Skip to content
labrador retriever urns

Labrador Retrievers: A Loving Life & Dignified Memorials

The intelligent and versatile Labrador Retriever stands out as one of the most popular and loved family dog breeds in America. Labs were developed for sports and outdoor activities as they are athletic, energetic, and strong. Today, they are well known for their easy-going friendly behavior, high energy levels, and keen intelligence. Also, their sugary-sweet nature helps them serve as amazing therapy dogs too. In addition and because of their intelligence, athletic build, valor, and strong sense, they commonly help with search and rescue operations and drug and explosive detection.

Loyalty and devotion roots well in this breed - labs are sociably loving creatures, and their family-oriented nature makes them the perfect choice for most homeowners looking out for an amazing family dog.

History of Labrador Retrievers

labrador retrievers

Labrador Retrievers were originally bred Newfoundland, where they were named after its capital as St. John's Dog. They were primarily bred to aid the local fishermen with their fishing expeditions; fetching ropes and nets, retrieving the fish that made their way out of the nets, and obviously, as a strong sporting companion.

Labs were then brought to England, where the local people standardized them in line with their needs. Although they were initially bred to work, today most of the Labs miss out on the hard labor part, and instead, enjoy love and pampering by their families.

Labradors got super popular right after World War II, and by 1991, they were topping the list of most popular dogs registered with the American Kennel Club. Not surprisingly, Labs still hold the same rank not only in America, but in Canada and the U.K. too.

Health of Labrador Retrievers

health of labrador retrievers

Labradors are typically healthy dogs and most will save you from too many veterinarian visits. However, being living beings, they are still prone to some diseases commonly found among dogs. These include the following.

  • Hip Dysplasia: Symptoms include pain and limping in the rear legs and discomfort during walk.
  • Cataracts: Canine cataracts are pretty common among dogs. These include cloudy spots on eye lenses that apt to largen over time resulting in a blurry sight. However, Cataracts among dogs can be surgically removed.
  • Elbow Dysplasia: Common in large breed dogs, this is a heritable condition caused by abnormal growth of elbow bones leading to joint laxity. Dogs might express pain and lameness. This can be treated through surgery.

Caring for Your Lab

Labs are friendly dogs who would urge your attention and love. They need to be around their families with lots of love and pampering. If left alone in the home or backyard for too long, they might end up feeling unloved and bored. In such a state, Labs are likely to find other destructive ways to exhaust their energy.

A 30-minute (or more) daily physical activity is key - whether you take them out for a walk or run, to a dog-park, or play fetch in your yard. Make sure to help them find productive ways to burn their energy. Labs are workaholics and would love being trained; take them to obedience training and they will rarely disappoint you!

Size and Weight

Male Labradors grow up to a height of 22-25 inches with an average weight of 65-90 pounds. Females, on the contrary, grow up to an average of 23 inches in height and bear an average weight of no more than 70 pounds.

Labrador Retriever Memorials

labrador memorials

We share a strong bond with our four-legged Labrador family members. Unfortunately, Labrador Retrievers only have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. Even though they are one of the most long-lived breeds of larger dogs, they are still typically outlived by their family. That being said, you might have to bid farewell to your four-legged companions multiple times in your life.

What do you do then? Pet parents get to love their pets like their children, and it is never easy when they are gone. Birth, growth, and death are all indispensable parts of life, and the grief of pets' death should not be avoided, but memorialized in a special way.

There can be several ways how you can memorialize a deceased pet. You may make a memorial out of their collars, toys, and other accessories. You can also have them buried or cremated. Below we provide information on some of the more popular new memorials for Labradors.,

The Labrador Living Urn

labrador living urn

With this special urn, you can grow a tree or shrub memorial in your Labrador’s favorite place in the yard, at a park, or at another special place. Choose from over twenty beautiful tree and shrub options available in your area and have the entire biodegradable urn, tree planting kit, and a 2-4’ tree delivered directly to your doorstep. You can have their name, date of birth and passing, and a sentiment engraved next to a labrador portrait. You can involve family and friends in the planting process and also grow a living memory of your beloved four-legged family member!

The Labrador Scattering Urn

labrador scattering ashes

As labs love to be outside, many families elect to scatter the ashes of their beloved four-legged family member at a special place in the yard, by a favorite hiking trail, or at another special place they would visit together. The unique Eco Scattering Urn is 100% biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It also gives you the ability to scatter with ease! This special urn has a proprietary open and close mechanism on top that allows you to scatter at one location then re-secure the remaining ashes in the urn to scatter at other locations. With this special scattering urn, you can have your Labrador's name, date of birth and passing, and a sentiment engraved next to a portrait of a labrador.

The Labrador Water Urn

labrador water burial

Many Labradors love swimming and fetching in the water. With our eco-friendly Labrador Retriever Eco Water Urn, you can memorialize your beloved four-legged friend in a beautiful way as their ashes are spread in the water. This special urn floats upright (similar to a buoy) and, in a short amount of time, gracefully release the ashes into the water below. It comes packaged in an eco-friendly bamboo casing, which can be engraved with your dog’s name, date of birth and passing, and a saying or sentiment. In addition, you also have the option of using markers or crayons to write special messages on the biodegradable urn prior to the scattering event.

The Labrador Home Urn

labrador bamboo urn

If your preference is to keep some or all of your beloved Labrador’s ashes in your home, the all-natural Labrador Edition Eco Home Urn is a great option. This unique and detailed urn is made entirely from bamboo, a sustainable and eco-friendly resource. This special urn also includes rooms for balls or other special items. It can be engraved with your Labrador's name, date of birth and passing, a sentiment of choice, and a portrait of a labrador.

The Labrador Burial Urn

As Labs love the outdoors, burying their ashes in a special biodegradable burial urn for pets can serve as a great memorial for them. This burial is commonly done at a special place in the yard, in a park (of course, with permission), or at another special place. Some families will choose to include notes, balls, or other toys in the urn with their beloved Labrador’s ashes.

Click Here to Learn About Memorial Urns for Other Dog Breeds
Previous article Handmade Cremation Jewelry: How, Why, and Where to Buy