire and dam that carry the chocolate gene, chocolate pups would occasionally appear in a litter of puppies.
So despite the culling and nobody specifically breeding FROM chocolate labs, the color still survived these early unwanted times.
Origins of the Chocolate Labrador
A study of a huge database over at LabradorNet shows there are 8 routes back to The origins of chocolate Labrador retrievers. If you have an interest in ancestry of the breed, this site is a very interesting read!
Although the chocolate Lab had few fans or dedicated breeders in the 19th century, in the twentieth century the color was finally recognized by the kennel clubs and written into the Labrador breed standard.
Since then it has enjoyed ever-increasing popularity. For a long time almost exclusively as a family pet or for show, but in the last few years it’s finally begun to make strides into the working dog scene.
Though it is still far outnumbered by blacks in this respect.
Is the Chocolate Labrador Retriever Stubborn and Stupid?
Many people believe the Chocolate Labrador Retriever doesn’t have the famous hard-working and intelligent ways of the blacks and yellows. Some say they’re stubborn, unwilling to be trained, or simply a little stupid!
Stumbling upon forum threads such as this and this, as well as this article from thelabradorsite.com ‘Nice But dim – Are Chocolate Labradors Stupid‘ lead me to discuss this point.
After some ‘Googling around on the subject’, the best explanation I can see for this belief is the rising popularity of the color being mainly within show lines.
The theory goes that they’ve been selectively bred for their conformation to the standard, for their looks, with little regard given to breeding them as a working line and selectively breeding them to enhance their working skills which would of course include intelligence and being biddable.
Secondly, some theories in forum threads (so, hearsay – but sounds logical to me!) is that because the color had a sudden boom of interest many years ago after the population was once very small, ‘backyard breeders’ focused on creating litters containing chocolate puppy’s for sale as pets.
With the main focus being on color, other characteristics such as temperament, being biddable and so on were ignored and allowed to slide.
I stress this theory relates to ‘backyard breeders’ only, not responsible breeders.
But anyhow, it’s possible the general population has a diluted and weak set of working genes, giving them a temperament less suited to work and training, and perhaps less problem solving skills, than the blacks and yellows.
Every Dog of Any Color Is An Individual
Just reading the popular Labrador forums, you can read people having problems with ‘train-ability’ of their labs of all colors. You can also read people with labs of every color having excellent results.
There are experienced owners who’ve had labs of every color, with some saying their chocolate was or is the smartest they’ve ever had. And of course the opposite in some cases.
Black, Yellow, Chocolate, or even a ‘mismark’, dogs are individuals, a product of their different genes and environment. There is bound to be a wide range of intelligence across any population.
And the weight of people’s stories on forums suggests that there are disinterested, goofy labs of all colors, and headstrong, intelligent, problem solving labs of all colors too.
Basically, it doesn’t sound like there’s any real evidence of coat color affecting intelligence.
You Can Always Select ‘The Right Dog’ From ‘The Right Litter’
In more recent years, there are breeders who’ve concentrated on producing chocolate labs for field and trials disciplines. They’ve been proven to have the ability to compete with and to shine against labs of other colors.
So a chocolate Labrador Retriever can be just as smart and capable as any other lab.
You can increase your chances of getting a ‘smart chocolate lab’ by picking your puppy from a breeder who can prove the ancestry of their puppies is from smart and intelligent stock, perhaps from a working line.
With enough care and attention in selecting a breeder and the correct puppy from the litter, you can easily find a smart and keen chocolate Lab to rival the best of any other color…just don’t ask it to help you complete your expert level Sudoku puzzle!
A More Detailed – Positive – Look At The Chocolate Lab
Just recently (24th July 2015) TheLabradorSite.com has published a more detailed, fact filled and fun article looking at the chocolate Labrador that’s worth checking out: The Chocolate Labrador Retriever – Myths, Facts, and Fun
The article will put a smile back on the face of anyone feeling angry at their intelligence being questioned :-)
Do You Own a Chocolate Labrador?
Tell us about your own Chocolate Lab in the comments section below. Was (s)he hard to train? Would you say (s)he is less intelligent than the breed would otherwise suggest?
We’d love to hear your stories and will try to answer every comment we receive :-)
Sources and Further Reading:
- Your Labrador Retriever Puppy Month by Month by Terry Albert, Deb Eldredge, Don and Barb Ironside
- The origin of Chocolate Labrador Retrievers – From LabradorNet
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176 comments
I have one. He is one and a half years old. He is lovely but he has a strong personality. I feel his love, but he is hard to obey. Sometimes I get crazy because I call him and he behaves as nobody is near. I tried everything, being hard, being lovely… nothing happens. I love him so much, but I must admit that he is one of kind.
Hi Fabio…thank you for commenting :-)
It is sometimes hard to get a good recall trained, perhaps the hardest thing in fact as usually you are trying to call them away from some form of unique fun and it comes to an end when called. Have you tried a recall training programme? Right from basics working up to harder difficulty?
Selective deafness …… Should be catagorised as another labrador trait!
Haha…too true!
Totally!!!!!
they have “female hearing”. ours is going on 14 and still a lovable pain in the butt
My Husband and I have a 9 months old chocolate lab. She is with us since she was 6 weeks old. She is so smart and has very strong instincts. She is very active but she understands when we need to do other things. When we do laundries or cleaning she just steps back. However, she gets really jealous when we are watching TV or a movie. She starts barking and biting. I would really appreciate if anyone could help me with that…
I have a male chocolate lab he’s going on 6 months old and I noticed that when he wants to go to bed he loves his kennel he starts biting when he knows he’s not allowed to buy for still started licking me a lot then I’ll start biting me and he’s like a child he said put me to bed he knows out just sit back and learn that at two months so I think it’s all in the person training them because he’s an amazing voice
Oh I so understand what you have said, my 8 month old chocolate lab totally ignores me too. I have trained many dogs successfully over my years of having them, but Maggie has certainly been the hardest. She either ignores me intentionally or she is so stubborn that its her way or no way. It is not stupidity, just a very strong personality. Our yellow Lab was so easy compared to her….
I always loved my yellow labs but now have a CHOCOLATE female, young and fun.
She is amazingly intelligent, loving, easy to please, no faults whatsoever, plays and joins in with anything you do, never leaves your side, looks in to your eyes …..
I am 75 and told not to have a young lab – but her nature conquers all!
Ok – she may pull on lead, greedy (arn’t they all) and jumps up to greet you –
so what. What human being gives you THIS much love with no hassle !!
Labs are awsome so get one!
Labs are very smart!
I believe this to be true, our pup being 10 weeks old..is proving to be quite smart and very lovable..a little hard headed lol…but with the proper care and consistent work…will be a special friend and companion for sure me and my wife, love our pup more and more every second of every day…gopd luck with your lab, we are having a great time with ours…owners Neil and Jennifer Barker..Lonoke Arkansas…close to Stuttgart Arkansas,Duck capital of the world..
This is also my belief. I own a girl chocolate lab named Ruby. She was very easy to train. She learned quick, she is about 2 years old and we got a Pomeranian and she got very snappy and jealous. Labs need a lot of attention even if they need a lot because they are the only “child” and so she is also a very smart dog and she is better than any dog I have had before because she can tell how you feel and she is so so so sweet. Labs are certainly my favorite breed because of their intelligence.
We have a 2 year old Male chocolate lab. Has a real personality so to speak but definently has selective deafness. He is intelligent but having a real hard time with training.as I once read, I try to feed him the same times every day and then take him out accordingly the same times daily. Yet, he will go out side, prance and smell and look around and never go then I’ll bring him in and he’ll go in the house. I’m trying to teach him a privilege type discipline where if he goes outside he can come in and play. If he doesn’t go outside he comes in and goes in his kennel for a while. Help?
When we work with our Lab puppies we always take them outside to the same potty spot on leash and make sure they do their business before they are allowed back into the house.
I have one of the more “dimmer” Labs. She is pretty set in her ways. But she does obey my basic commands instantly. She is good that way. But training her for anything else has been a pain. She can be pretty stubborn when she refuses to learn. And she is a companion dog, not a watchdog. She would invite the thief in, and help him carry the stuff out as long as he scratched her ears when he left.
Hi Fabio. My chocolate lab is Jenny. She came to us 3 years ago as a 6 week old puppy. I don’t know what I did before she came into our lives. She is loving, amusing, and a joy to come home to every day. She is awesome with children. We have 7 grandchildren. She is very passive. She does still love to jump on new people, although over time she has settled down somewhat. She gets very spooked at storms, heavy rain and wind. She wakes me up every morning by hugging my head. A wonderful start to my day. ☺
how can u let chocolate lab listen
Hi Cheyenne,
There’s no quick, simple and easy fix. You have to follow a positive, progressive, ongoing training plan. Giving your Lab lots of attention and affection, working with them – not commanding them – and making them feel good about working with you, and rewarded for working with you. You have to be a friend and leader, not just a leader, and you have to be a rewarding leader, so your Lab decides and chooses to listen to you, because over time you’ve made that a brilliant and rewarding thing for them to do.
I have chocolate lab stray found dehydrated in heat for several days had skin yeast infection ear mites and heartworms. He doesn’t know how to get in car doesn’t like to go in yard for poop pee wants to do it in concrete porch. Doesn’t cuddle but loves affection. Plays well with other dog but stands and stares at things for a long time definitely unsocialized neglected what can I do to help this dog
In have a black lab the dog listens defends my property barks when anyone comes near.. Also thinks he owns the park behind my house so he tends to be found there with the kids..his name is Sam..the kids will say Sam I am do you want green eggs n ham..then he knows he’s getting a treat… The kids love him he listens does tend to not listen when he playing at park he bugs me a lot to play he also follows me every where he jumps on me when excited also he thinks he owns my bed at night he takes over the whole bed..he’s only been defensive once and a guy went to hug me..he great dog..
My friend had to get rid of her 4 year old chocolate lab (Gunner) so we took him….he’s a beautiful dog, adapted well, very friendly, loving and affectionate….but sometimes he drives me so crazy because he is very stubborn…..sometimes he listens so well and other times it’s like he doesn’t hear you at all. I fight with him every night to lay down. I tell him “go lay down” he will, and then 5 seconds later he gets back up and starts to sniff around and gets into things….I tell him again “go lay down” he does, and then gets right back up! I have another small dog and they get along very well….she kinda rules over him….she’ll straight steal a bone out of his mouth and he doesn’t even growl or anything, so he is very gentle. I just don’t know what I can do to make him listen….ALL the time.
I have a chocolate lab the first one i have had he is very smart he was retrieving when he was 2 month old start your training using a lease and gradually work him off the lease
He is now 7 months old and does everything I ask him to do
Hi, I adopted a chocolate from a rescue, she had been used for breeding and tossed out when they were finished. My Vet thinks it was a puppy mill, we are close to Lancaster, Pa where the Amish have many Mills. She is amazing, highly intelligent, people ask me why is she so good. She is going to be a therapy dog, very excited about that, she senses when someone is ill and gravitates to them. I have had all of the colors of Labs now and they have all been highly intelligent and loving! Paulette Friesen
Gunner is my BEST friend! He is 8 years old. He takes care of me and I care for him. He is very well trained. We both are members of the USMC.
