General Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built,
medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound,
athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it
to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance
and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for
long hours under difficult conditions; the character
and quality to win in the show ring; and the
temperament to be a family companion. Physical
features and mental characteristics should denote a
dog bred to perform as an efficient Retriever of
game with a stable temperament suitable for a
variety of pursuits beyond the hunting environment.
The most distinguishing characteristics of the
Labrador Retriever are its short, dense, weather
resistant coat; an "otter" tail; a clean-cut head
with broad back skull and moderate stop; powerful
jaws; and its "kind," friendly eyes, expressing
character, intelligence and good temperament.
Above all, a Labrador Retriever must be well
balanced, enabling it to move in the show ring or
work in the field with little or no effort. The
typical Labrador possesses style and quality without
over refinement, and substance without lumber or
cloddiness. The Labrador is bred primarily as a
working gun dog; structure and soundness are of
great importance.
Size, Proportion and Substance
Size--The height at the withers for a dog is 22½ to
24½ inches; for a bitch is 21½ to 23½ inches. Any
variance greater than ½ inch above or below these
heights is a disqualification. Approximate weight of
dogs and bitches in working condition: dogs 65 to 80
pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds.
The minimum height ranges set forth in the paragraph
above shall not apply to dogs or bitches under
twelve months of age.
Proportion--Short-coupled; length from the point of
the shoulder to the point of the rump is equal to or
slightly longer than the distance from the withers
to the ground. Distance from the elbow to the ground
should be equal to one half of the height at the
withers. The brisket should extend to the elbows,
but not perceptibly deeper. The body must be of
sufficient length to permit a straight, free and
efficient stride; but the dog should never appear
low and long or tall and leggy in outline.
Substance--Substance and bone proportionate to the
overall dog. Light, "weedy" individuals are
definitely incorrect; equally objectionable are
cloddy lumbering specimens. Labrador Retrievers
shall be shown in working condition well-muscled and
without excess fat.
Head
Skull--The skull should be wide; well developed but
without exaggeration. The skull and foreface should
be on parallel planes and of approximately equal
length. There should be a moderate stop--the brow
slightly pronounced so that the skull is not
absolutely in a straight line with the nose. The
brow ridges aid in defining the stop. The head
should be clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks; the
bony structure of the skull chiseled beneath the eye
with no prominence in the cheek. The skull may show
some median line; the occipital bone is not
conspicuous in mature dogs. Lips should not be
squared off or pendulous, but fall away in a curve
toward the throat. A wedge-shape head, or a head
long and narrow in muzzle and back skull is
incorrect as are massive, cheeky heads. The jaws are
powerful and free from snippiness-- the muzzle
neither long and narrow nor short and stubby. Nose--
The nose should be wide and the nostrils
well-developed. The nose should be black on black or
yellow dogs, and brown on chocolates. Nose color
fading to a lighter shade is not a fault. A
thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment
is a disqualification. Teeth--The teeth should be
strong and regular with a scissors bite; the lower
teeth just behind, but touching the inner side of
the upper incisors. A level bite is acceptable, but
not desirable. Undershot, overshot, or misaligned
teeth are serious faults. Full dentition is
preferred. Missing molars or pre-molars are serious
faults. Ears--The ears should hang moderately close
to the head, set rather far back, and somewhat low
on the skull; slightly above eye level. Ears should
not be large and heavy, but in proportion with the
skull and reach to the inside of the eye when pulled
forward. Eyes--Kind, friendly eyes imparting good
temperament, intelligence and alertness are a
hallmark of the breed. They should be of medium
size, set well apart, and neither protruding nor
deep set. Eye color should be brown in black and
yellow Labradors, and brown or hazel in chocolates.
Black, or yellow eyes give a harsh expression and
are undesirable. Small eyes, set close together or
round prominent eyes are not typical of the breed.
Eye rims are black in black and yellow Labradors;
and brown in chocolates. Eye rims without
pigmentation is a disqualification.
Neck, Topline and Body
Neck--The neck should be of proper length to allow
the dog to retrieve game easily. It should be
muscular and free from throatiness. The neck should
rise strongly from the shoulders with a moderate
arch. A short, thick neck or a "ewe" neck is
incorrect. Topline--The back is strong and the
topline is level from the withers to the croup when
standing or moving. However, the loin should show
evidence of flexibility for athletic endeavor.
Body--The Labrador should be short-coupled, with
good spring of ribs tapering to a moderately wide
chest. The Labrador should not be narrow chested;
giving the appearance of hollowness between the
front legs, nor should it have a wide spreading,
bulldog-like front. Correct chest conformation will
result in tapering between the front legs that
allows unrestricted forelimb movement. Chest breadth
that is either too wide or too narrow for efficient
movement and stamina is incorrect. Slab-sided
individuals are not typical of the breed; equally
objectionable are rotund or barrel chested
specimens. The underline is almost straight, with
little or no tuck-up in mature animals. Loins should
be short, wide and strong; extending to well
developed, powerful hindquarters. When viewed from
the side, the Labrador Retriever shows a
well-developed, but not exaggerated forechest.
