General Appearance
The general appearance of the Labrador should be
that of a strongly built, short-coupled, very active
dog. He should be fairly wide over the loins, and
strong and muscular in the hindquarters. The coat
should be close, short, dense and free from feather.
Size
Approximate weights of dogs and bitches in working
condition:
Dogs: 60-75 lb. (27-34 kg); Bitches: 55-70 lb.
(25-32 kg)
Height at shoulders: Dogs: 22-1/2 - 24-1/2 inches
(57-62 cm); Bitches: 21-1/2 - 23-1/2 inches (54-60
cm)
Coat and Colour
The coat is a very distinctive feature; it should be
short, very dense and without wave, and should give
a fairly hard feeling to the hand. The colours are
black, yellow, or chocolate and are evaluated as
follows:
(a) Blacks
All black, with a small white spot on chest
permissible. Eyes to be of medium size, expressing
intelligence and good temper, preferably brown or
hazel, although black or yellow is permissible.
(b) Yellows
Yellow may vary in colour from fox-red to light
cream with variations in the shading of the coat on
ears, the underparts of the dog, or beneath the
tail. A small white spot on chest is permissible.
Eye colouring and expression should be the same as
that of the blacks, with black or dark brown eye
rims. The nose should also be black or dark brown,
although "fading" to pink in the winter weather is
not serious.
(c) Chocolates
Shades ranging from light sedge to chocolate. A
small white spot on chest is permissible. Eyes to be
light brown to clear yellows. Nose and eye rim
pigmentation dark brown or liver coloured. "Fading"
to pink in winter weather not serious.
Head
Skull should be wide, giving brain room; there
should be a slight stop, i.e., the brow should be
slightly pronounced, so that the skull is not
absolutely in a straight line with the nose. Head
should be clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks.
Jaws should be long and powerful and free from
snipiness. The nose should be wide and the nostrils
well developed. Teeth should be strong and regular,
with a level mouth. Eyes should be of a medium size,
expressing great intelligence and good temper, and
can be brown, yellow or black, but brown or black is
preferred. Ears should hang moderately close to the
head rather far back, should be set somewhat low,
and not be large and heavy.
Neck
The neck should be medium length, powerful and not
throaty.
Forequarters
The shoulders should be long and sloping. The legs
must be straight from the shoulder to ground, and
the feet compact with toes well arched, and pads
well developed.
Body
The chest must be of good width and depth, the ribs
well sprung and the loins wide and strong.
Hindquarters
Stifles well turned, and the hindquarters well
developed and of great power. The hocks should be
well bent, and the dog must neither be cow-hocked
nor be too wide behind; in fact, he must stand and
move true all round on legs and feet. Legs should be
of medium length, showing good bone and muscle, but
not so short as to be out of balance with rest of
body. In fact, a dog well balanced in all points is
preferable to one with outstanding good qualities
and defects.
Tail
The tail is a distinctive feature of the breed; it
should be very thick towards the base, gradually
tapering towards the tip, of medium length, should
be free from any feathering, and should be clothed
thickly all round with the Labrador's short, thick,
dense coat, thus giving that peculiar rounded
appearance which has been described as the "otter"
tail. The tail may be carried gaily but should not
curl over the back.
Gait
Movement should be free and effortless. The forelegs
should be strong, straight and true, and correctly
placed. Watching a dog move towards one, there
should be no signs of elbows being out in front, but
neatly held to the body with legs not too close
together, but moving straight forward without pacing
or weaving. Upon viewing the dog from the rear, one
should get the impression that the hind legs, which
should be well muscled and not cow-hocked, move as
nearly parallel as possible, with hocks doing their
full share of work and flexing well, thus giving the
appearance of power and strength.
Faults
Dudley nose (pink without pigmentation).
(Obtained from the
CKC)