I had a Choc Lab for 13 years. She was loveable, a great personality and very smart. My husband trained her to get his newspaper from the front of our house every morning. She passed away a year ago and we are presently looking to purchase another. I will say the Choc Labs seem to have a lot more energy than the yellow Labs. Love, Love, Love Chocolate Labs
had a female one for 11 and a half years. very high energy for 10 years. A real lover best dog i ever had. will miss her forever
We have a four-year-old chocolate lab, and he is amazing. He is very smart and understands a huge vocabulary. He was almost potty-trained when we got him at 8 weeks, and knows lots of tricks that my husband and I have taught him. His big weakness is: COUNTER-SURFING! We have tried all sorts of things to keep him off the counters, but he’ll drink my coffee/tea if it’s lower than 6 feet off the floor.
Interestingly, if Daddy is home, he does not do this – only if Daddy is gone. I’ve tried….sigh….
He’s very social and really loves to be with people. I’m a piano teacher, and he has to come out and greet every single student and parent. He’s gentle with babies and animals which are smaller than he.
Our dog makes us laugh 100 times a day – if you’re too old to have a baby, get a chocolate lab!
i agrie
My chocolate lab, female, has the “vocabulary” of at least a 5 year old human. We have a list of words she positively understands and it keeps getting longer. It’s dang amazing.
Have a chocolate named Koda, he is a big beautiful smart boy! Can be pig headed but boy he is smart. And did I mention he is big. Like 135 pounds, And 32+ inches at his shoulder!
I believe they are all special, have had 2 yellows and they are all individuals. Have there own personality and quirks.
We have had training groups tell us to our faces “chocolates are hard to train, I would never own one” and “they are stupid and don’t listen”. Boy great way to get your training methods across by quitting on a puppy because of his fur, last session we had with them!
Bought him from a breeder in Florence ontario.
Green Acres kennel
I have 2 chocolate labs and they both have been awesome to train. My youngest is 1 year, 7 months and just passed the CGC and TDI test. I started her in classes at 10 weeks and she is amazing! She has so much personality that you can see the pride when she accomplishes a new task. People who are considering getting a lab need to realize you have to invest the time with them. The more time you spend training and keeping them involved the better your dog will be.
Hi Carol,
The good citizen and the therapy dog tests? That certainly shows not only a willingness but an aptitude for learning. It’s good you’ve been through these programmes with your lab, that’s a high amount of quality of time you’ve spent together and as you’ve said, she will be feeling very proud of herself. Labs are (or were designed to be) working dogs, and they thrive best when they feel they are working, when they are contributing something, achieving and have a purpose. Training, tasks, and the feeling of accomplishment they get when praised for a job well done makes Labs feel alive and prized.
And your young lady is a perfect example of a chocolate Lab that’s neither stubborn nor stupid, but clever and happy to work with you (going against their reputation…or what some people believe.)
Thanks for commenting and sharing your story :-)
Hi, we have owned a number of Labradors over the years Golds and blacks we also have had Weimaraners always males. Now after many years of dog ownership we have girls born one day apart a Chocolate Labrador and a Weimaraner who definetly come as a pair.
Now to the intelligence question our Chocolate labrador is the smartest , cheekiest and thoughtful of all the dogs we have had. She is an avid TV watcher in particular Nature programmes and Paul O’Gradys dog shows and can determine 3D items from being shown pictures. Does she have a weakness I am unsure as she allows the Weimaraner to boss her about for say 2-3 weeks and then decides she has had enough and silently stares at the Weimaraner until she rolls on her back in submission once achieved she allows the roles to reverse again for another 2-3 weeks.
Haha…I love the bit about watching TV :-)
We had a Collie-Labrador cross (looked way more collie than Lab) when I was a child and he used to run right up and sit in front of the TV whenever a dog appeared on a show. Fond memories. But not had another dog do that except for pretty much every one becoming alert when they ‘hear’ a dog on the TV.
Your chocolate sounds great and a real character. Thanks for stopping by and adding your input David.
Hi there’
Like the previous comments i was told there chocolate are the daftest out of the lab family……..
I become the proud owner of my Ollie on the 10 th of this month he came to me at the age of 6 month’s he had the basic of command’s, i am in the process of clicker training him even in the short space of time he has been with me i have got him to sit, wait, fetch, give his paw and leave once he see’s he clicker his automatic reaction is to sit . He no longer pull’s on the lead either and where i did at first have problem’s getting him into his cage, now he is more than happy to go, so i would say my lad is intelligent to a degree, but wot i am having problem’s with is to get him to stop mouthing my hand’s and getting him to stop trying to push toy’s in my hands my left hand is full of bruises. I know it is a lot for him to take in a new home, new owner who wants him to do thing’s i think he has done extremely……..
Hi Denise,
It looks like maybe half of your comment got lost?
Anyhow, I’ve yet to meet any ‘truly’ daft Lab, some are more excitable than others, some less intent on working with their owners, others crazily playful etc. But when you sit and watch any Lab for a while (and most all other breeds too) you can see their brains working and the intelligence in their eyes and the cogs inside turning. And most all can be trained to a degree, it just takes us owners to help them shine is all and it sounds like you’re making fantastic progress :-)
It sounds to me like you need to teach Ollie bite inhibition, and eventually the ‘no teeth on skin rule’. Here is a good article on that very process…unfortunately not written by me (yet), haha. Bite Inhibition training
With time he’ll learn to be more careful with his mouthing. Good luck!
I just aquired a chocolate lab puppy. I’ve had her a week and a half. Brandy is 9.5 weeks old and very self aware. She sleeps 6 or 7 hours regularly. She lets me know when she has to go out. She has almost completely quit biting my hands. (Now we are working on clothes and other off limits items) She watches tv. Actually follows the figures on the screen with her gaze.
I was told not to get a chocolate lab as they are all hyper and disobedient but she is laid back and very attentive. She is from field dog lines.
I used to have Rotts so her intelligence and lack of stubborness is very apparent to me.
We are doing a little bridge and target training and lure training more to accustom her to the procedure and sounds and reward system but she is picking things up already. I’m very happy with her!!
She sounds delightful Diane…very fast learning!
My husband and I have had our chocolate lab for three months now. I have never had a dog before. She was a rescue dog, so we don’t know a lot about her. We took Brandy to obedience classes, and she did very well. She can be very stubborn though. I walk her three times a day, and we practice the things we learned at obedience classes. She watches tv as well, loves animal programs, loves being aroubd people. I work at home, so am able to have her at work with me. Oh supposedly she is a lab-pointer cross, is about 16 months old, has an abundance of energy, eats all of her toys. I make treats for her, and she loves them.
A lab pointer cross? I’ll bet she has a strong hunting instinct!
Hello, I’m adopting a two year old labrador. She fell from terrace and broke her hind legs. Her previous owner didn’t give her any medical attention. According to her previous owner she is toilet trained but now she pee right where she eat or sleep. How should I train her again? I would be grateful if you kindly suggest me how should I take care of her. Also I have one pomeranian. She is 1.5 years old. Do you think they will get along?
Hi Gingy,
What the…?? I have to hold myself back from saying what I’d like to about the previous owner!
Please take her to see a vet IMMEDIATELY! She needs a thorough examination to see if any long term damage has been done and so you as her new family can learn from the vet how to best care for her and get her back to good health going forward.
About her toilet habits: If she broke her hind legs and didn’t get treatment, it’s likely she was left unable to take herself to toilet, her owner did nothing to help her (which if true makes me absolutely furious!!) and she became so despondent and sad at her own situation that she’s now just used to laying in her own mess.
She can almost certainly be re-trained with normal house training methods after being given a normal amount of love, care and attention that she deserved in the first place and you will now hopefully give her in her new life.
See a vet IMMEDIATELY, give her the love and attention she needs and spend time following normal house training methods that you can find in my training section…she will almost certainly be able to learn whatever toilet habits you decide for her.
And thank you for getting her away from where she was and who she was with!
Sorry Gingy, I’m focusing so much on the previous owner I forgot to answer the second half of your question.
I can’t say how your pomeranian and a new dog will get on, it depends a lot on their temperaments and personalities, whether the pomeranian is territorial and more besides.
You can do a lot to help the situation by planning and putting into practice a well thought out method of introducing the new dog to your home slowly and carefully.
Please read some of the articles I link to in this comment: https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-training/when-to-start-training-a-puppy/#comment-10595
And do a google search for this phrase: introducing a new dog to a resident dog
There’s lots of good advice written out there for making the process of adding a new dog to your home. Good luck, I hope things go well!
Hello, Thank you so much for your response. I will take her to the veterinary ASAP. My pomeranian is meek and submissive, but equally possessive towards me and my sister. She is also very obedient and jolly. Do I have to worry as they both are female and are of same age group? Also I live in a small flat. I can’t put them separately so that they cannot see each other. Please help.
I have a choc lab puppy of two and a half months old and we brought him home 2 weeks ago. I would have preferred if he is with his mom for a little while more; but owner had many ready buyers and would have sold him anyway.
Well, thats not what I wanted to say. When he came in, he did not know where to pee and used to pee in the hall. But he never peed or pooped closer to where he slept or played; he always moved away from that place. Now he knows he needs to go out when he is in the hall and go to the bathroom upstairs at nights in our room.
Labs consider the place they sleep or rest as sort of a den. Even as a puppy without any training, this instinct was very apparent. So the only reason for your lab’s behaviour must be the helplessness and you can definitely retrain! Poor thing! Why do people have dogs if they can’t take care of them!? :(
I have a lab they are fun, very smart, good hunters, good at resce, and help people too!
I have a 5 year old choc lab and 13 year old yellow lab. The choc lab is less compassionate and more jumpy but more attached to me than the yellow. That said the yellow was part of litter used for guide dogs. Choc lab would be an excellent field trial dog. Loves to work, loves water, loves to chase balls incessantly, great team player in agility, positive, energetic. She can moderate her behaviour extremely well to suit other dogs temperaments and methods of play. Recall isn’t as good as i would like sometimes due to smells but better than most dogs. Eye contact is superb waiting for a command. I had heard from the vet choc labs can be nervy and unreliable but i haven’t found that at all
Thank you for adding to the conversation Julia, your Choc lab sounds great! Is she doing a good job of keeping your 13yo young and active too?
Unfortunately they just put up with each other rather than play together. The younger one butts in on my play with the older one. I leftit too long to get my second dog but i had to wait till i was home full time again to get a puppy.
I used to have a choco labrador for 13,5 years. It’s not the only dog I’ve had. She passed last winter. And she was the most special dog I’ve ever had, very patient and very smart. She was not behaving if it was about stealing food.. but for the rest, an ideal dog, till the very end, when even in pain she was still a full of love company for my children. Now few months passed and I have no doubts – my next puppy will be a chocolate labrador :)
I have a 5 year old chocolate lab and she is the best out of all of the labs I have ever owned. I have had 4 previous (3 black, one yellow) but she is the most loving and loyal. She is trained very well and listens better than any kid I’ve ever met. She is the greatest with my 3 year old niece. Couldn’t ask for a better dog and I hope to get many more great years out of her!
I have a 12 yr chocolate named Goose. I adopted him at 1 from a family moving away. They said he flunked dog training school twice because he wouldn’t pay attention. I trained him in 2 days. He is my 3rd lab, after having a yellow as a child, a blck as an adult.
Goose is by far the smartest lab I’ve had. He is so very loving, gentle, and a real character. When I hurt my back last year he slowed down on his leash walk with me to be sensitive to my problem. He comes to me when I’m not feeling well and lays right beside me. He will play at the drop of a hat!
He is a purebred. Because I have fed him high grade dog food and home cooked for him I feel it has effected his health in a positive way. He has some arthritis, is on a vet prescribed medication and doing really well. I also excercise him very regulaarly, 3 walks a day with two being off leash. People cannot believe he is 12, they always guess around 5!
