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Find out all about Labradors and their common health conditions, and then compare pet insurance options from some of Australia’s leading insurers.

Written by , updated on September 25th, 2023

Price range

$800 –$1,500

Height

54cm - 62cm (standard)

Weight

25kg - 36kg

Personality

Outgoing, even-tempered, gentle

Coat length

Short, dense

Exercise needs

High

Kid-friendly?

Yes

Life expectancy

10 - 12 years

Overview

The Labrador Retriever, often just called a Labrador or Lab, is the most popular dog in the world. They are an intelligent, friendly and outgoing breed originating from Labrador, in the colony of Newfoundland, which is now a province of Canada. It was originally known as a St. John’s Water Dog, bred as a sporting and hunting dog in the 1700s, and then introduced to England in the 1830s. These dogs were bred with British hunting dogs to produce the Labrador Retriever. They are now used extensively as service guide dogs, therapy dogs and rescue dogs, and by police, customs and military around the world. Around 80% of the world's guide dogs are Labradors.

Labradors have a short, dense coat and webbed paws, which makes them excellent swimmers. They come in three colours, black, brown and golden (also known as yellow.) Black is the original colour, and is the most common. They are known for their exceptional intelligence, ease of training, affection towards children, and boundless energy. They make excellent family pets who do well with children of all ages.

Common diseases and conditions of Labradors

Hip Dysplasia: This is a common orthopaedic condition affecting the joint's development. It can lead to discomfort and mobility issues.
Elbow Dysplasia: Another common orthopaedic condition that affects the elbow joints and can lead to lameness and mobility issues.
Obesity: Labradors can be prone to obesity due to their love of food, which is due to a missing POMC gene, which regulates appetite.

Breed-specific issues:

As Labradors are so food-orientated, many people use dog treats to train them. However, care should be taken not to overdo training treats because of the Lab's tendency towards obesity. Toys make a better training treat rather than food.

How much does pet insurance cost for a Labrador?

Most Australians can expect to pay between $20 and $60 a month for pet insurance. There are many factors that can influence the cost of pet insurance for your dog, which is why it's important to compare pet insurance policies. Factors affecting the cost of your insurance include:

Age: The older your dog is, the more pet insurance is likely to cost. This is because senior dogs tend to have more physical health conditions and illnesses due to age, and so present a higher insurance risk.   
Type of insurance you choose:  There are three basic types of pet insurance available in Australia; accident-only, accident and illness, and comprehensive insurance. An accident-only policy is the cheapest type of insurance available, with comprehensive coverage costing the most. 
The policy annual limit: Each pet insurance policy has an annual limit, which is the maximum amount that will be paid out on the policy in one financial year. Annual limits range from around $10,000 up to $25,000 or more.  
Sub-limits: In addition to an annual limit, there may also be sub-limits that apply to the policy, for example, a $300 sub-limit for consultation fees, or a $5,000 limit for cruciate ligament conditions.  
Benefit percentage: Pet insurance does not cover 100% of the cost of your vet bill. Instead, it may pay a percentage of the total bill. This can range from 50% for cheaper policies, up to 90% for the best policies available.  
Excess amount: This is the amount you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket each time you make a claim on your policy. Some pet insurance policies do not come with an excess amount, whilst others do. 
Any add-ons you choose: It’s possible to add on more cover options to a basic policy, such as emergency boarding fees, routine care and dental care. These add-ons extend the scope of your pet insurance, but do increase the overall cost of the policy.
Discounts: some insurers offer discounts of between 5% and 15% if you have multiple pets insured together, if you pay your premium annually, or if you bundle your pet insurance with other forms of insurance with the same company.
Gap-only insurance options: Some insurance companies offer a gap-only insurance option, which means when you go to the vet you'll only be required to pay the gap amount, not the cost of the whole bill. This is similar to the Medicare system of health insurance for humans in Australia, where gap payments can be made at HICAPS terminals at the time of treatment.

Types of pet insurance you can choose from

Accident-only

This is the most basic type of pet insurance, covering costs for accidental injuries such as car accidents, poisoning, burns, fractures, snake and spider bites, but not illnesses and other conditions.

Accident and illness

This type of insurance provides cover for accidental injuries as well as illnesses like cancer, gastrointestinal problems and eye, ear and skin conditions, but not routine care for your pet.

Comprehensive

This offers the highest level of protection, covering accident and illness and potentially routine care such as vaccinations, dental care, worm and flea treatments and microchipping.

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Common questions about Labradors

Is a Golden Labrador and a Golden Retriever the same breed of dog?

No, Golden Retrievers and Golden Labradors are distinct and separate breeds. Golden Retrievers originate from Scotland, and are known for their long, golden coats. They were bred primarily as hunting and retrieving dogs. Labradors, on the other hand, originate from the island of Newfoundland, which is part of modern-day Canada. In the early 19th century, they were imported to England where they were further developed into the breed we now know as the Labrador Retriever. Labradors come in three shades of colour, black, brown and a light yellow colour, which is sometimes called golden. This is not the same deep bronze golden shade as a Golden Retriever’s coat.

Does the colour of a Labrador affect its personality or behaviour?

There are no published academic studies on this subject, but many Labrador owners believe that black Labradors are the smartest, yellow Labradors are the most outgoing and sociable, and chocolate Labradors the most relaxed and laid back.

Do Labradors get along with other pets like cats or smaller dogs?

Yes, Labradors generally get along well with other pets as long as they are properly socialised from an early age. Their friendly, relaxed and adaptable nature makes them amicable companions for cats and smaller dog breeds.

Do Labradors shed a lot of fur?

Labradors are moderate shedders. They shed year-round, but completely shed their undercoat twice a year, in the spring and autumn. They shed in spring so they can get rid of their dense winter coat, and grow a lighter one for summer. They also shed in autumn so they can replace their thin summer coat with a thicker winter one. During shedding they require regular grooming and brushing to manage loose fur and maintain a healthy top coat.

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Disclaimer and important things you should know

Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.

We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.

For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.