What type of dog is Marley, star of 2008's "Marley & Me"?

Marley, the dog at the center of 2008’s Marley & Me, is a yellow Labrador Retriever. The film follows Marley from an unruly puppy into old age as he grows alongside the family of journalist John Grogan.

The movie was adapted from Grogan’s 2005 memoir, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog. In the story, Grogan and his wife adopt Marley partly as a test of their readiness for parenthood. The energetic dog quickly becomes famous for chewing, escaping, destroying household items, and resisting obedience training.

The film’s title character is named after reggae musician Bob Marley. Although the story emphasizes his difficult behavior, Marley is also portrayed as loyal, affectionate, and deeply connected to the family. His death late in the story gives the otherwise comic film its emotional center.

Viewers sometimes assume one trained animal played Marley throughout. Because the story covers roughly 14 years, filmmakers used 22 different yellow Labrador Retrievers to portray him at different ages and for different stunts.