I will always have a lab, I’m completely smitten by them!
Thanks for providing this post for us!
Susan
Hi Susan, for arthritis G5 is MAGIC and art phyton (plant-based product) too. My yellow one couldn’t walk anymore at the age of 5. We give it a table spoon of the G5 liquid every day until the rest of her life. She lived happily until the age of 15.5. She was just wonderful and i missed her every day. I have a chocolate now. She is 17 month old. She is clever, playful, a bit stubborn like all labra but so sweet and definitely a great swimmer. Labra best dog ever!
I have a 4 year old Chocolate Lab who is currently being fostered at my friend’s house while I travel for work. He lives with an 8 year old female Chocolate and they get along famously. He’s at least 35 lbs larger than her (95 lbs / 60 lbs) but he will allow her to “win” when they play outside.
One thing my mother is constantly fearful of is being yanked by the leash when she takes him for walks… I’ve yet to gain her trust enough to simply try it out, but I can hold his leash with my thumb and finger and I will never feel resistance. He is always alongside me until I unclasp it from his collar. Once he’s had his fill of running around, he will return to be reattached to the leash and go home.
Everyone always says he is the most polite lab they’ve ever seen. He never jumps, does not crowd, and certainly does not lick. I trained him out of these habits at a young age, and as a result, he is simply a very large, charming dog with the manners of a prince.
Our Chocolate is 12 years old and is in her final days due to cancer. She if from Canada and is from field dog stock. She has ,from the beginning, been a family member and in the middle of everything.
Never once in our years with her have we doubted her intelligence, calm nature and obedience. Her energy level was high, however easily moderated. Like every Lab I have known super friendly.
She was easy to train from the beginning. Verbal and hand commands were easily picked up. Leash training was easy. At one year a leash was rarely if ever used.
She socialized very easily and adapted to many different situations quickly, She was never aggressive, however she will defend herself. Good around children is the understatement.
I was raised with Black Labs and Samantha was the 1st non Black I had ever owned. She has been such a joy that finding her equal as we look for a successor has been hard. We are hopeful that a replacement can be found soon.
What a wonderful dog you have. I’m sorry she will be going over the Rainbow bridge soon but am glad you all have had such a great relationship and so much love. I personally love the chocolates and hope you have peace and are able to find another dog to share in your life. Thanks for the post.
My Chocolate lab is named Moca. Not hard to train at all, very intelligent, she was potty trained at 10 weeks old (after one week having her– ok someone times a little accident here and there). She is jovial, loves attention, and loves to play.. energizer rabbit! She can be stubborn, for example not bring me back the ball, but the minute i say “ok, you want to go home?” she drops it for me to throw it! Loves the water, cant keep her out of it. The only problem we have with her is she HATES getting her nails trimmed, she screams and trembles, she can only get them done at the vet’s! She is now 3 years and a half!
We have Malty (short for Malteaser, as she this is my partner’s favourite chocolate). She is six months and has just been spayed; yet this hasn’t impacted her terrific personality at all. Her coat is amazing, being described as double chocolate due to how dark it is; everyone comments on this and gives her copious attention due to how ‘pretty’ she is.
It is interesting to hear that Labradors are meant to ‘work’, as Malty is happiest when doing some form of task, such as fetching or pulling. She certainly doesn’t look pretty when doing this, she is an expert at hiding her femininity.
She has an explosive enthusiasm which can often be seen by strangers as aggression, but it is just an appetite for enjoyment. I’ve had Labradors my whole life and can honestly say that their loyalty is endless, and I will continue with this breed for many years to come.
On the question of colour, I would say that my black was most obedient, yellow most docile, and chocolate by far the most energetic!
Our chocolate lab’s name was Nick. He was very smart, crate trained in a few days and never went in the house after that. He also learned how to open doors, and learned where the neighbors stored their dog food! He would sit and lay down, shake hands right or left on command, but “stay” was not in his vocabulary. Nick was too social and always wanted to wander if allowed. One of the most loving dogs I have ever known, absolutely the sweetest disposition.
I have a chocolate lab I think. She’s very sweet and gentle. My girlfriend thinks she’s mixed and I don’t. Any way to tell?
Hi David,
DNA testing is the only way I’m afraid…unless you know both the mother and father and they are registered and so on.
I have a chocolate lab that’s 18 months old. She is very hyper and never leaves my side. Love her to death. Just wish she would chill out a little but oh well.
I have a yellow lab 13.5 years young, had a black lab and a golden retrievers, and a Chocolate. We just lost our chocolate to cancer at a young age of 8. I must say that I have never been without a dog from the day I was born and my chocolate Maya was the most loving, would not leave my side and was a dream to train. I miss her everyday. With that being said I am in the process of getting another chocolate lab, the litter should be here in October.
I have a chocolate lab named Jack. He is 8 yrs old now and has been a good dog. I picked the chocolate lab for looks and supposed smarts and train ability, and loyalty. I have to admit he is not the smartest dog, and he is not very loyal at all. He has never chewed or torn anything up, he was potty trained almost instantly. But he is so stubborn he has never mastered the come command. He is very aloof and independent. He does not like to be too close to us, and does not like to be loved on. I love him and am so happy he is part of my life, but I feel like he does not have all the traits of a Labrador that I was looking for.
I am in the process of training my 2nd choc lab. He is from show lines and has been a total challenge every step of the way. He is getting there, but at 15 months is still very much a work in progress. My last choc lab was from strong working lines and was very easy to train – show him commands once or twice and he would understand an be very reliable with commands.
I think choc labs temperaments vary a lot, but if you want a switched on dog that is easier to train consider a pup from working lines
i have a one she is a nightmear she lisens to nothing what shall i do?
Hi Molly,
There is no short answer to this. Read all you can – from this site and many others – learn all you can, and most importantly implement all you can. Regular, frequent, positive-reinforcement training so she WANTS to listen to you.
Proud owner of an exceptional lovable choc lab called max, was lucky as only chewed for a short time but did chew plugs off any electrical appliances he could get to luckily all unplugged. He is so full of love and couldn’t imagine life now without him he is now 18 months old………..but……..what a devil outside of the house doesn’t listen won’t come back and turns into a dog I don’t know when we see another dog!!! Up until 11 months walked to heel without a lead but then just thought hey no more. He has not yet been done as would love him to meet a lovely lady before having that done but ideally would prefer not too. We are contacting a behaviourist to see if they can help because they are so smart. He has a dog walker 4 times a week during the day and loves her dog but no others. This is our first choc lab but what a wonderful breed.
We have a chocolate lab, she is about five now and we have had so much trouble with her. She is HUGE (crossed with another large retriever), and cannot always be indoors with us. When she is outside she wails, moans, barks, and generally freaks out. Neighbors are constantly calling the cops. I have her inside as much as I can but we are a very busy family, on the run a lot, I cannot take her with us because she won’t behave herself around other people or dogs. I am afraid it is all our own fault for not taking her to obedience classes as a pup but not sure doing it now would do any good. Can you provide any online resources that would explain the nature of labs, maybe it would help us figure out what it is that she is needing. I don’t know what to do.
Hi Amy,
Why must she be kept outside at all? Is there a reason you cannot keep her in the home? Whatever that reason is, maybe try to tackle that so she can spend time inside, this would be the best solution in my opinion.
Labradors are a particularly social breed and quite rightly she’s feeling left out and wants to be with her family. I’m not so sure her ‘noisy protesting’ is something you will be able to change, but if you’re going to try, google for advice on ‘teaching a dog to spend time alone’ and attempt some of the advice. But it will be a long process.
With regard to obedience classes not helping now – on the contrary! Training is an on-going, lifelong process and it’s never too late to start. You should dedicate a little time to training every day or two. It’s bonding time, mentally stimulating and life-enriching for your girl, you will very likely enjoy it too!
Good luck!
I would hazard a guess that she is acting out because of separation anxiety. That’s easy to fix, have her with you or family members as much as possible. Being stuck outside alone is no place for any dog. They are part of the family and as such should be included with the family. If you have to leave her at home, try and do it in short intervals until she learns that you will be back. I have 5 dogs at the moment all rescues, 2 of them are 3 year old Chocolate Labs, 1 is a 6 year old Lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback, 1 is a 2 year old Black Lab mix and 1 is a 10 year old pom/poodle/shelty I live in town, on a busy street, my dogs are not tied when outside or fenced in, they have been trained to stay in my yard. They were all very easy to train to do this, if they went out of the yard they were brought in the house and place in their crate for a half hour or so while the other dogs played outside. It doesn’t take much for them to realize that certain things are not allowed and certain things are. People have actually commented on the fact that they walk by and the dogs are out playing or snoozing in the driveway and ignoring anything going on in the street whether it be people out walking by themselves or with their dogs. They are the same as kids only they don’t speak our language. They all go pretty much anywhere I go if they can and if they can’t go they are comfortable enough at home knowing that somebody from the family will soon be back and until then they just chill on the couch or chair or somebody’s bed. Most definitely take your furkid for obedience training but try and take the time to spend with her at home as well even if it’s ju8st chilling on the couch while you watch TV. It’ll make for a much more content, more peaceful dog. Just my opinion. :)
We rescued Hershey 2 years ago, from a family who neglected him. Kept him chained to a tree in the backyard, and unsheltered in all kinds of weather. My husband asked the current owner why, and he said the dog was a runner. Well, wouldn’t you be!
We took him in and introduced him to Pudd’n, a young, head strong and stubborn Swiss Mountain Dog. The contrast is amazing! Hershey, who we believe is about 6 now (although previous owners weren’t exactly sure what year they got him!) is the older of the two, but, while not subservient to Pudd, will generally let him have his way when it comes to rough housing, or collecting treats. Good thing too, both top out at approximately 125 to 140 pds!
Hersey is pretty easy going, but does like to wander. I remember the first week he joined us, we were relaxing on the porch when he slowly got up and meandered down the driveway. I hollered for him, and he threw me a backwards look that said, “No worries, I’ll be back…”
We had to invest in an electric fence.
We loving refer to our boys as the “Brat” and the “Scroundel”
My chocolate lab is the smartest, most easy to train, most eager to please dog I’ve ever known. She can learn a new command in the space of an hour, and remember it for, well, ever.
we just had our chocolate put to rest saturday. 11.5 years old. THE best dog we ever had. Never messed in the house, never chewed a thing and could understand just about anything you said. Her intelligence surpassed some people I know. Her temperment was so calming to us. She was our gift from God.
We have a choccie lab, he came to us at just under a year old a year ago, he had been treated well as a young pup but then his mistress had died and he had ended up tied up and fed just once a day…..he is very smart as it took him just a day or two to sit and wait to be told he could eat, although he wolf’s his feed and then sits and watches our other dog eat slowly…. Cato is very smart and learns quickly and does tend to bounce and jump around Clouseau….
Buddy, our 7 yr old choc lab is known in our home as The Opportunist. He’s our 2nd chocolate- our first one was adopted by us at age 9yrs, as his owners were moving from N.H. to Florida, and Duke had to find another home— happily, ours! After Duke passed at age 12, we decided the since the kid went off to college, we needed CHAOS back in our home…. Hence, Our pal, Buddy. And even though he’s our juvenile delinquent, we wouldn’t’t have it any other way ;-))))
Hey everyone,
I have a chocolate lab and he is turning 4 soon.
He is just incredible!
