The term “Labrador” is simply a shortened name for a “Labrador Retriever”. Some people will even shorten the name of this breed to “Lab”. Despite the different nicknames, all of these refer to the same type of dog, the Labrador Retriever.
Labradors, or Labrador Retrievers, can be bred in a few different color variations. These color variations are Chocolate (Brown), Yellow, Black, and occasionally a Silver or Gray color. Most Labrador Retrievers are dominant for the Black coloration, but due to selective breeding, the other colors are becoming more popular. Despite the difference in color, all of these are simply different variations of the Labrador Retriever breed.
In addition to this, some Labrador Retrievers can have different structural characteristics. English Labrador Retrievers look slightly different from American Labrador Retrievers, due to different types of selective breeding. England is said to be the secondary origin of the Labrador Retriever breed (the primary origin being Newfoundland). Because of this, English Labrador Retrievers more closely resemble the original standards for Labrador Retrievers. American Labrador Retrievers have been bred selectively for different characteristics, such as hunting skills, resistance to disease and temperament.
