Whenever you are researching Labrador Retrievers, you will quickly notice two terms that continuously pop up in various places, "American" and "English." These words describe the two different types, or varieties, that have shown up in the breed. "English" labs more closely follow the breed standard, while American labs are primarily bred for purely working purposes.
American Labs
American labs are very different from English labs in both conformation and temperament. They are commonly used in the fields for hunting purposes and are longer, leaner, and more athletic in appearance. If you are looking for strictly hunting purposes or field trial competitions, the American lab may be the type for you! However, oftentimes their personality is high strung and hyper and may not fit into every families' lifestyle (I am speaking in general terms, not every single American lab is like this!).
English Labs
English labs, on the other hand, are sweet, quiet family dogs. They have a blockier, stockier, and shorter build, but still, move with ease and agility when used for hunting. This makes them extremely versatile as they can go out in the fields to assist a hunter and come right back inside after a day's work and lay in the living room with the family. English labs are also the dogs you see in all national dog shows as they follow the AKC's breed standard - http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/LabradorRetriever.pdf
The biggest thing that sets English Labs apart, however, is their incredible temperament. They are very mellow and laid back, but always ready to keep up if you have an active family. They adapt to any environment and are phenomenal with children. Responsible breeders use this trait as their starting point and standard for every litter of puppies. You cannot go wrong with an English Labrador when it comes from a reputable and responsible breeder.
Here is a side by side comparison of the two different varieties
Typical American Lab v. Typical English Lab
You may be saying, wow! These don't even look like the same breed! And you are so right! The AKC even considered separating the types into two different breeds at one point because of all the differences. Here at Big Creek Labradors, we focus on the English variety, as we have fallen in love with their temperament and lovely appearance. If you are looking to add a Labrador Retriever to your family, I encourage you to continue research on the two types. Make sure you understand the many differences and choose the variety that will fit your family's lifestyle best.