It was a bit challenging to train him at first, but once he knew who the Alpha was he was and still remains obedient. He is actually my boyfriends dog, but i have adopted him as mine as well and taught him some new tricks which didnt take too long either.
I’m now attempting the “bang! bang! Play dead” trick.(please hold thumbs for me as he just wants to play after the bang! bang! part haha)
With regards to intelligence, he is at the same levels as other blacks and yellows that we’ve met, if not more intelligent than them. He listens to commands, not only at home but while walking as-well.
What an amazing companion i have in him!
We have a eight year old female lab, she is beautiful, gentle, greedy, stubborn and smart when she wants to be. We had a golden male lab years ago he was put down when he was almost thirteen due to cancer. Our lab still thinks she is a puppy, our friends and people l meet on the street cannot believe she is eight as she is such a baby. She always makes me smile.
I have a 4 year old chocolate field lab. Energy, yeah he’s got it! The first 2 years were very trying. I have owned a English golden lab, and a white Sheppard previously and can honestly say that my chocolate lab hands down is the most intelligent dog I’ve owned. He will respond to either hand or verbal commands, I’m not even joking when I say the dog pees on command. He is also the most sensitive dog I’ve owned, extremely loving. Examples of intelligence are 1. Fast ability to learn commands 2. I have watched him use chairs/ objects to get what he wants or is deemed his 3. I’m the one working for a living while he’s enjoying the amenities of my house, sounds pretty intelligent to me!
I have a seven year old dog whose parents are registered Chocolate Labs. Yet this dog has all the charistics of a Chesapeke Bay Retreiver. Webbed feet ,big and powerful. 105 lbs. He has not been neutered and I take him swimming at least once a day. No matter how cold the water is he jumps in and stays there till I call him out. He is very well behaved and a joy to have around. He was headed for the pound when we got him two years ago. (Result of a divorce.) My grandson who works at an animal shelter says he is almost sure he is a Chesepake retriever. How do I find out ??? We have the parents papers.
Hi Bob,
The only way to truly know is by DNA testing. If you google ‘dog DNA tests’ you will find some reasonable info on this.
All the best!
Thank you for sharing the articles! We have both black and chocolate, English type labs. Both are smart, very sweet, energetic, but they are also very chill. The Black is a male, and chocolate a female. Both are extremely smart, and were easy to train. She (chocolate) learned the basic skills extremely quick, but she also saw everyone else’s response to my comand and so she followed suite to get her treat! Love our labbies, and plan on breeding this most beloved of family pets!!
I have just been given a 3 yr old choc lab 3 days ago, I think although he acts big and clumsy he is actually quite smart. He has been in a kennel with run for his entire life so is not house or toilet trained at all, but we have been allowing him in the house for long periods of time, and last night he was allowed to sleep in the conservatory, so far he has not had one accident or naughty mishap at all. Pretty good considering he’s never been taught any house rules. He comes to his name every time and understands when he is to stay in the conservatory and will wait there at the door until he is invited inside. He picks up new rules immediately. Though he does seem to have a one track mind, but so does my jack russell.
I feel compelled to join this conversation. I have two labs, a chocolate (Shemp) and a yellow (DeeJay). I got them at 8 weeks old and they are 7 years old now. They are from a show breeder so they are “English” labs. I had to work really hard with them as pups because there was two of them but it has paid off. They both have their CGC and are certified with TDI. We hike daily off lead in the woods and mountains. wherever we go, we are known because my boys are so well behaved. They make me look good! I never mention that I also have 3 French Bulldogs and a Bulldog at home that won’t do anything unless they get a treat! lol
I have had a male chocolate and a male yellow. My chocolate was huge and stubborn, the yellow was stockier and docile. The yellow was easier and faster to train but I think that was more their personality and where I was at in my life as opposed to colour. After a long time without a lab I will be welcoming a chocolate puppy to my home, my first ever female dog.
We have an almost 8 yr old chocolate. She is the sweetest dog ever. Her owners only let the litter nurse once during the night and we got her at less than four weeks old. A better fate with us. She loves about 12 people and is scarred of anyone unknown. She remembers everyone she’s ever encounter no matter the time between visits. Lack of intelligence, no way. She remembers who has been mean to her or unfortunately the wonderful vet we’ve used for over 20 years who spade her at six months, is on her “you hurt me list”. She was house trained at 9 weeks, follows all the commands I have taught her and learned them quickly. She has wonderful manners with those she loves. She stays by my husband’s side who is retired and makes sure she knows he’s ok. The vet says not enough nursing by her mother caused a social retardation. Very sad for her as so many miss out on the sweet loving dog she is. But she’ll be with us forever. Loving kind smart and protective, and like the lab is always eager to please. Now her “sister” the Weimaraner, smart and does what she’s told if she wants too.
Hello I’m Tammy, I wanted to ask about their dry skin in the winter, for I just got married to my husband that has Marley, Marley is a chocolate lad his is 6 years old. I have to say Marley is a very smart, sweet, great dog all around and Marley and I had no problems excepting each other. I just wish I could help him with the itching of dry skin. Thank you
Hi Tammy,
It could be down to a number of things. Have you by chance spoken to a vet? Obviously that’s the nest recommended course of action. However, some things that could be the cause or at least contributing are: – Low quality diet, too many shampoo baths with the wrong product, minor allergy to something, yeast infection or other skin condition.
I would speak to a vet to rule out the worst of these. If given the all clear, do some research on the food he is eating. If not high quality, try swapping for a better brand, steering clear of anything with grains and looking for something with added fish oils. If his food is already quality, try adding some fish oils or other ‘skin and coat’ supplement to his diet. Bathing with all natural dog specific shampoo with oatmeal in it should help with dry, flaky skin also. But with labs, you really shouldn’t bathe them too often so don’t go over the top with this.
Hope this helps. All the best!
We just got our 2 year old chocolate lab, who just retired from our city’s bomb squad unit. He’s very sweet, but I’ve had to crate him to run errands and he “cries” and after I let him out of the crate he will chew plastic bags that I haven’t put away and my kids toys, he’s chewed electrical cords (luckily ones never plugged in) and anything he can get out of the trash…..does he do this to let me know he’s mad or could there be something else going on? Just recently he’s started to pee in the house and he didn’t do it before?
Hi Annie,
No, dogs doing things ‘to get back at us’ is a myth, it’s projecting human ways of thinking onto an animal that don’t think the way we do, so he’s not at all being mean, he’s just being a dog and knows no better :-)
There’s lot of information on this site you can find by using the search feature in the sidebar or at the very bottom of the site. Search for ‘how to stop a dog from chewing’,’house training an adult dog’ (this one contains information on older dogs who start to wee in the house and how to deal with it) – these two articles should help you greatly.
All the best!
My family and I have a chocolate Lab we love him very much an all but no matter who much toys be buy him he is always biting on things.He is very strong he is always biting the younger kids.
SO SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME THANKS
Hi Jose,
Please see the following two articles, they have lots of actionable advice:
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-behavior/how-to-stop-a-puppy-from-biting-and-nipping/
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-behavior/how-to-stop-a-puppy-or-dog-from-chewing/
I hope that helps. All the best!
I am rehoming a 2 year old chocolate lab. I know he is set in his ways but any advice in how can i get him to listen to me more. We are struggling with him scratching the doors.
Hi Kyra,
To get him ‘to listen to you more’ you just have spend time training him with positive re-inforcement. Basically, everything written on this site…but many others too! Have a good around and find other sites you like also and then spend time, every day and a few times, short sessions but a few per day, actually spending time training him. He will soon learn that both spending time with you, and working with you in training tasks, is a fun and rewarding thing to do. That listening to you is a rewarding thing to do. It can take time, but it’s the only way. You have to slowly teach him to want to listen to you…and then he will. There’s no magic trick.
Regarding scratching the doors: Is he getting enough exercise and mental stimulation? Destructive behaviors are far more likely to occur with a lab who is bored and has pent up energy. Are you taking him for good walks, jogs or swims a couple of times per day? Are you engaging his brain in regular training sessions?
Also, Is this happening when you are home? Only when you are out and he is home alone? If you are home, you need to catch him in the act, intervene with a firm ‘no’ and give him something better to do instead, like a favorite chew toy. DO NOT scold him afterwards, only if you catch him in the act. If after, he will not have a clue what you are angry about, the moment has passed and he will just think you’re unreasonable and it can damage your relationship.
Anyway, you basically have to stop him from ever ‘getting away with it’ and eventually the behavior will fade and stop. BUT, if he gets away with it when you aren’t supervising, then it will likely never end. So you have to supervise and intervene. If you cannot supervise, you have to manage the situation and this will probably mean crating, so that he doesn’t get the chance to scratch at doors if you cannot be there to stop it.
All the best!
I’m new to the whole puppy thing. My husband got me a chocolate lab puppy for Christmas & my house hasn’t been the same since. He is 5 months old & eats EVERYTHING! I’m having a really hard time with the biting & jumping up on people. He’s adorable & I want to bond with him, but it’s hard when he bites every time I touch him. ?
Hi Terra,
Hopefully these two articles will help:
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-behavior/how-to-stop-a-puppy-from-biting-and-nipping/
https://www.labradortraininghq.com/labrador-behavior/how-to-stop-a-puppy-or-dog-from-chewing/
Good luck!
I have a chocolate lab and she is great. We go hunting and she picked it up easily we spent very little time training her. She was just a natural and picked it up very quick. She just gets jealous if she doesn’t get all the attention.
We have a brown Lab – well he belongs to my Son & his partner but I am his Nan and look after him a lot. I have noticed recently that he was walking with a bit of limp but we have checked his paws and there doesn’t seem to be anything in the paw. He has also started to sit over to one side avoiding leaning on his right hand side. He has regular check ups at the vets but they don’t seem to have associated anything to this – not sure if its just he has put on a bit of extra fat around the tummy – has anyone come across this before?
Thank you
Please can you help. We have a 4 month old female chocolate labrador, that doesn’t listen. She keeps biting my feet, and she is continuously harassing my daughter who is 7 years old.. she is forever biting my daughter, chasing her and pulling at her clothes. The dog doesn’t listen to NO. We attend dog training classes and she is very sociable with other dog. It is really tiring having to keep pulling her off my daughter, it is 24/7. We have been given lots of different advice but nothing seems to sink in. Any advice or help PLEASE…..
Hi Simone,
I can understand your frustration, and it can be overwhelming. Puppies always target children more because they move more, move faster and more exaggerated, are smaller and ‘easier to access’ for body, face, hands etc., make higher pitched noises and so on. So children cop it the most sadly.
What advice have you been given? I’m only guessing, but it’s probably along the lines of what I’m going to say anyway :-s
Exercise and train her more. Not excessively, she’s only a young puppy. But make sure you do some training, a few times every day. Starting simple, with no distractions. Just you and puppy. Make it easy. After a while, but ASAP, introduce other family members to do the training also. So puppy sees everyone in the household as somebody to listen to. Also, the training will mentally stimulate her, and tire her out, making her less excitable…but likely not much.
When your puppy gets over-excited, especially with your daughter, remove them for a timeout. It doesn’t have to be out of the room – Keep them on a ‘trailing house leash’ that’s always on them. NEVER leave them unsupervised with it on, in case it gets snagged (choking hazard!), and cutting the loop end off is a good idea to reduce snagging risk. But always with it on, they must be supervised. Anyway, when puppy gets over-excited, you (or an adult) takes the leash, CALMLY says ‘no’ once, and only once, and takes puppy away from your daughter. Then EVERYBODY must stay calm, quiet, no noise or reaction, until puppy calms down and only then begin to interact with her again.
