My lab is a house dog ,a 85 lb lap dog . I work him on a stone and concrete drive way every night , he thowes up a rostertail of stones when I send him on a fetch .His pads are very tough , like leather . Another nice thing his nails wear down ,I have never had to trim his nails in 4 1/2 years . I agree a house lab can be great in the feild and marsh !