English Lab Puppies in Charleston, SC
English Lab puppies have quite an appeal, especially considering the classic, handsome, features the breed can offer when you choose the right breeder. To help inform people interested in Labrador Retrievers first we wanted to provide some of the differences between the American and the English Lab. We will talk more about specific aspects of what it’s like to locate and care for your first English Lab. We will also share some of our favorite pictures of our English Labradors and English Labrador puppies with you.
If you’re unsure and haven’t added one of these beautiful dogs to your family, don’t worry. We’ll give you information and background on the English Labrador breed so you can make an informed decision on if this is the right dog for you or your family. Taking a look at the split that has occurred in the Labrador Retriever breed and looking at how English labs differ from American labs will be the focus. Then the roles that English Labs play in our lives and our society will be covered. Also, we’ll share some information on the breed and how suitable it is for different types of families
Charleston, SC Area Helpful Links
Restaurants
Millers All Day, Brown Dog Deli, Husk, 82 Queen, Poogan’s Porch, McCrady’s, The Establishment, Minero
Hotels
Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District, The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel, Francis Marion Hotel, Holiday Inn Charleston-Riverview, Two Meeting Street Inn, Comfort Inn Downtown Charleston, Meeting Street Inn, Charleston Marriott
Where Did English Labs Come From?
The Labrador breed was established in Newfoundland by pioneering English settlers. These settlers brought their hunting and fishing companions with them from England. So, in all reality, all Labradors can be tied back to England. All early Labradors were working dogs. The split between the English and American labs came later, when the Labrador grew in popularity as a pet during the last century. And as we have seen, the division in the breed was not made because of geography, but because of the specific role the dog is intended to play in the lives of its caretakers.
There was only one type of English Lab breed, or one strain, up until the 1940s. The breed standard was based on this type, and on the role the breed would play as a working retriever. Then, over the next few decades, two different types of breeders emerged, and with them, the two different types of Labrador Retriever.
In this summary of the two Labrador types, the term English Lab will be used for show or bench Labradors, and American Lab will be used for working or field Labradors. Some comparison of these two strains of the same breed of dog will point out some key differences. First up will be some of the physical differences between the two Lab types.
English Labrador Retriever Appearance
You don’t need us to tell you what the world’s most popular breed of dog is. A Labrador is an instantly recognizable breed all over the world. But there are some distinguishing features of the English Lab that sets this version of the breed apart from his working bred relatives. Two very classic features are his handsome chiseled head and his thick otter tail that tapers to the end.
English Lab Body Shape
The broad body shape continues as you go from the head area of this beautiful dog towards his tail. The dog’s body is strong and in proportion to his head, his chest is broad and deep, and his hindquarters well-muscled and powerful. The classic tail shape that the English Lab breed is known so well for is heavy and sweeps downwards behind him. In contrast, when the American Lab is viewed from the front it has a leaner appearance and is often a narrower dog in overall shape. The American Lab gives the impression of a dog built for speed and agility, as well as strength and power.
English Lab Block Head
The English Lab has a larger, heavier head when compared with the working type Lab. All of the Greenbriar Plantation pups are bred to have this characteristic. American Labs will often have a narrower skull with a less distinctive “stop”. This is the point where the skull rises upwards steeply from the base of the muzzle. You can see the marked “stop” nicely on both yellow lab puppies for sale and black lab puppies for sale. The English Lab has large kindly eyes, set well apart in his broad skull, while the American Lab’s eyes may be a little closer together.
English Lab Otter Tail
A thick tail which tapers to a point like that found on an otter may be a hazard to breakable items left on a coffee table. However, this tail shape fully enhances the appearance of an English Labrador. In most cases, any American Labs you see today will have dispensed with the otter tail altogether. American Labs have a thinner appendage with a curve or upward sweep rather than their English Lab cousins whose tail swings low.
These then are the key features of the English Lab distinguishing him from his working strain or American relatives: • Slightly shorter legs • Deep broad chest • Thick tapering tail that swings low • Broad head and neck with strong features
Generally, this show bred dog is a stockier, chunkier dog than the Lab bred to work as a hunting companion. This is not to say that English Labs are not used as hunting companions. Many of our dogs are chosen just for that purpose in mind and do very well with it. The stocky, chunky, and cuddly appearance is what people find so attractive about the breed.
Are English Labs Shorter?
The deep broad chest of the English Labrador might give the impression that the dog is a much shorter legged dog than the American Lab. This is actually pretty true. In some cases, these show line dogs are actually slightly shorter in the leg, in proportion to their spine, than the American Labrador dogs.