Use a crate if you aren’t already. It can also be a good timeout tool. But please, read my guide on this site for guidelines. It is NOT supposed to be a punishment, just a short timeout.
Google something like ‘puppy nipping child – be a tree’ and follow those guidelines. You have to teach your daughter than when nipping or biting occurs, she gets her hands up to her chest, and does not move. Puppy will eventually get bored and calm down.
When puppy is frustratingly chasing, and nipping your daughter, DO NOT shout, scold, tug at her, nothing. I know, it’s hard, but that will just make her more overexcited and worse. You have to calmly…very calmly…go to puppy and remove her from the situation to calm down.
Look in my behavior section about stopping a puppy biting and nipping, also about stopping jumping up. There’s lots of good advice in there. Try to follow some of it.
Do not let ANYBODY that comes into contact with your puppy allow or encourage jumping, biting or nipping. It’s a game they enjoy. If 4 people keep saying ‘No!’ yet one other laughs hysterically, plays roughly and encourages it, well puppy will just carry on doing it to all 5 people as it works sometimes. EVERYBODY, that’s you, your family, friends and visitors, all have to be on the same page with the rules set, otherwise how can puppy learn? So sit down, write out what you’re going to do, what the rules are, make sure everybody knows them and why those rules have been set. The rules being: ‘Any jumping up, or biting, or nipping, all play, all contact stops. Walk away, silence, no shouting or scolding, no matter how annoyed you are, no scolding. Puppy doesn’t understand and the noise is just encouragement’…and whatever else you see as appropriate rules.
Finally, please understand it is totally normal. Some puppies are worse than others, but all do it. It’s a few months of patience and dedication to teaching them right from wrong, followed by a decade (hopefully more) of pure joy from the best and most loving family member you can ask for. So stick in there…it will be worth it! But you do have to put in some work, along the lines of what’s described above, or some other logical advice. Just put the work in for a few weeks / months, and I know I keep repeating myself, but IT WILL all be worth it :-)
Best of luck!
I own two labs.. one is a black male n d other one being a chocolate female..i can rather say both of them own me.. those kids are very friendly with other dogs and other people..my girl is a lil bit stubborn and gets jealous when i am with the boy..My male lab named Johnny is calm and sober. but the girl Pio is so naughty that sometimes se makes me so annoyed.. But both of dem are just darlings to me and i love them more than anything else in this holy world.. :-)
Our “little boy” is 8 months old, weighs in at 100# and is smart as a whip! He has a stubborn streak but who wouldn’t when you’re a giant! He takes training effortlessly, and I hope I never run out of food for him, LOL.
I have one 10 month old male. He is adorable and just like any other labs we have met. He is scared of small dogs that bark or growl at him, he also runs away from big dogs that bark at him but other than that he is friendly to al animals and just wants to play. My cats hate him, he cant leave them alone and just wants to play with them.
He is a stressed dog and some would say untrained. We have spent alot of money and time to make him better and the hard work has paid off. He was terrible and I just though the only thing we could do was to give him up. Today he is much better and I would never even think about giving him up.
He can’t walk on a leash, he doesnt react when we call him if anyone is around, he doesnt like ball games and doesnt want to swim. Really happy though, loves everyone and everything around him. He know alot of tricks though and he knows it all but when something more fun comes, there is no reason to listen to his owners.
He is really sweet and means well even though strangers may think hes dangurous. He wouldnt hurt a soul, good with kids and welcomes everyone.
He is still a puppy and has so much to learn.
Writing this wants me to go home from work and hug my little guy ❤️
We rescued our chocolate from a local city pound. She was 9 months old when we found her. Upon entering the kennel all the dogs saw us walking in and began barking and jumping almost as if begging for rescue. But not our Lola. She was sitting at the gate quietly and looking at us as though she knew us. I didn’t really want a dog but I acquiesced for the kids. Now I tell people she is my dog. Lola is the smartest, easiest trained, obedient and loyal dog I have ever had. It literally takes me about an hour to teach her simple tricks to about half a day working periodically for more complex tricks. She quickly learns that she gets hugs and laughs when she does it right. This dog is a show dog for sure. My Chicolate is the best dog I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
We have 2 labs, a chocolate female and a yellow male….both from same parents but a year apart. I can honestly tell you that my chocolate lab seems to appear “smarter” insomuch that she was easier to train as a puppy. Both of them have excellent temperaments and are extremely loving dogs. My yellow boy is the one who appears “goofy” at times and is a big, whinny cry baby, scared of everything. But we love them both no less. What I absolutely love about them both is that I don’t have one thing that’s been chewed in my house…they seem quite respectful in that sense. Bow, our back yard, that’s another story. Completely destroyed by their digging holes. They’re our babies and we love them. I wouldn’t change a thing about either of them. They are both pure joy and have both been trained with different “tricks”. Such different personalities but both perfect in my eyes, just like my 2 legged children.
I have had my chocolate lab named DIOGE since she was 6 weeks old she is now 13 years old. she has always been very well mannered and been great with all kids. She has let little babies crawl all over her, let toddlers pull on her ears and tail, and played with the big kids too. She has been the best dog i have ever come into contact with. I started by kennel training her then only had to put her on a leash for a year after that she never left the yard even after we moved into the house we have lived in for the last 8 years. Chocolate labs are the best when it comes to a family dog.
My chocolate lab was very intelligent. He was the sweetest, most affectionate boy. He was easy to train. He’s been gone for a year now, and I still miss him every day. He was 11 when he died. Prior to falling ill he was still as energetic and playful as ever. Labs are such great dogs. Someday when the time is right, I will adopt another, most likely a chocolate.
I have a 4 year old rescue that I got for my sons but is actually my dog. Whoever had him last apparently did NOTHING with the poor guy but let him out to do his business. He had NO leash skills when I got him, and he becomes a crazy slavering mess when he sees another dog nearby. He’s distracted by everything because he’s never been anywhere. He pulls a lot less but still can’t stand to be at my side. He doesn’t give a crap about treats when he’s distracted. I was trying to train him to run with me but the pulling is too much. And the distractions. But, he’s been great with people and learned commands easily. He can still be a stubborn SOB when he wants to but he lets my 4 year old climb all over him like a pillow. I’m looking at obedience classes soon so we can be around other dogs.
Hello all you lab lobers (yea that was a pirate pun lol). I have 3 chocolate labs and each is so different than the other. My boy is very strong, energetic and easy to train (I think hes more of an American or field lab). I have trained him to do tricks like turning around in a circle and rolling over and a few others. He is not as people loving as the other two as he would rather be chasing lizards but he is always down for a good hug and belly rub. My first female is the youngest of the three and has this diva thing going on. You can call her all day long and she will come when she wants to. She has not been easy to train but because she is mellow and very calm we let her be with just basic commands such as sit, no, etc. Our oldest is very people oriented and loves to make folks happy. She can fetch all day or lay by your feet if its what you want. All in all I believe each dog has it’s own personality and I believe all are intelligent. Some are just lazy and probably toy with us like cats do lol. In conclusion, I enjoy that they are each different because it means there is never a dull moment or cold feet around :D
We have recently acquired a Chocolate Labrador, a victory for me as i had campaigned for 20 years for this moment. I had previously had a yellow Labrador when i was 15, the dog was as scatty as its owner and i vowed that my next dog would be well trained. i picked up my Puppy from a lovely family and
took him home, that evening we had the first accident , the same the next morning. i was a little bit upset that i hadnt been on the ball. My children were at their grandparents and the weather was glorious i spent the whole week in the garden from 6. am until 10 watching this beautiful calm pups habits . we became very close . Her first time at the vets made us feel proud she sat on my lap and didnt flinch when a noisy other dog made a fuss. We kept getting compliments on how calm she was for a chocolate . a friend stopped me and said Oh dear they are notoriously naughty and i said well she is exceptionally calm, she was probably 3 months and just sitting contently . She is now nearly 5 months, we have had our moments, she is a puppy, she swiped a freshly painted water colour off my desk and ate most of it, we have to keep anything of any value away, otherwise we spend time chasing her around to get thing back. We can however leave our shoes around now , she knows not to take them, though she often looks longingly at them. She is obedient and follows me off lead , she is trying hard to walk at heel , but is distracted when she sees a leaf blowing in the wind. Her recall is excellent though if she sees another woofer she will follow she is getting bolder. My only negative comments about my lovely chocolate Labrador is that she eats with delight absolutely anything, oh yes and she sometimes greets people with a bark if she is not sure about them and they approach her, we are working on this. My beautiful and obedient pup is definitely not daft but only time will tell . As i sit her writing this she is snoring at my side.
My Chocolate male is Maximus. I raised him on a bottle due to his black mother rejecting him and his yellow and chocolate brothers. I raised his mother from a pup and his yellow father also. His mother died from complications from birth, but she was highly intelligent, very sweet, and stubborn as the day is long. Never was able to get very far in training with her. His father is the same with the exception of a strong working drive that I played on to train enough to hunt, but very stubborn as well. I also raised Maximus’s Aunt she is black and dumb as a brick and an exceptional pet due to her very loving spirit. Now Maximus’s grandfather on his mother’s side I had the absolute pleasure of having. He was black and amazing in every aspect. Now I trained Maximus starting from about 4 weeks. He is now fully trained in every way. He knows every word you say and is without doubt the smartest and most perfect dog I have ever had including his grandfather. His chocolate brother was also bottle raised and is now a day to day diabetic certified service dog and fully obedience trained in every way. His yellow brother was much like his father. Smart enough, but not exceptional by any means and was raised the same as the two chocolate males. So I have to say after years of having black and yellow I will favor chocolate from here out. At least in my family of labs. By the way only one of my dogs have had Akc registration..and I would put Maximus and his chocolate brother Milo against any dog out there for anything you require. On a side note she had 10 pups..6 were stillborn she killed one(black) she had all colors) and the vet saved the last 3 when she saw what was happening with the mom(rejection from pain of complications). Next pup I keep will be from Maximus one day and I will hand pick him and bottle raise from 7 days on. Doesn’t affect health..the brothers all weigh about 85lbs at 14 months. Never learned moms bad habits.
I am going to take in a 7 year old Chocolab. She has spent the last 7 yrs with a yellow lab and a Bichon and recently the yellow and choco have been aggressive with each other. The owner has to separate them and feels it is better to find her a home. Any advice for me to help her transition? Thank you. DW
I have one and her name is gabby and she is the sweetest smartest puppy ever.
I have a 5 year old male chocolate and he is awesome! Miles listens so well but yet he is highly energetic. .He is very smart, affectionate, and quiet. He is so in tune with me that people have called his actions intuitive and sensitive. I have the best of both worlds–a fun,happy, athletic,energetic dog mixed with a obedient, intelligent sensitive dog.
Our sweet chocolate lab “Hunter” is truly a best friend for life! We brought him home at 7 weeks (more than 3 years ago) and he hasn’t left our sides. He cried the first night (kennel), so I brought him into my bed. Now, at 85 pounds, he still shares our King size bed. He starts between us, but typically ends up spooning with me half way through the night. He was trained in less than a week and he is still learning new tricks. He is the BEST dog I’ve ever owned, and as a country girl with lots of dogs growing up, that is significant. He is sweet, loving, and incredibly protective over me. If my husband is away, he won’t leave my side. We once had a washer and dryer installed and every time the delivery men walked past (at the other end of the room) he would stand up and growl at them. As soon as they left the room, he would return to his laying at my feet position. He travels with us to the mountains multiple times per year, and to the lake each summer. He will swim with the kids for hours. I always wanted a water dog, and boy oh boy do I have one. When our other pup dies (he’s 12), we will surely replace him with another chocolate lab. They are the best, and temperament is all about the breeding and socialization of the animal.
