Do labradors really smell?

[headintheproverbial]

Looking into getting a family dog over the next year or two as the kids get older and researching now.

Labs seem a good bet for children, trainable and friendly.

But one 'con' I keep seeing as I research is shedding and smell! We have dogs in our extended family but no labs. Is it bad??

They are wonderful, gorgeous dogs but they do shed so badly. They do smell doggy, but I’ve never had any other dog that didn’t.

At the end of the day dogs shed, dogs slobber, dogs bring mud in, can be bouncy and hurtle around (they do it in glee). They need walking lots, attention, company. Don’t get one if you don’t want the whole package of a dog, good bits and bad.

Black labs smell less than the other options. No idea why, they just do

Currently visiting friends who have an old yellow lab. It is shedding everywhere. Have brushed mountains of hair out of it these last two days and it still shedding! Plus yes, it stinks.

We've always had labs, like all dogs there are variations in temperament, and they can be full on when young, but are easily trained. I did obedience trials and some labs need a calm approach while others need more encouragement. I've had yellows, blacks and chocolates and the worst smelling was definitely a black, allergies were the issue though. My current two are huge dogs, but not boisterous and not smelly. They do take up a lot of space, need regular brushing and leave muddy pawprints though. The worst smelling dogs ime are older long haired breeds.

They are absolutely enormous and very strong

Labs are "enormous"?! 😂😂😂

You'd probably shit yourself if you came across one of the actual giant breeds PP

Labs are a medium sized dog.

Labs are "enormous"?!
You'd probably shit yourself if you came across one of the actual giant breeds PP
Labs are a medium sized dog
People interpret size differently.
I have a ‘medium’ size breed though some would say she is large as she is quite tall.
She is large enough for some people to be scared of her.

I wouldn’t class Labradors as a medium breed at all, medium to me are spaniels and collies, labradors are large dogs, in height and weight.
An average Labrador is what, 35ish kg?
That is more than double what my ‘medium’ breed weighs.

I have seen ‘actual giant breeds’ before thanks, my neighbour has a greyhound who is taller than the St Bernard I sometimes see out and about and I see a landseer/Newfoundland regularly on walks.
I have seen Danes and Wolfhounds before too.
They are of course bigger than a Labrador but that doesn’t change the fact that Labradors are still both tall and heavy dogs, they are to me ‘enormous’ dogs, they are smaller than Great Danes and the like granted but they are still very big, very strong, heavy dogs.

35kg is at the very top of ideal weight for a Labrador. None of mine exceed that, despite their greedy natures. My 2 year old male lab hovers around 30kg.

I'd describe them as a large dog, but I agree it's all about perception.

I'd recommend a cocker spaniel. Best family dog I've ever had and he never ever smells. He doesn't shed either. He's so gentle and lovely and I really wish I could have 5 more exactly like him as he's just the perfect dog. Most cocker's are that I've met to be fair. Excellent dogs all round

@sadpapercourtesan

All dogs stink. If you have a dog, your house stinks. That's your prerogative, and you may experience it as an "adorable aroma", but there it is.

Agree that this is tripe.

My house currently smells like berries because of wax melts & I've never had anyone say my house smells "doggy". Including a brutally honest MIL.

They all need regular brushing and it makes a huge difference. Just ten minutes a day vigorous brushing and it definitely makes them smell fresher. Start this with a soft brush from the day they arrive and they get used to it.

Labs are sturdy dogs.
I have a dog and 3 cats and am aware of not wanting my house to smell. Washing the beds quite frequently helps too.

My two never did - they did swim in the sea almost everyday though. And then there were the days that they rolled in fox poo or rotting fish...😂

My black lab doesn't smell (unless he's been swimming in the lake). My Irish Setter on the other hand ...... jeez he smells so bad sometimes.

I have honestly never heard this widely held opinion that 'all labs smell'. Certainly none that I've met

We live near a river so my lovely lab swims daily and doesn't smell-neither does my house (pretty sure I'm not nose blind!!)

But yes to hair! Twice a year our DDog sheds his coat-but each of those periods can last months! A quick hoover daily sorts

Right, I'm going back to sleep cuddled into my big brown lab bear and inhaling the most beautiful popcorn paw scent-nothing better!!

Relatives have one and it’s breath has a particular foul smell. Other then that, no weird smell. I’d think they would smell less then other big dogs because they have no long hair that dirt and smells easily get stuck in plus the one I know loves water (heard many labs do) and get clean by taking a ‘bath’ regularly by swimming in a nearby lake (which is relatively clean water) during walks.

Thing about labs, or the ones I've known is that they retrieve - so when you throw the ball, stick, toy they actually go and get it and bring it back. Also they have a good nose - so you can hide something and they can sniff it out and find it.

This imv makes them a much more enjoyable dog to take out and exercise. And also means they get exercise without walking miles. I think collies will too. And Spaniels. But I don't know if the poodle crosses that are so popular do. Any labradoodle I have known hasn't retreived.

The poodle crosses which don't cast their hair seem not to have a doggy smell. But I think it might depend how houseproud you are - personally I'd have a lab.

Yeah they are pretty stinky. If it's family friendly you are after think about a staffy, great family pets and not smelly.

Thanks for all the responses! Food for thought for sure!!