TEMPERAMENT

Labrador Retrievers are known for their loving nature - and this is a trait that is exemplified by all of the Labs here at Alinjarra. The breed is gentle with children, friendly with other animals and are all-around great companions.

SIZE

They are very sturdy, large dogs. The average height of a Lab is around 60cm, and they can weigh anywhere between 29kg to 36kg. So do keep in mind they eat a lot and need a fair amount of room to maintain this size.

LIFESTYLE

This breed has high energy (they were originally bred for working purposes) and as such nearly 40 minutes of daily exercise is recommended. They can be an excellent indoor family companion, however do ensure they have dedicated daily exercise time in order to avoid boredom and keep them healthy.

POTENTIAL DISORDERS

~ Disclaimer: Alinjarra Labradors takes great precautions to ensure that there is minimal risk of our puppies developing the conditions outlined below - however we can never provide a 100% guarantee that a puppy will be free of all medical conditions ~

HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA

Labrador Retrievers are very prone to getting a condition called Dysplasia in their Hips and/or Elbows. This condition occurs when the elbow or hip joints develop abnormally; leading to uneven pressure on the bones which then causes the eventual development of osteoarthritis and possible fractures. In order to avoid this condition breeders are required to have their dog's hips and elbows scored before breeding. If the dogs have low scores then it is likely (but not guaranteed) that the puppies will be free from Dysplasia. Whilst if the dog gets a high hip or elbow score, they are not bred with - this process therefore attempts to minimise the risk of puppies developing the condition.

All Alinjarra dogs 1 year and older have received Elbow and Hip Scores, to see these please browse through the Studs and Females pages.

If you would like to know more, read more about Dysplasia here.

PRA - PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY

This is a disorder that affects the dog's eyesight that may be diagnosed through genetic testing. As this disorder is carried on a recessive gene, it can only be present in a puppy if both parents are carriers. If only one parent is a carrier there is a 0% chance of a puppy developing the condition. Alinjarra Labradors are tested (or fully cleared by inheritance) for this condition in order to ensure that all puppies are not at risk. The results of these tests may be found under the Studs and Females pages.
Read more about this condition here.

EIC - EXERCISE INDUCED COLLAPSE

Like PRA, EIC is a genetic condition that is inherited from the parents. It leads to muscle weakness and the inability to exercise for over 5-15 minutes without suffering from inco-ordination and/or paralysis. We take great precaution to test (or check by inheritance) our pets to ensure that the disease will not be present in our puppies.
Read more about this condition here.