I have a three year old Chocolate lab and he is the most trainable dog I have ever had. He is out of Barracuda Blue stock and is easily one of the most versatile dogs i have had. once he understands what it is that i want from him he wont stop until he has achieved it. if he has lost his ball while playing fetch he will stop mid stride at a whistle and look for direction. He is all game as soon as he sees that you have a ball or a stick to play with, but when just sitting around the house he is a bit timid. He is a bit hyperactive being that he is very very american bred, but i think he will start to slow down in the years to come. 6 months ago we had a son and it is very interesting to see how their friendship is blossoming. Henry ( my son) chases the dog around the house wanting to pet him or get the dogs ball to play with. I can say beyond any shadow of any doubt Chocolate labs are my favorite breed of dog. They are loyal and hard working, and eerily smart.
I have a three month old chocolate lab and I got him when he was eight weeks old. He has picked up on potty training really quick and he waits by the door when he has to use the bathroom. His name is Ranger. So far he has been a great dog. He only chews on his toys and loves playing with other dogs! I feel like he’s going to be great because both his parents are really intelligent!!
My Chocolate Lab, Caesar, is coming up 5 in January. The first 18 months were tiresome but looking back now fun. Now he is just the amazing obedient dog who loves everyone and knows everyday will not be the same ( I work in aviation ) as I continually head OS for work for up to five days . The day I leave he won’t even take a treat. Just sulk. Then on my return goes insane and won’t let me out of his sight. While I am away my other half face times me and Caesar watches and knows it’s me. He has always loved television and knows when his shows come on. He fetches most household things on command and has a grand knowledge of our conversations. As I am sure with everyone’s dogs they are almost human in a way. Also April this year I had a stroke in my garage , fell and smashed my head. Car door was open and he jumped in and blasted the horn till my partner woke up !! I must admit the first two years I was worried. It was a 24/7 job ( had lots of time of work ) he needed constant supervision and love. Now it’s paid back ten fold and the house is his :-) nothing dumb about chocolate Labradors. Maybe that selective deafness sometimes :-)
We have a Black female american field lab (she is huge 107lbs) and a Long Coat Chocolate. Yep he is the stupidest dog I have ever owned, but one of the smartest people I know. That makes him dog stupid people smart. HE thinks he can talk, he will come and whine to go out, I open the door and our black female goes out, he speaks for her! Seriously, he is very smart when it comes to people activities very stubborn, and very un-dog like. Our black females chase any and everything with legs or wings, she is our field lab. Both of our black labs steal food and would eat a whole bag of food if you left it out, the chocolate only eats what he needs. He would rather be with people snuggling my blacks would rather be in the field chasing. They are so different, and we love them all. The Chocolate displays the long haired gene and everyone wants him. After two litters we know our female doesn’t have the gene, none of the pups have displayed the long coat, but we have had a few mis-marks, but they all have their moms hair. Great dogs, but I do believe the different colors do have varying behavior traits from personal experience.
I have a Chocolate that is just over a year old (Rupert). He is a character; he is both intelligent and stubborn. He loves Nosework classes, the training tires out his mind, wearing some of his energy out. In some cases, he will train well and in others cases, not at all. It depends on his love for food and mood at the moment. He loves to play and is very generous with his toys, sharing them with his 12-year-old black lab brother. He enjoys people and at 80 lbs still thinks he is a lap dog. Labs tend to be full of energy, Rupert is also lippy, barking at you until he get’s his way. Despite his faults, he is kind and absolutely adorable.
7 yr old male chocolate lab, we have moved 6 months now , he is not adjusting well
We left a place on the Water for a hobby farm, we also have a 10 yr old Swissy who has adjusted wonderfully, thenlab won’t stop barking, refuses to obey, any all commands, physical battle to get him out to oee more than twice a day, he is so anxious, he will take me out to get back in the door, he barks non stop ( it is really quiet here) similar to the pre joys home) I am considering getting him Medicated
He hides and sleeps in the water closet lol I can’t get to the toilet , I am at a loss and this behaviour is wearing me out
Love, love, love my very bad chocolate lab, Fergie. She is two years old and still acts six months. She is very energetic and intelligent but also boisterous and crazy. She weighs about 90 pounds and loves to knock my neighbor down and take your feet out from under you. She is smart (I had a female yellow that was the smartest ever, she knew so many words). Fergie is smart, but stubborn. She is my best, best friend. My husband said she is the reason people get rid of dogs..but, this dog will be with me forever!!!
Dutch was an amazing animal since the first time I saw him. He was the largest of his litter as well as the calmest. He came from registered parents but I never sent the papers in as they really didn’t mean that much to me. Of all the animals I have trained and had, he was by far the smartest and most well trained. We once had a family gathering that there were close to 80 people in attendance all around my in-laws house. He was quietly (as always, he very seldom if ever barked or made noise) in a back bedroom of the house and I needed to let him out to do his business. I went and opened the door where he was, held out my finger and he walked through the entire house, not stopping to check out or see anyone, followed me outside, took care of his needs and followed me back the same way to his room. When I returned to the family they were all in shock of his ability to to follow directions so well. In the fall and spring when we would open the doors for airflow, all you had to do was tell him and he would lay just outside the door with his nose barely on the threshold and would not come in until told to. Sadly I had to put him down yesterday as he health finally failed him and I could not after all the years of love and faithful service allow him to suffer. Even on his last night with us and he had to struggle to get up and down, he spent the night as usual going from room to room checking to make sure we were all safe and secure. Words cannot describe the love I have for that Dog. He will be remembered and missed.
I have a chocolate lab named Bailey and she is now 18 weeks old. She is VERY intelligent and for her age, very obedient. We had her at the vet not too long ago and there were adult dogs running around, pulling their owners, and being crazy. Bailey at 4 months old either sat or laid there and looked at them. Sure, she would of loved to run around with them but she knew she wasnt allowed.
I really think a large part of this is training and not the color of their fur. Im not a professional trainer by any stretch (first dog in quite awhile) but I have worked with Bailey to some extent everyday since we got her at 7.5 weeks old. She makes it very easy as well. She was following basic commands at a very young age and completely house broke in a few short weeks. She has pretty much always retrieved since she wa big enough to carry whatever was being thrown. She now at 4 months is retrieving from the water and I am very proud of her. I will be starting double retreives soon and have no worries. Did I mention we got her from a couple that just bred their two chocolates for the first time? Not experienced breeders or anything, just had a couple of good dogs and they took great care of them and the puppies. For me, black, yellow, chocolate, I love them all.
Keith Crawford- My wife Kathy, suffered a stroke back in 2008. Her sister had a black lab and we thought that we would get Kathy a Lab as a companion to stay with her at home during the day while I worked (she had to retire as a teacher). Through my sister in law, we found an excellent Lab Rescue out of Houston, Texas in February 2010.. My sister in law suggested a four year old milk chocolate female that they had rescued and the two ladies who ran the organization brought the female up to Central Texas for us to possibly adopt her. Well, it was love at first sight for my wife and Henesey (our prospective girl’s name) and for me too.
She has been with us eight years now and also, she was my first “inside” dog, also as most of my dogs in the past have been outside, farm dogs. Needless to say, this was the best thing I ever have done. We love her so much and she is totally devoted to my wife and her needs. In 2012 we adopted another two year old dark chocolate female named Abbey from the same lady. ANd Abbey is my shadow like Henesey is my wife’s. She goes everywhere I go. While both girls love us both it is funny how Abbey attached herself to me like Henesey did with Kathy.
These girls have been easily trainable. I think the repetition of everything has made it easy for them both. Abbey can identify the difference between a bone, a rope and a ball. It’s uncanny. They also know when it is supper time and when it is time to wake up every morning.
If anything proves these dogs come from God; these two do it. Thanks for your website and thank God for chocolate labs. They are the best dogs we’ve ever had.
I have Had 4 chocolate labs in my life. I don’t think they are stubborn or stupid in anyway. I think, based on my experiences, they are blissfully ignorant and we should follow their example.
We have a just 6 month old chocolate lab. He is 70+ lbs already. We lost our 12 1/2 yr old black lab last spring. Both dogs have been extremely smart, easy to train and very sociable. The last dog was a therapy dog and this one will be too. He loves people of any age, especially kids.
Our family has had a black and chocolate lab. We had a black, Buddy, for 12 years, super smart, hunted and great family pet. Didn’t think we could ever found another just as good. Then came Clyde, our chocolate. Got him at 6 wks as well, now he is 5. He is one of a kind. So smart. He hunts, knows how to open doors, have to make sure back gate is locked because he knows how to flip the lever with his nose. Hits the water faucet just right and flooded the back yard. So sweet, gentle. I have seizures and he knows when I don’t feel good. Fell once, he put his head under me, lifted me up as I held his collar.
Anyone who ever doubts a chocolate’s intelligence, you need to meet what we call ” Hurricane Clyde “.
Hi I have a chocolate lab from 8 weeks old he is a year now, his coat was beautiful dark chocolate but is now patchy light and dark brown will he stay like this?
Hello Gillian
Has your dog been out in the sun lately? The sun does make their coat lighter just as it does with human hair.
If this is the case he will retain his coloring when the fur grows out and he’s not too much in the sun.
Cheers
oh heck I have to pay for my highlights!! thanks for that I hope he goes back to his lovely rich chocolate
Cheers from hot France
Hi there,
We have a Beautiful intelligent 1 year old chocolate Labrador “Brontė” she would be a fantastic helper dog, as she is well behaved, gentle and so willing to please!! She has brought so much love & laughter into our family! Chocolate Labradors are fantastic Xxx
Stupid choc labs perhaps its there owners! My daughter is seven yrs old if my pick up moves she best be in it or she pouts me for the rest of the day lol .As soon as my truck moves she stomps on power window switch and lowers window (self taught). I have a lever type back door handle she opens door and closes it behind her.When I leave a 3 lb smoked salmon on kitchen counter she know enough to jump up and liberate it from my dinner plans lol
I have 2 chocolate labs, Dakota whom Ive had since she was 8 weeks old, now 2.8 years old and Hunter a stray who found me 4 weeks ago and hes about 5 months. Dakota is the most intelligent dog i know and handles all of her training fantasically, so much so sometimes I think she understand human phrases completely. She is my best friend. Hunter on the other hand, has his moment of brillance and his moments of excuse me what are you saying. Im not sure if its because he is a stray or what but he wants to do his own thing. He is starting to learn and hopefullyhas he grows, Dakota will help him understand his commands better.
Ive been a Lab man for over 45yrs now they are with out a doubt the most loyal companion a person can have.I am working on my first chocolate lab,maggie she was born to her black mother also my dog 1 1/2 yrs ago there were two chocolate pups in a litter of 10.From the minute they were born the two chocolate pups were stronger and smarter than the black pups.Maggie has been a piece of cake to train picks things up as soon as she is asked she has taught me how to hunt smarter she will retrieve anything,a lot faster than my other two black labs who are bigger she will work any type of brush no matter how thick or steep and her nose is soo good nothing gets passed by she flushes game out of the thick stuff after other dogs have gone thru,She is the best guard dog I have ever had very protective ,I feel safe at night knowing she would with out a doubt sink her teeth in any stranger sneaking into the house at night she has taught my older dogs how to do everything better even staying on the property.I can not wait for her to have pups so i can get another chocolate Lab they are awesome!!
