Short-Haired vs. Long-Haired English Labrador Retriever: Which One to Buy?

English Labradors, aka 'The Lab', is a retriever gun dog breed that hails from the UK. The breed can be bifurcated into a Long-haired English Labrador Retriever as well as a short-haired Lab.

A typical Labrador can be characterized as a 55 to 80 pound, short-haired dog with a life span of 12-14 years. However, for those who love dogs with long locks, though not very common, long-haired Labs are also bred and can prove to be great pets.

This breed was developed from imported Canadian fishing dogs. The Labrador is one of the most popular dog species in various regions all across the globe. They come in three colors, i.e., black, brown, and yellow.

What Makes Both Kinds Distinct from Each Other?

1. Genetic Differences

The distinct feature of the long-haired Lab has to be its length and much finer double coat than typical Labrador Retrievers. The long-haired Lab owes this to the difference in the genetic makeup of both types.

Long-haired Labrador Retriever has a combination of two recessive alleles(genes), which result in lengthier coats. This gene is called the fibroblast growth factor 5 gene. Geneticists have termed it the FGF5 gene. However, it is known by the name of the L gene by the Labrador breeder community.

The L gene has two alleles(forms). L, which is the gene for short hair, and l, which is the one that produces long hair. L is the dominant one amongst the two. So, whenever a combination of both alleles is formed for the new offspring, the L form masks the effect of the I allele, and an individual with short hair is produced.

2. How Do the Specific Genes Unfold into Their Respective Coat Types?

All offspring get one allele from each of their parents. If both mates from the combination 'Ll' or 'LL,' the offspring will have a coat that grows up to be short-haired. In contrast, if both parents pass only recessive genes, it will result in an 'll' combination, and the puppies will grow up to be long-haired.

One thing that needs to be noticed is that whenever two different alleles (Ll) combine, it results in an offspring that does not show the effect of the recessive allele but becomes a carrier of the gene and may pass it on to the next generation where the gene may show its effect.

In this case, if a puppy gets a combination 'Ll,' it will be short-haired but may result in a long-haired offspring by mating with a long-haired (ll) or a heterogenous (Ll) individual.

3. Which is the Pure Breed?

When a Labrador Retriever is talked about, a typical image of it that automatically comes to mind is athletic, steady, and with a thick, glossy, short coat.

According to the American Kennel Club’s breed standard for the Labrador Retriever, the definition depicts the dog's coat as a 'distinctive feature' of the breed.

The standard says: "It should be short, straight and very dense, giving a fairly hard feeling to the hand… A slight wave down the back is permissible. [But] woolly coats, soft silky coats, and sparse slick coats are not typical of the breed and should be severely penalized."

Moreover, the Kennel Club has restricted long-haired Labs to appear as show Labs in the UK. Likewise, the ANKC, Australia, has the same restrictions for the long-haired labradors.

However, this restriction does not exclude this breed from the list of purebred dogs. Long-haired English Labrador Retrievers are, in fact, purebred dogs that can be recognized in breed registries. The long coats only disqualify them from the show bench but keep them as pure of a breed as the typical ones are.

Although, some breeders believe that exclusion from the literal definition should deliberately lead to no long-coated type breeding. But the continuous demand and adoration by the families as pets will never let this happen.

4. Who is a Better Pet?

The most relevant question that arises is: Can long-haired pets be good pets or not? Fortunately, the l gene has not been seen to have any other effect on the offspring except for the change in the length of their coats. No health issues, no other special characteristics. Just the long locks and nothing else.

Long-haired English Labrador Retrievers have all the great traits that can be found in the typical ones, be it friendly disposition or special affection towards children. So the answer is a big fat yes! You can definitely pet these cute, faithful creatures.

Labrador's thick, oily, double coat has always been the species' intrinsic characteristic which protects them from wind, rain, and harsh weather conditions. This helps them tolerate the worst environments without any significant effect on their health.

A long fine coat makes the body more vulnerable to environmental conditions. Also, long hair is a bit more difficult to clean.

So, the selection is based on your personal liking of you as a buyer. If you find long hair cuter on your pet and can handle all the extra fuss that comes along with the long hair, then why not go for what your heart desires?

5. Which Breed is More Common?

If the long-haired breed is ignored by the main breed registries to this extent, it surely means that the vast majority of Labradors that are bred in the present day are the typical short-haired ones.

This in no way means that it is hard to find a Long-haired English Labrador Retriever. This breed is produced by several breeders in the country. You will not have to search much to find one for you.

How to Take Care of Your Long-Haired Lab?

Bathing your long-haired lab might require more effort and time but once done, it makes it look and smell its best. To avoid the long locks from matting during the bathe and make the bath as smooth and enjoyable as the both of you want, brush your dog's hair beforehand. It is recommended to use some conditioner in a reasonable quantity after shampooing the hair.

Don't forget to use it with diluting products so that it reaches and cleans every part of your dog's long coat. The residue from the products can be harmful to the dog's skin, so make sure to rinse thoroughly with water. It is a long and hectic process but the results will be worth it.

How to Take Care of Your Short-Haired Lab?

It is advisable to use a slicker or bristle brush to bathe your short-haired Lab, as a pin brush may injure the vulnerable skin. Remember not to use any bathing products for use by humans. The ingredients which are beneficial for human hair may prove to be irritating to a dog's skin. Be careful with the shampoo as it can easily slip into the dog's eyes, nostrils, ears, or mouth, which in this case are not covered by hair.

Verdict: Which One to Buy?

The major difference between both breeds lies with the genetic makeup of the two of them. The different genetic combinations lead to two different coats, i.e., long-haired and short-haired coats.

Long-haired Labs do not come under the typical Labradors definition, which leads to it being the less common breed among the two.

Short hair breeds are easy to take care of. All other characteristics make both breeds quite the same. Therefore, the buying decision should more or less be based upon the mere appearance of the two. Go for the one that appeals to you the most.

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