Black labrador retrievers. Vicious?

Question

I had my mother stop at the library after work this afternoon to pick up a list of labrador retriever books that Id like to read. We are going to be getting a pup soon.

She was having a conversation with the librarian who then told my mom that black labs are "vicious"....

I have never come across a black lab who was mean, but Ive only been around a couple...

I know labs are not mean animals so that statement seems ignorant. But, do the black ones tend to be "mean" at all? Or is this a bunch of nonesense?

Ive been hearing that alot of people think *any* large black dog is scary and are put off by them so they tend to label them. Is that true?

This community is so helpful! I am learning so much about this breed because of your willingess to answer my questions. Thank you.

Answer 1

You're right: that's just ignorance!
We have two black labs, and they're both lovable balls of fluff, wouldn't hurt a fly. Sure, they like to rough-house with each other, but vicious? Not a chance.
As far as the black lab being any different from either a yellow or chocolate - nope, they're all the same. Unfortunately, people do tend to think that black dogs are mean...no basis for that in my opinion, just ignorance. Ultimately, it comes down to how the dog is raised.
Best of luck to you and your future pup!

Answer 2

Coat color is not tied with temperament.

The librarian was probably racist and BSing your mom. Or maybe she was bit by a black lab as a kid and decided that all black labs are like that (which is quite the opposite.)

There are a lot of people that just go by what they hear even when they have no experience to back it up.

Dogs are "mean" if they are abused, unsocialized, or maybe even bred from parents with bad temperaments.

The labrador retriever is the most popular dog in America.

Most labs will make friends with anybody.

If there is a Labrador Retriever club near you, you can contact them to learn more about the breed.
Or you can go to a local dog park to check it out, and talk to the people that bring their dogs there.

Answer 3

Color is irrelevant. After all, are people with black skin more vicious than those with white skin???
Any dog could become vicious if abused and neglected. Labs are generally very friendly, energetic, smart dogs. They can usually put up with a lot of crap (little kids pulling on their ears, for example).

It IS true that black dogs are the last to be adopted and so have a much higher rate of euthanasia at shelters. I actually did not know this until fairly recently.
Here is a website with more info about that:
http://www.blackpearldogs.com/

p.s. Congrats in advance on your new puppy. Kudos to you for doing some research in preparation! Getting a puppy is a big deal. Good luck!

Answer 4

The issue is that dogs are poor generalizers - it's not that the dog is "sneaky, greedy" etc, but that they have no intrinsic sense of morality or "rightness" and so only think something is "bad" if it has bad consequences. If it has never had bad consequences except with a human in the room, then how on earth are they to know that the rules still apply with the human out of the room? You need to train in such a way that corrections and rewards occur when the dog does not think you are present - i.e. hiding around the corner. Read here https://tr.im/SIjnC

I personally owned a Labrador Retriever (read: chow hound) that could be left 6" from a hot dog in a sit-stay for half an hour and not touch it - the word was "mine" and it meant that you don't touch that, even if I am not in the room, even if whatever, you DO NOT touch that. You could leave a plate of food on the floor for hours and not only would she not touch it, she would also keep the other animals (dogs and cats) from touching it.

In all probability, these dogs studied were just not properly trained/proofed before the experiment. With "proofing" to set them up and catch them in the act to give

Answer 5

I have never been around a lab that is mean and I have worked with dogs for 24 years. And yes people who are not dog people are usually put off by large black dogs for some reason. I think any dog has the potential to be a good pet if treated properly and with love.

Answer 6

Labs are one of the most loving and friendly dogs. I have never seen a vicious lab. The librarian may be confusing it with another breed (I wouldn't know what) or maybe she was around one that was abused and mistreated. That could make any dog somewhat aggressive.

Enjoy your lab you will have a lot of fun!

Answer 7

OK, that is totally NOT true. Black labs are as friendly as yellow labs. It is the owner who it depends on. If the owner is mean and abuses the dog, there is a good chance the dog will try to defend itself and become mean. But usually people who have dogs try not to be mean to them. We have a black lab on our street, and it is very friendly. Don't worry, especially if you are getting a puppy. Black labs and Yellow labs and just Labs in general are very friendly!!!

Here are some sites about labradors:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/labrador.htm

http://www.akc.org/breeds/labrador_retriever/index.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever

Oh, and here are some pictures of labradors. (Some might be mixes)

http://www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures/gallery/dogs/alphabetically/labrador-retrievers/

I wish you, your family, and your new pup GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 8

I don't think so!!! there was this black lab i was around sometimes in the family and it was very sweet. of course any dog can be aggressive if its dominant or scared. maybe the woman had a bad experience or read it in a book or even heard it from someone else. so if you want a dog read about them in a book and you can go to a nearby pet store you can see how they are you can ask if you may hold them and you will eventually find the right dog! Good luck!!!

Answer 9

Labs aren't vicious. But pit bulls aren't either. But they do share one thing in common: they're both popular breeds of dog. Popular breeds tend to have a lot more individual dogs in them with bad temperaments--largely because of backyard breeders who think they'll cash in on the popularity of a breed and breed carelessly. So maybe this lady just met a few bad labs, so she thinks all of them are bad.

Lots of people are frightened of any large black dog, though, that is true.

Answer 10

Actually working with dogs for the last 16 years, I have seen an increasing number of Labs that have temperment issues....direct result of overbreeding. When they hit number 1 on the popularity list, things like that start to happen. I don't see a connection to color, as I have seen just as many unstable yellow and chocolate ones. Nasty, or unpredictable Labs and Goldens scare me more than pits and Rottis. They are usually "fear biters" more than anything. I would rather deal with plain old aggressive!!!!!!!!

I do not think this applies to the majority of Labs by any means, but seeing temperment problems in this breed seems to be on the rise!!!