My beautiful 4 year old girl Daphne was adopted by our family after no longer being needed for breeding. She is a beautiful gentle girl who who much prefer a cuddle and a pat to food (something I had not experienced in my previous yellow boy who has passed away). I could not ask for a better companion, she is excitable but gentle and quiet, not at all licky, and adores affection. Very blessed!
I have had a male chocolate and a male yellow. My chocolate was huge and stubborn, the yellow was stockier and docile. The yellow was easier and faster to train but I think that was more their personality and where I was at in my life as opposed to colour. After a long time without a lab I will be welcoming a chocolate puppy to my home, my first ever female dog.
i have both a male yellow and a chocolate from the same litter who are currently at 10 months old. the choco has superb instincts with retrieving and obeying commands. the yellow is stubborn and uninterested in retrieving anything or even listening to the most basic instructions.
We have a 4 yr old choc lab bitch we want another lab any suggestions what color we should get
chocolate because they are amazing and have a good personality
I have a 6 month chocolate labrador and he is awesome. He is easy to train and always wants to be with me. He also has a very good sense of smell but I believe that he has some hearing problems.
Chocolate labs RULE!
My chocolate lab is 18 months old. She has definitely calmed down from where she used to be but still has lots of puppy in her. A bit of a stubborn streak too. I sure don’t miss all the puppy biting! She had me in tears more than once. It was way worse than any dog I’ve ever had. But she has learned the art of ‘soft mouth’ so now she’s a pleasure to wrestle with. Not much of a hugger. She really doesn’t like a lot of hugs/kisses except first thing when we wake up. Other than that, she’s fairly independent. She loves to play tricks on us. I swear she is constantly scamming us – keep-away is her favorite. And perish the thought you leave a pair of socks around. They’ll be gone! She is our baby, no other kids in the house anymore. And spoiled rotten!
I have a Choc Lab called Dudley. He’s my first Lab, so I cannot compare him with other chocs or other colours for that matter. I can say, anecdotally however, that he has seemed smart enough to me. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t ask him to fill out my tax return, but he picked up whatever training I passed his way pretty well – though possibly because he is so greedy (as they all are) for rewards. I do see him as being very stubborn mind. Sometimes, he has to be dragged off the sofa or else down the stairs and at night, when we want him to go out to pee, he just heads to bed and again groans as I playfully wrestle him outdoors. Wilful might be the correct word. Overall, I would lay any of his training faults at our door, not his genes, whilst, as a pet, he’s totally awesome. Warm, gentle, interested, nosy, great with kids, barks a bit when the doorbell goes and is more playful than an infant school. oh, and he’s a bum tucker or shuffler…..are they all? So much so that I have started a blog. Shameless plug I know but if anyone is interested, take a look;
http://www.stareofthedog.co.uk
Happy Labrador times to you all
We adopted Sam 2 1/2 yrs ago from a no-kill shelter in a little farm town. They did not know anything about his background except they had found him roaming in the country fields and had him for 30 days. They thought he was about a year old, however they were way off, he was closer to six months, very tall and lanky with a big head. Our Vet determined that on first visit by teeth. He is one magnificent Chocolate with brown nose and eye rims, hazel eyes, 80lbs. and one friendly, curious attitude, and very affectionate. He has a mind of his own when on a walk, of course critters are a must to chase as are meeting other dogs and people. I must say he is a bit overly friendly and uncontrollable in those situations, he refuses to hear my commands, and is always jumping up on hind legs to lick peoples’ faces. I have to be one step ahead of him when walking to try and distract him or I will be dragged along with him. When we adopted him they told us that he was like an alpha male and might be hard for us to control as we were retired and they were hoping for a younger family, but his 30 days were up and they were about to move him to another shelter, so they let us have him. Yes, he is hard to walk still, treats and affection do not work when outside, he goes into a DNA mode searching methodically bush to bush, it is amazing to see, he has never been taught to do this, and also my wife has seizures, and when Sam senses these coming on he is right there, laying himself over her! He is just amazing. So is it intelligence or is it DNA? Whatever it is we love him.
I typed in my search engine “My chocolate lab is crazy” and found this article. It explains what I’ve been questioning. I keep waiting for my Teddy to mature but it looks like I’ll be waiting forever. He is a happy go lucky, filled with so much energy and a sweet dog but doesn’t obey at all. I take him for a three-mile walk every day to drain his energy, but he still comes home and finds a way to start mischief. I have two other smaller dogs that are smart and obedient, and I was wondering when Teddy would catch on but nothing yet. Unfortunately, I began blaming his mischievous behavior on his breed, and now I think I am right in doing so! He is the love of my life, and now it is good to know he is not intentionally disobeying me, but instead, he is not the sharpest tool in the shed!
Don’t give up on him . Give him some basic training offering treats as rewards and it will go a long way. I got a training collar and dvd for training with mine and it worked! He is brilliant and has learned commands well. They just need a little guidance and they will go a long way.
I have a beautiful dark chocolate Labrador “Brontè”
She’s amazing, Loyal, sensitive, friendly and amazing intelligent! Also she’s very trainable!
I think they are an amazing breed! I love all colours!
I have a 14 year old chocolate lab, Frankie. Laziest dog ever! Does only what she wants to do, she was easy to house train and loves the ocean but only on her terms and when she wants to. Does not retrieve, never did. You can throw a ball or a stick and she looks at you like you are crazy. She will bring things to you like a chewed shoe! Never spent any time trying to train she is a family member not a work dog, just wanted her to have the happiest life, lots of treats and belly rubs.
Her back legs are going, starting to lose her hearing but wouldn’t trade these years with her for anything. Sad day coming but worth the memories and the love.
I have a beautiful four year old chocolate labrador named Buck. He is an amazing dog and very intelligent. It takes no time at all to teach him tricks and he learns well just by watching others. He knows how to open doors and even turn on lights. He is so amazing that sometimes I ask others did you see him do that because I can’t believe it. There is no truth in chocolate labs being dumb. They can be stubborn but with a little training using treats they catch on quick. My dog even knows cue words from his training. If I say cheese he quickly stops then sits waiting for a command to get his cheese treat. Also, I can tell him any name in our family of 5 and he will go to them and give his paw. He is the sweetest dog and has brought so much love into our home. All labradors of all colors are just the most amazing pets anyone could have, and I feel blessed to have mine.
18 years ago we obtained a dark chocolate lab from the mating of my sons chocolate and yellow lab. both dogs were smart and loved the water. they were not trained for hunting but loving family pets. we birthed her liter in our birthing room. our dog was the first out and actually fell on her head as delivered. As a mature dog she seemed to hear demons all around the house. she always walked around the piano. would not walk around the house unless we had carped or rugs 2 feet apart. her front or rear feet had to be on something soft… to keep her in a room we just picked up a rug. taking her to the local park with a creek she would only go within 6 inches of water. NEVER entering the water… Baths were a tie up event with non cold water…. A loving dog but not like the 3 previous black labs we had. she lived to 15 but had a tumor in her front leg the last 5. had it removed twice but too intertwined with the muscle. she would love to run with our other dog but always got lost and could not find her way home as her playmate did.
I like labs of all colors, but chocolate labs really are the best! I don’t know why but they seem so much more goofy and fun than yellow and black labs. Although admittedly it’s not like I’ve met a zillion labradors or anything.
Our chocolate lab Jolly is eight months old, and the best and easiest dog to train ever! Smart, agile and very well demeaned for a puppy! She has been on a raw food diet since eight weeks old and is lean and fit, swims like a fish!
Our dog, Rowdy, is a chocolate lab. He has both English and American bloodlines. Although it took him what I felt was a little longer than normal to house train, eventually it “clicked” and he has been great to have in the house ever since. As far as the rest of his training, Rowdy is 1.5 hrs old now needs close proximity to us and consistently to reinforce what he’s been taught. Teaching him to sit, stay, go home, stay down, fetch etc has been pretty straightforward. He wasn’t hard to train but he does still need consistency from us or he will be sneaky and forget his manners. On other fronts, Rowdy is extremely friendly, athletic and loyal…perfect for our family of 5. He is also quite tall, deep chested and has a dark shiny brown coat. Overall, he has been one of the best labs we have ever had.
Chocolate Labs are beautiful animals. Our old lab had a litter of 8 pups – 4 golden and 4 chocolate – they were absolutely adorable!
I have a four year old chocolate who is smart as a whip. Understands English, comes when called and is always the best behaved dog at the beach or the park. But, in front of our home she will growl at anyone walking by and is agressive. It is very embarrassing. I guess she is just protecting her pack. She tore both her ACLs when young, a year apart, so she was on bed rest and rehab for about two years which may have resulted in poor socialization. Does have skin allergies and it has been tough finding just the right food for her.
Yes we have a 7 month old male Chocolate Lab named Boomer. Almost 70 lbs right now and growing. The name fits him. This dog is a gem. Smart, loving, super playful, loves people and other dogs. Most of all he is a high octane dog…lots of energy. Loves to hike loves to run and really loves to swim. His smarts make him so fun to play games with. He loves a challenge. Great dog. We do need to keep up on the good manners training.
I have had 2 chocolate labs and great pyrenese. I have found that the labs I have owned are simply stupid. Very loving and want to run I live in the country and they are not fenced in. He knows where he lives and when My GP goes out to do her thing he follows. I think having Gp’s has taught not to really fight with them about where they go and what they do. They usually wonder down to the creek or down the road. I can usually call him and he will eventually hear me and come running. I just ask that they dont do there business in my house as they all also come inside especially when its hot. My Gps just look back say ill see in a while. My labs says ditto but if you come looking ill down the street rolling in poop or a dead animal. You gotta love them and you cant let there personality or fun bug you to much. Its not hard to find a pig for them and if the Gps goes off before he does he can find her. So even though I say stupid its because house training him was hard and painful for me.
I have two chocolate labs, Baxter who is now 2 and Diesel who is 1 and I have had many dogs but they can drive me up the wall they don’t remember anything I have taught them and if I leave them out of the kennel while I am at school they tear up everything. Baxter also has extremely bad separation anxiety and everything I do never helps.
We just bought our first chocolate lab 4 weeks ago. He is now 14 weeks old and still has never messed in his kennel. We have had yellow labs before and they never quite got it mastered. It sometimes may be 10 hrs. in the kennel at night and and still has the ability to control himself. He did have a couple accidents when first let in the house but has now mastered that. He has been very quick to learn new things whether jumping in and out of the pickup, retrieving or any new commands.
I have a male chocolate lab, he just turned 1 yrs old. We adopted him at 6 wks of age. He was quickly house broken by 3 months and crate trained almost over night, by 5 months he knew sit, stay, lay down, shake hands, no the other hand, and almost tackled rolling over when treats were involved. But as 9 mths approached he has totally revert into a 6 wk old puppy. No longer does he respond to his name except for the side ways glance of I hear you but I don’t care. He won’t sit without a stern order. He will not come unless you bribe him. It’s becoming a daily battle…
I adopted him for the companionship. Someone to be by my side on the days that I can not be productive. I have systemic lupus and antiohospholipid syndrome that cause me to suffer many days of the week with joint pain and inflammation. I was never expecting him to be a nurse maid but rather an addition to our family, and one that would be peacefully laying at my feet or even on the couch with me. He refuses. He constantly paces like a coyote, he just can’t lay down, he is also always panting. And at times it’s as if the whites of his eyes go red with anxiety. Our vet assures us his behavior is not caused by any medical condition. And we’ve wondered if it is indeed an over breeding result. In any event I try everyday to spend atleast an hour of working on his behavior. I can not afford a fancy trainer, and he is already to strong for us to take open training classes. He wants he could quite easily pull free from me.
