Labrador Retriever Life Span – How Long Do Labs Live?

When you have found the perfect friend, you want to know that they are going to be around for the longest time! So today we are going to talk about what you can do to help your dog enjoy as many healthy years as possible.

Most Lab parents know that a lifespan of ten to twelve years is considered normal for the breed. But of course some Labrador don’t reach the ten year milestone while others go far beyond it. In fact, there is a confirmed report of a Labrador living to the remarkable age of 19.

Of course, genes play a part, but research shows that the daily choices you make as an owner can have a major impact on your Labrador’s longevity. And some of the latest research is very encouraging!

What We Know So Far

We don’t have to rely on guesswork when it comes to Labrador lifespan. Several large studies have given us solid data. If you are used to talking in averages, median is simply the middle number in a sorted list of numbers!

• A 2004 survey of over 500 Labradors found a median age at death of 12.25 years.
• A 2013 study of 400 dogs placed the median slightly higher at 12.5 years.
• A more recent 2018 study of over 30,000 Labradors gave a median longevity of 12 years overall.

So, the weight of evidence now suggests that the average Labrador lifespan is roughly 12 years.

Encouragingly, newer research hints this may be improving. A small study published in 2020 suggested Labrador life expectancy might now be closer to 14 years. And of course, countless owners have stories of their Labs thriving at 15 or beyond.

You’ll find a selection of them in the comments at the foot of this article. Along with many heartwarming stories from those that have shared their lives with these exceptional dogs.

How Lifespan Is Influenced

There are two key categories of factors that influence your Labrador’s life expectancy, and the lifespan of any dog.

• One is the genetic information your dog inherited from his parents.
• The other is the events that happen to your dog during the course of his life. Through puppyhood to old age. Things like accidents, injury and disease.

So we’ll look at these two main factors separately below. But if you are a science nerd, here’s a peek at the latest from researchers working at the cutting edge of dog genetics

New Insights from Canine Research

The Dog Aging Project

One of the most ambitious studies in veterinary science today is the Dog Aging Project, which is following tens of thousands of pet dogs across the U.S. to discover how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence aging. The findings will help us understand not only how long dogs live, but how to extend their healthspan — the years they live in good health.

Biological Age vs. Calendar Age

In 2025, researchers proposed measuring dogs’ biological age (through simple blood markers) rather than just birthdays. Their work showed that dogs of the same age can have very different health prospects, and that interventions like calorie restriction may actually slow biological aging. For Labrador owners, the key message is that you can directly influence your dog’s “aging clock” with good management.

Breed-Level Longevity Risks

A 2023 Scientific Reports study comparing life expectancy across breeds confirmed that body size is a major factor, but also revealed wide variation within breeds. For Labradors, this means averages matter less than how you manage your own dog’s health and lifestyle.

Longevity Genes

In 2025, a genome-wide study identified several genes linked to longer lifespans in Cavaliers. While the work wasn’t on Labs, it points toward a future where genetics could guide breeders in producing longer-lived dogs.

The Biology of Aging

A comprehensive review in 2024 pulled together what we know about the molecular processes behind canine aging — from DNA damage to oxidative stress. The conclusion? We can’t alter genes, but lifestyle choices such as weight control, exercise, and preventive care make a real difference in supporting healthy aging.

We all want to help our dogs reach these big numbers, and while nothing is guaranteed, there are things you can do to influence them. Let’s look first at the genes controlling how your dog looks and behaves. These set broad limits to the lifespan of your Labrador.

Genetics and Labrador Lifespan

Your dog’s genetic inheritance sets broad limits on their lifespan, not just through the aging process, but through the physical attributes and susceptibility to disease that are passed on from parents to puppies

Body shape and fitness

To some extent Labradors are lucky. They inherit a basically sound conformation or body shape. They don’t have very long spines or short legs that can cause back problems. Their bodies are nicely proportioned and designed for athletic ability, running and jumping.

Labradors have not been bred with shortened faces that can cause breathing problems, or small skulls that can damage their brains. Nor do they have excessive skin or a massive amount of fur. This is great because a good body structure makes a dog naturally healthier than a dog with poor conformation.

Temperament

Genes control some aspects of your dog’s behavior. And their ability to carry out tasks like running and hunting, or fetching things. However, temperament, including tendency to fearfulness, is influenced by both genes and the environment. 

One study showed that fear and anxiety has a negative effect on lifespan in pet dogs. Some dogs are euthanized for aggression or behavior problems. So temperament is a factor in life span.

Disease

Some dogs inherit a number of genes that improve their chances of good health. Reduced risk of cancer for example. These genes are passed onto their puppies.

Labradors are relatively healthy, but there are diseases in the breed that can influence how long your Labrador will live and how healthy your dog will be during their lifetime. For some of these diseases, hip dysplasia and CNM for example, we have tests that should be carried out before breeding adult dogs.

There are currently no tests for diseases like cancer. A 2004 study showed that sadly, 31% of Labradors die of cancer, slightly more than the average rate of cancer in dogs overall. 

Size

Little dogs live longer than big dogs. A quirk of nature we don’t entirely understand. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. But in general the longevity of dogs is strongly linked to body size.

