What is a “yellow lab” in English?

English speakers love short forms, and dog breeds are a good example. Lab is short for Labrador retriever, one of the most popular family dogs in the United States. Labs come in three colors: black, chocolate and yellow. So a yellow lab is not a yellow dog: it is a gold or cream colored Labrador.

In the photo, Lulu is a yellow lab “with huge ears, and in her mouth she’s holding a pillow.” Labs are known for carrying things in their mouths, because they were bred to bring back birds for hunters. That is why “retriever” is part of the name: to retrieve means to go and bring something back.