Are Labrador retrievers friendly or can they be mean?

Question

My next door neighbor had a female black Lab.She was very stand offish with me.
I never teased or was ever mean.She just
growled and backed away.
When giving her a milk bone(dog biscuit)she would gently take it,growl and run off.

My neighbor got kelly(black female lab) when it was a pup.

Answer 1

Labs are usually very friendly. ANY breed of dog can be made mean.

Answer 2

We adopted a beautiful lab about 2 years old. He went to us immediately. We loved him too. But we were told he had a food aggression. We found that off right away. He bit my husband twice. It was over dog bones. So we stopped the dog bones, no more bites.
Now we have had to dog three years. He adores my husband and I am the snack lady.
but, he has not warmed up to strangers or even our friends we see occasionally. He loves to ride in the back of the truck. But, he barks visciously at everyone. He will not let anyone in our yard or near the truck. We feel like he was abused in his first year or so of life. We do not know how to break him of this overly protective nature. We tried to take him camping, that didn't work. He was OK with us, but no one else. We have had labs for over 40 years (about 6) but have never had an aggressive one as this. We keep working with him, but have had no luck of making him see that people are nice and love him too. He is a handsome lab. Everyone that sees him wants to pet him, until he starts in barking, snarling and growling. What's an owner to do? We didn't want him euthanized, we had to save him.

Answer 3

It sounds like she is afraid of you more than being mean. Labs by their nature are usually the friendliest most loving and outgoing dogs you will ever meet. Your neighbors dog may have had a bad past, may have been raised wrong, or abused. But usually Labs love everyone and everything. Every dog needs to be socialized and if they are not it can cause them to be afraid or leary of things or new people.

Answer 4

ANY dog can be mean if they are raised to be. Labs in general though are the most loving, sweet, and gentle dogs. Them, along with goldens, are two most highly recommended dogs for families with children because of their sweet and gentle nature. I have 2 Labs with 3 kids and love them dearly. They are wonderful dogs and even after some of the stuff my 3 year old has done to them trying to play, neither of them have ever even attempted or acted like they would bite. Never even a growl.

Answer 5

Any dog can be nice or mean, regardless or breed or mix. It usually depends on how they are raised & trained, but there are dogs that have mental problems & can be psychotic, just as in people.

The more puppy mill/backyard bred a dog is, the more likely they are to have health & mental problems - because Labs have been in the top spots in breed registrations for many years now, there ARE some 'bad apples' out there.

Answer 6

Labs are 1 of the gentlest breeds & great w/kids. One would have to be terribly abused to get mean. The Lab is the #1 most registered dog in the AKC - there must be a reason! I raised & trained Labs for over 20 yrs until my wife talked me into getting a Standard Poodle (I figured the price was cheaper than sending her to a shrink), who turned out to be the most wonderful dog I had ever known. I am now a breeder of Std's!!!!!!

Answer 7

Labs generally have a very good natured disposition. ANY dog, no matter what the breed, has potential to be aggressive.
Obedience, socialization, and training are all important.
Good luck.

**Mistreatment is not the only factor in making a dog aggressive. There is alot more to it.
Do your homework before getting any dog if you haven't already.

Answer 8

EVERY dog acts depending upon how they are treated and how they are brought up, that is from puppyhood. Labrador Retrievers (as with most other dogs) are very smart, they can be taught to be or do a lot. To answer your question, Labrador Retrievers can be just about as mean as any other dog, but most people who own one, tend to want their's as a family pet. And being that, that is why most Labrador Retrievers you see are friendly. Most people who want a mean dog will usaully go with another breed.

Answer 9

Of all the breeds, labs are expected to be among the friendliest. The new owner should invest the time and energy in training and he or she will get many years of great companionship. Can they be mean - well almost any creature can be driven to be mean but labs are generally extremely agreeable and friendly.

Answer 10

Out of all of the labs i have ever known only one had a mean streak, but it was easily fixed by Cesar Millon. (the dog whisperer.) ON discovery channel.
Labs are great family pets!