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 and thin 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 terms!)

On the other hand, the English labs are blocky headed, 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 and will also be your family companion at your fireside after a day of hunting.

One of the reasons Matoskah Meadows stresses the “all-purpose” lab is because we strive to develop ALL the best qualities of the Labrador. If anything, we major 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.