Facts About Charleston, SC
To provide a slice of history for Charleston, SC, we’ll talk about a portion of the story here. When looking back an artistic movement called the Charleston Renaissance occurred, and for a brief moment writer such as DuBose Heyward, Herbert Ravenel Sass, John Bennett, and Josephine Pinckney and visual artists such as Elizabeth O’Neill Verner, Alfred Hutty, and Alice Ravenel Huger Smith led a southern cultural awakening. The American composer George Gershwin based his opera Porgy and Bess on the novel and play Porgy by DuBose Heyward when intrigued by it. The humble beggar, in his goat cart, was the vehicle that took the city to audiences all over the world. When Porgy and Bess had its Charleston premiere in 1970, it gave the city the opportunity to finally integrate socially at cultural functions at a moment when the city (and the state) were celebrating its three hundredth anniversary. Such integration was made possible only after federal judge J. Waties Waring of Charleston declared that separate facilities were unequal, which made him a pariah in his native city. Rivers High School, the first public high school in the state to do so, integrated in 1963. Delaying additional progress, a tense hospital strike by black workers had the city under martial law in 1969.
Those coming to celebrate the state’s birth at the city’s original site Charles Towne Landing could look across the river to a much-changed place. Marshes south of Trade Street had been filled in, and all of the suburbs west of the Ashley had been annexed. The local military base, the port, and tourism were driving the local economy. The international Spoleto Arts Festival began in 1977 and it served to merge tourism, culture, and business. The festival made a strong positive contribution to the city’s image and economy. In the 80s a battle erupted over the redevelopment of a block of downtown for a hotel convention site. The clash put business interests against preservationists, both of whom felt that their side represented the best interests of the city. There was much fear of financial loss in the 1990s, after the naval base was closed, but the economy was able to survive.
At the beginning of the 2000’s, the city was competing with its incorporated neighbors Mount Pleasant and North Charleston to house the Hunley, the Confederate submarine lost in its harbor and then recovered. Others in the city were more concerned with fighting bitterly for and against the expansion of the city’s container port, the second largest on the East Coast. As the nature of the city changes, both its detractors and defenders have become more passionate. Called one of America’s most livable cities one year, it was also noted for its congestion the next. The area is not just a downtown, but also suburbs, rich and poor, black and white, and immigrant. Like one of its eccentrics whom citizens pride themselves in accommodating, Charleston continues on, confident in its self-proclaimed destiny as one of America’s most significant cities.
Comparing English Lab with American Lab Puppies
From quite an early age, an experienced breeder of Labradors will be able to identify an English Lab puppy from an American Lab puppy. The American Lab puppy has a narrower face and larger eyes and ears in proportion to her skull. The English Lab is just the opposite and has a broad shape to its body from head to toe, including its tail.
English Lab Weight
The build of the show line English Lab is directly connected to his weight. An English Lab may be heavier than an American Lab of the same age, starting from early puppyhood and carrying through all the way up to maturity. You can find plenty of information and growth charts online but remember that your English Lab puppy may be at the higher end of the weight spectrum if it looks large for its age early on. As long as he is just big, and not fat, this is okay.
English Labrador Coat
It’s no surprise that a dog originally bred to withstand the icy waters of Newfoundland is endowed with an amazing waterproof, double coat. English show labs have retained their wonderful coats to this day although they may never be expected to swim in sub-zero temperatures. Some of the working lines of Labradors have lost this thick coat. English Labs have a thick warm double coat. On the other hand, not all-American Labs have the double coat that you find on English Labs in the show ring. It may seem slightly odd that the working dog is the one to have lost the working coat. It makes more sense when where the breeding pool of American Labs comes from is considered. But first, temperament of the breed will be covered.
English Lab Temperament
There are differences in temperament between English and American Labs, but they may not always be as well-defined as we might prefer. Both strains of Labrador Retrievers are known to be friendly, kind-natured dogs overall. However, the English Lab may in some cases be less energetic and driven outdoors. They are known less for rushing here there and everywhere looking for something. Although this is true, many hunters prefer an English Lab because easier to control. If an American Lab does not have the mental and physical requirements they need fulfilled, they can be restless and destructive housemates. The English Lab, on the other hand, may be more relaxing company, even if he doesn’t get a full work out each morning. They can be pretty active as puppies, but the English Lab often matures into a very gentle and loving dog.