ACTIVE • GENTLE • BRIGHT • JOYFUL
 
"My dog friends seem to understand my limitations and always keep close beside me whan I am alone. I love their affectionate ways and the eloquent wag of their tails."

- Helen Keller
 
So many people ask us, “What’s the difference between the “English” and the “American” (field) labs?” There is such a big difference that the AKC has, at times, considered splitting the breed. There is a difference in build, as well as temperament. If you are looking for strictly a “field” dog for field trial competition, go for the American field dog. They are athletic, tall, lanky, thin, (athletic!) but they can have VERY hyper, high-strung personalities which do not always lend themselves to being the best indoor “family dogs.” (Not EVERY American lab will be this way, we are only talking in general!)
 
On the other hand, the English labs are very blocky, stocky, shorter in their build, but should still maintain good movement and agility in the field. English labs are very sweet, quiet, mellow, lovely dogs. They still maintain their natural instinct to retrieve and use their noses, but will be much more controllable in the field, and will also be your family companion at your fireside after a day of hunting.
 
One of the reasons Outback Valley Acres stresses, the “all-purpose” lab (English lab) is because we strive to develop ALL the best qualities of the Labrador, and we do not sacrifice one trait in order to emphasize another. If anything, we focus on temperament, because a dog can be beautiful in conformation, and have a lovely pedigree, but if it does not pass our temperament test, it is out of our breeding criteria. 
 

Labs have few health problems if bred by a reputable breeder who is selective and screens for defects in their breeding stock. Labs are also wonderfully “maintenance free”…no need for grooming, brushing, etc. Just clip their nails occasionally, give a bath every 2-3 months if kept indoors (they are very “non-oily” dogs, seldom ever “stinky”, and rarely need bathing).  
 
Labs are very sensitive to food allergy that may affect their coat and skin (raw sores may erupt if not fed appropriate food!). We only use Life's Abundance Brand dog food and certain specialty supplements that we will discuss further in detail. Proper nutrition is key to a happy, healthy lab!