I want nothing but for him to be the wonderful dog I know is lurking inside of him. And I would absolutely welcome any comments or suggestions.
I’ve been raising and training service dog puppies for the past 13 years and it’s not uncommon for a 1 year old Lab to regress in his training. A few things I’d recommend: Labradors are a sporting breed and require a good amount of physical exercise. Walking and playing with your dog several times a day could help relieve some of his anxiety. Labradors are a very intelligent breed and require mental stimulation throughout the day. We train our service dog puppies 3-4 times a day in 10 minute sessions. Mental stimulation will also tire your dog out sometimes more then the physical exercise and will also help with anxiety. Also, it could just be he needs to outgrow this stage (think rebellious teen) and unfortunately, Labs can act like puppies for a long time. Our first guide dog puppy, Stetson didn’t settle down until he was about 3 years old. The good news is once he turned 3 he was exactly as you described, the type of dog that just liked to lay down next to you. Although he preferred being on the couch right by your side rather than by your feet.
My Chocolate Lab Challenges me every day. He is 9 Yrs. old and so full of life that I look forward to it, our walks are an Adventure. I have Learned to be Ready for his Boundless Energy. His name is DOC and he has been Good Medicine for Me .
DOC sounds like a great Lab and you sound like a wonderful pair. Thanks for stopping by.
I JUST HAD TO PUT MY CHOCOLATE DOWN, 23/4 YEARS OLD.HE WAS MY FIRST LAB, RESCUED HIM FROM A FELLA IN PORTLAND OR. HE WAS 18 MONTHS. HAD A HELL OF A TIME GETTING HIM HOME COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. NOW IVE NEVER TRAINED A LAB, WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS DOG WATERFOWL HUNTING. NEVER EVER INTENDED TO GET ATTACHED. WELL AFTER 3 DAYS DOG IS IN FRONT ROOM, SITTING THERE LOOKING AT ME, LETS OUT A BIG SIGH WALKS OVER LAYS DOWN UNDER MY FEET. THAT WAS THE DAY AN INCVREDIBLE JOURNEY STARTED. THIS DOG WAS SO SMART, I GOT HIM THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2018, I HAD TO PUT HIM DOWN 12/17/2019. IN 1 YEAR THIS DOG BECAME ONE OF THE SMARTEST DOGS THE LOCAL TRAINERS EVER SAW. HE RETREIVED HIS FIRST DUCK 12/25/2018. AFTER THAT THE SWITCH WAS ON. HE WAS A RETREIVING MACHINE WITH NO LIMIT TO HIS ABILITY TO PICK UP AND PREFORM NEW COMMANDS. FROM SITTING ON A WHISTLE AT 296 YARS, OR DOING A 600YARD RETREIVE IN THE CURRENT OF THE UMPQUA RIVR OF A 25 LB GOOSE. HE ONCE PICKED UP 4 GEESE WITH ZERO HANDLING. AND DAMN COULD HE RUN. HE WOULD PLACE ON HIS MAT AT 100 YARDS. IN ALITTLE OVER A YEAR THIS DOG WENT FROM A CITYFIED PUP TO AN ABSOLUTELY STUD RETREIVER, TO THE POINT WHERE REAL TRAINERS ARE OFFERING ME LOTS OF MONEY FOR HIM. NO AMOUNT COULD HAVE BOUGHT RUFUS.IN A YEAR WE ARE SURE HE HAD ATLEAST 125 RETREIVES LAND AND WATER, 1 LAND RETREIVE 800 YARDS. SO THE MORAL IS DONT FOR ONE SECOND DOUBT THE INTELLIGENCE OR DESIRE OF A CHOCOLATE LAB.I LOST THE DOG OF A LIFETIME. AND I THANK THE LORD FOR THAT YEAR HE SAVED MY LIFE.
I have a chocolate Labrador who is now 31 months old. He was very easy to potty train and learned commands early and easily. He listens when called directly by name showing that I am indeed talking to him and not someone else in the room. He is very intelligent and loves to retrieve everything that is thrown his way. Truthfully any breed of dog that is not shown that they are not the leader of the pack will become the leader if not directed on the fact that he/she is not the top dog. It is up to the owner to establish dominance in the relationship and practice the commands frequently and no variances from what is expected. That means everyone in the house needs to practice the same commands with the same expectations. Variances causes confusion and then he/she must decide to become the leader if no one is appearing to lead. I love my chocolate lab. I have had a golden lab in the past and she was my first special girl. Now, I have a boy and he is my second son and I love him dearly. Therefore, I took the time to take him to training, participate in his training, make my husband go and my son that we may be all we can be for him and he can be excellent in all we expect of him.
we ended up with a female chocolate lab young she came to us with no collar very thin and in heat. we posted her in all the local areas and had her chip checked and nothing. We are taking her in to have her health checked with the vet this weekend ( she is young) she knows no commands is not leash trained and was very scared. She is starting to open up and is a sweetie although a thief. I am wondering if you have any suggestions on leash training as she simply shuts down when she realizes she is on one
Hi Lab Family! Marley Jane is her name. Shes a 4 year old chocolate lab that we bought from breeders in Arizona. On 4/20/2016 we drove 5 hours to pick her up and turned around and drove another 5 hours back home to California. I gotta tell you, she was the most adorable baby chocolate lab I had ever seen. But the size did not last! Before I knew it, she was a horse! Many frustrating times I came home to Marley Jane sitting on her time out corner with the look of guilt, pleading for forgiveness for stealing any human food she can get her mouth on! A full loaf of wonder bread? Yup she stole that. A tray of 8 pounds of frozen chicken thawing out in the sink? Yup she ate every last bite. A pound of mixed nuts? Yup. She even stole that! I watched her in disbelief as she recovered from that with minor stomach pain. Marley Jane is a big bear. Her bark will keep the worst kind of criminals off my property. But deep down shes a chicken! While the other 2 dogs (rescues. I had 3 rescues & just lost my oldest one) go outside when they hear something, Marley Jane chooses to bark from the couch. She is a people person! She loves loves loves to socialize. She is a loving wonderful friend. Honestly, I dont know what I am going to do when I lose her. I love her so much it hurts. I love her because she is genuinly a loving loyal dog. Very intelligent. She has to play ball every single day and she patiently waits for me to give her the sign. When I ask her where is her ball, this is the happiest part of her day. We have a half acre and I throw her the tennis ball with a ball thrower to assist with the distance. She can repeat this hobby for hours. The only thing she loves more than food is her tennis ball! Unfortunately Marley Jane is way overweight. She is starting to miscalculate her size and ends up knocking things over with her big butt! I changed her food and stopped giving her snacks but we havent seen any weight loss. Ive read on line that it could be her thyroid. Another problem I noticed the last 2 summers is she looses patches of hair near her butt area. Sometimes her stomach is bright pink/reddish. Does anyone have these issues with their chocolate labs? Any recomendations? Last year I asked my vet to give her an antibiotic injection in case she had some kind of skin bacteria. It helped. But the vet bill is never pleasant! So I’m monitoring her for now. I dont think chocolate labs are stupid at all. I think they are overly lovable. And very needy. So I’m thinking that the ones that say they are stupid probably have little patience or compassion for the lovable needy type of dog. She can burn me out too following me everywhere and watching me until I get out of bed. But my heart hurts if I even come close to hurting her feelings. Thank you for letting me share.
I have a Chocolate Lab who is very annoying at times. I don’t know why. Due to which, I had to face embarrassment in front of the guests. Can you tell me why is it so? Is it related to his health or temperament? Please guide!
We got our chocolate fall of 2014. We fell in love instantly. She absorbed everything we taught her. We trained her in a crate. I didn’t believe in locking them up like that but after my boyfriend insisted, I went along with it and what a difference it made. She was house trained in less than a week. When she got a little older and we started leaving her for short periods of time out of the crate to see how she behaved, she did awesome. A few months later we came home and found a couple things chewed up. So back in the crate she went for a few weeks and then we tried it again. Never chewed another thing up. Fast forward to this year , during this past summer she was chewing and scratching herself bald. No not from fleas. The vet checked her over and told us to only give her spring water. We did and in no time the scratching was and chewing stopped. Not only that she started behaving like a puppy again. She had so much energy and wanted to play and carry on. We didn’t realize how down she was. 2 months later her stomach bloated out and the vet started doing tests to find out why. Well what it turned out to be was a tumor on her spleen and it ruptured. Turns out it spread to her lungs also and surgery wouldn’t have given her much more time. So we had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep. We only had 6 years with her but they were happy ones. She was such a smart and amazing companion. I had hurt my back and have been off work for 4 years so I was with her daily. She was so much more than just our pet. It’s been 3 weeks now and I still wake up looking for her. My Jasmine. RIP.
My chocolate girl got pregnant by a yellow lab. My girls mom is Fox red Labrador and black lab. Her dad is purebred chocolate. Shes due to have her litter in 26 days. What are her chances of having all colors vs. all chocolates?
You’ll need to know a little about the genetics of your dog. Without knowing the genetics of both parents you won’t know for sure what colors you will have. Since mom is a chocolate her genotype is either bbEe or bbEE. Since dad is a yellow his genotype is one of BBee, Bbee, or bbee. Based on all of these combinations it’s tough to tell exactly what color combinations you will have. Here are a few possibilities:
If mom is bbEE and dad is bbee. Then you’ll have all chocolate puppies.
If mom is bbEE and dad is BBee. Then you’ll have all black puppies.
If mom is bbEE and dad is Bbee. Then you have the possibility of having chocolate and black lab pups in your litter.
If mom is bbEe and dad is Bbee. Then you have the possibility of having yellow, chocolate, and black lab pups in your litter.
If mom is bbEe and dad is BBee. Then you have the possibility of having black and yellow lab pups in your litter.
If mom is bbEe and dad is bbee. Then you have the possibility of having chocolate and yellow lab pups in your litter.
So there’s a lot of different possible combinations in your litter. If you can narrow down the genotypes of your dogs then you’ll have a better idea what color puppies you might have. Of course even if it’s possible to have certain colors in your the percentages are never exact. Good luck with your upcoming litter!
Have just given a forever home to Ben Bear, a 9year old choccy. He’s just adorable. Been on a very strict diet, he was a whopping 56kilo !!!! Sadly fed the wrong diet & little excersize, his previous owner being elderly.He now has a waist loves his walks in the countyside, got him a ramp to get in& out of our van, to save his joints, off to the coast soon. We love him to bits,he really does look like a bear!!
First Lab we’ve had,owned a Viszla before, also an amazing breed.
Looking at me now cos it’s tea time , heaven forbid he doesn’t get it on time.leading eyes aside
My chocolate lab was the easiest to train she is almost 2yrs old ,she was ansd is very gentle with my older cats, very smart and obedient, her name is Finnigan
My dog Hazel is 1 1/2 years old chocolate my 2 kids surprised us after our 14 year old yellow had passed away. She follows me around and shows lots of love , but she jumps up on people. Shoos excellent to take off leash a and always comes back to me. She also pulls a lot when walking and is quite stubborn unlike my yellow. How can I stop the pulling on leash and jumping to greet people..