Labrador retrievers are some of the best canine companions around. They’re easy to train, adorable, and they tend to have great personalities. Unfortunately, they don’t live forever. If you plan on welcoming a lab into your family, it helps to know how long they’ll be around.
So, how old do labs live? Well, on average, labs live for around 10 to 13 years. That said, you’ll find it’s all a little more nuanced with several factors involved. Read on to learn more about lab lifespans and the various factors that impact it.
How Old Do Labs Live?
Labrador retrievers live for an average of 10 to 13 years, which follows the trend for medium-sized dogs like the lab. That doesn’t mean they can’t live longer lives, but it’s a good place to start.
With a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and a little bit of love, you’ll find that many labs can live for more than 13 years. That said, 15 years is usually pushing it, so keep this in mind when welcoming a lab into your family.
Factors that Influence How Old Labs Live
The Lab’s average lifespan is around 10 to 13 years, but this isn’t the hard cut-off. In fact, your lab’s lifespan varies based on how you care for them, what you feed them, and much more. Discover some of the most common factors that influence the age of a labrador retriever below.
Exercise
Labs need around 60 to 80 minutes of exercise daily. While they may need more as puppies, the reverse isn’t true for senior labs. In other words, don’t let them loaf around too much as older dogs. This can cause obesity and other health issues to develop. Like people, labs need to remain active later in life.
For this reason, we recommend playing with them, walking them, and training them daily. As long as you hit an hour or two daily, you shouldn’t have any issues. In addition to physical exercise, don’t forget to exercise their minds. Training, puzzle games, and plenty of other methods are available to help you stimulate your lab’s mind.
Diet
When it comes to diet, you need to keep your lab happy and healthy. Your goal is to support their active lifestyle, and this means plenty of healthy fats and protein to support strong joints and muscles. Of course, you need to keep an eye on their portions, especially if they slow down a bit later in life.
When it comes to the specific type of food you should be feeding them, you have a few options. Our top recommendation is high-quality dry kibble that’s formulated for medium-sized dogs. We also recommend feeding them twice daily and integrating some wet food or healthy meats. Of course, make sure you keep an eye out for allergies.
Baseline Health
Last but definitely not least, you have to consider the baseline health of the lab. If you purchase an unhealthy puppy or adopt a dog who has existing health conditions, they may not live as long. While a missing limb or an eye issue may not be detrimental to their health, diabetes and other chronic health conditions can cause problems down the line.
For this reason, it’s important to evaluate dogs before you welcome them into your home. Failing to do so can result in issues. While you can focus on diet and exercise, you can’t always help with chronic conditions.
How Old Do Labs Live? Our Final Thoughts
So, how old do labs live? Overall, you can expect labs to live for around 10 to 13 years. Still, that doesn’t mean they can’t live longer. By choosing healthy puppies, feeding them the right diet, and ensuring that they get plenty of exercise, your lab can live a long and healthy life. In fact, it’s not unheard of for a lab to live for more than 13 years!
If you want to learn more about labs, including how to train and properly care for them, we recommend reading Dog Academy’s labrador retriever adoption guide. It will help you further understand labs, and this can help you help them live a long and healthy life.