This is the reverse of what we find when comparing species of mammals, like the long lived elephant and the short lived mouse.

Looking at individuals that belong to the same species,  in this case the domestic dog, being large is a disadvantage. 

As a medium dog size is a limiting factor for your Labrador. The average Labrador won’t live as long as the average toy poodle.

Color

For a long time it was believed that coat color had no influence on Labrador life expectancy. With the exception of color dilution alopecia in silver Labradors, it was thought that inherited diseases were not linked to any particular color or type of Labrador.

A recent study of over thirty three thousand dogs has thrown that assumption into doubt. It shows us that black Lab life expectancy and yellow Lab life expectancy is around 12.1 years. While chocolate Lab life expectancy is quite a bit shorter at 10.7 years.

The Chocolates in that study were more prone to ear and skin problems. This included self-inflicted “hot-spots” as a reaction to irritants like fleas. And we don’t know if the two main Labrador ‘types’ differ. So we can’t tell you if English Lab life expectancy differs from that of American Labs.

The study was a very big sample of dogs. So it is likely that the results represent the wider Lab population as a whole.

What you can do – Genetic issues

Right now, there is nothing you can do to change the genetic information of the dog in front of you. But if you are planning on getting a puppy there is a lot you can do to avoid bad genes and therefore increase their chances of living a longer life. 

• Health checks: The first and most important step is to choose a responsible breeder that has health tested her breeding stock AND to ask for copies of the certificates that prove the results are good.
• Avoid inbreeding: Many diseases are carried by recessive genes, and inbreeding increases the risk of those pesky recessive genes getting together, so picking a puppy with a co-efficient of inbreeding below 5% may also help. Choosing a puppy with an older father may help increase your pups chance of avoiding genes that drastically reduce lifespan, and if you are aware of potential problems, you can sometimes mitigate them with good lifestyle management strategies. We’ll look at those below.
• Color: If you have no strong personal preference, the evidence suggests that choosing a yellow or black puppy may give your dog a better chance of longevity

Lifestyle and Management Factors

While genes set the stage, the way you manage your Labrador’s life is critical. Here are the factors that make the biggest difference:

Obesity

The biggest influence you can control regarding your dog’s longevity and enjoyment of life is their bodyweight.  Extra weight is one of the strongest predictors of shortened lifespan in dogs. Studies show that lean dogs live significantly longer and suffer fewer health problems. Yet obesity is increasingly common in dogs, and Labradors in particular.

Labradors are famously food-driven, so keeping them slim requires vigilance — but it is the single most powerful way to extend their life. I know it’s tough but you have the keys to the larder, and for their sake you need to resist your dog’s charms.

Accidents

Hundreds of dogs die each year in avoidable accidents when unsupervised outdoors. Secure fencing around your backyard and a good recall training command will help you keep your dog from becoming a part of those statistics

Vaccination and health care

Veterinary treatment isn’t cheap, but it is important. Vaccination protects against infectious diseases that are still deadly in many parts of the world. And there are still regular outbreaks in most regions of potentially fatal diseases like parvovirus. Routine health checks, parasite control, and early veterinary intervention for problems all contribute to a longer, healthier life.

What about neutering?

It used to be believed that neutering increased life expectancy. Older studies showed a higher death rate for unneutered dogs but this was partly because they were uncontrolled. They had the urge to roam, the ability to leave the backyard, and suffered a higher rate of accidents than neutered dogs. 

Neutering early does reduce the risk of mammary cancer, but more recent studies have linked the procedure to an increased risk of some other forms of cancer, some of which may be harder to detect. And also to joint disease. So the balance of benefits vs risk for neutering is no longer clear cut

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Training

A majority of dogs that are surrendered to animal shelters and rescue centers are untrained, or have minimal training. Most shelters cannot support all the dogs they rescue and euthanasia is a possibility for many dogs that are surrendered. And there is no doubt that training improves a dog’s chances of remaining with their loving family throughout their lifetime.

What you can do – Lifestyle Management

The good news is that while you can’t change your Labrador’s genetics, you can tip the odds heavily in their favor by focusing on the areas you can control:

• Less calories = more years. Keep your Labrador slim throughout their life.
• Provide daily exercise and mental stimulation.
• Ensure regular veterinary care and timely vaccinations.
• Socialize puppies thoroughly so they grow into confident, well-adjusted adults.

Every choice you make adds up. While we can’t guarantee our Labradors 19 years, we can give them the best chance of a long, comfortable, and happy life.

And if you’d like reassurance, take a moment to scroll through the stories owners have shared below. Some are heartbreaking, many are inspiring — all of them remind us how deeply these dogs are loved.

References

• Creevy KE et al. (2022) An open science study of ageing in companion dogs. PMC article
• Herzig S et al. (2025) A biological age based on common clinical markers. Springer
• O’Neill DG et al. (2023) Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. Nature
• Korec E et al. (2025) Identification of genes associated with longevity in dogs. ScienceDirect
• Guelfi G et al. (2024) Dog Aging: A Comprehensive Review of Molecular Aging. PMC article