Tail--The tail is a distinguishing feature of the
breed. It should be very thick at the base,
gradually tapering toward the tip, of medium length,
and extending no longer than to the hock. The tail
should be free from feathering and clothed thickly
all around with the Labrador's short, dense coat,
thus having that peculiar rounded appearance that
has been described as the "otter" tail. The tail
should follow the topline in repose or when in
motion. It may be carried gaily, but should not curl
over the back. Extremely short tails or long thin
tails are serious faults. The tail completes the
balance of the Labrador by giving it a flowing line
from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
Docking or otherwise altering the length or natural
carriage of the tail is a disqualification.
Forequarters
Forequarters should be muscular, well coordinated
and balanced with the hindquarters. Shoulders--The
shoulders are well laid-back, long and sloping,
forming an angle with the upper arm of approximately
90 degrees that permits the dog to move his forelegs
in an easy manner with strong forward reach.
Ideally, the length of the shoulder blade should
equal the length of the upper arm. Straight shoulder
blades, short upper arms or heavily muscled or
loaded shoulders, all restricting free movement, are
incorrect. Front Legs--When viewed from the front,
the legs should be straight with good strong bone.
Too much bone is as undesirable as too little bone,
and short legged, heavy boned individuals are not
typical of the breed. Viewed from the side, the
elbows should be directly under the withers, and the
front legs should be perpendicular to the ground and
well under the body. The elbows should be close to
the ribs without looseness. Tied-in elbows or being
"out at the elbows" interfere with free movement and
are serious faults. Pasterns should be strong and
short and should slope slightly from the
perpendicular line of the leg. Feet are strong and
compact, with well-arched toes and well-developed
pads. Dew claws may be removed. Splayed feet, hare
feet, knuckling over, or feet turning in or out are
serious faults.
Hindquarters
The Labrador's hindquarters are broad, muscular and
well-developed from the hip to the hock with
well-turned stifles and strong short hocks. Viewed
from the rear, the hind legs are straight and
parallel. Viewed from the side, the angulation of
the rear legs is in balance with the front. The hind
legs are strongly boned, muscled with moderate
angulation at the stifle, and powerful, clearly
defined thighs. The stifle is strong and there is no
slippage of the patellae while in motion or when
standing. The hock joints are strong, well let down
and do not slip or hyper-extend while in motion or
when standing. Angulation of both stifle and hock
joint is such as to achieve the optimal balance of
drive and traction. When standing the rear toes are
only slightly behind the point of the rump. Over
angulation produces a sloping topline not typical of
the breed. Feet are strong and compact, with
well-arched toes and well-developed pads. Cow-hocks,
spread hocks, sickle hocks and over-angulation are
serious structural defects and are to be faulted.
Coat
The coat is a distinctive feature of the Labrador
Retriever. It should be short, straight and very
dense, giving a fairly hard feeling to the hand. The
Labrador should have a soft, weather-resistant
undercoat that provides protection from water, cold
and all types of ground cover. A slight wave down
the back is permissible. Woolly coats, soft silky
coats, and sparse slick coats are not typical of the
breed, and should be severely penalized.
Color
The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow
and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of
colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on
the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White
hairs from aging or scarring are not to be
misinterpreted as brindling. Black--Blacks are all
black. A black with brindle markings or a black with
tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow--Yellows
may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with
variations in shading on the ears, back, and
underparts of the dog. Chocolate--Chocolates can
vary in shade from light to dark chocolate.
Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a
disqualification.
Movement
Movement of the Labrador Retriever should be free
and effortless. When watching a dog move toward
oneself, there should be no sign of elbows out.
Rather, the elbows should be held neatly to the body
with the legs not too close together. Moving
straight forward without pacing or weaving, the legs
should form straight lines, with all parts moving in
the same plane. Upon viewing the dog from the rear,
one should have the impression that the hind legs
move as nearly as possible in a parallel line with
the front legs. The hocks should do their full share
of the work, flexing well, giving the appearance of
power and strength. When viewed from the side, the
shoulders should move freely and effortlessly, and
the foreleg should reach forward close to the ground
with extension. A short, choppy movement or high
knee action indicates a straight shoulder; paddling
indicates long, weak pasterns; and a short, stilted
rear gait indicates a straight rear assembly; all
are serious faults. Movement faults interfering with
performance including weaving; side-winding;
crossing over; high knee action; paddling; and
short, choppy movement, should be severely
penalized.
Temperament
True Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a
hallmark of the breed as the "otter" tail. The ideal
disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable
nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards
man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to
people; his gentle ways, intelligence and
adaptability make him an ideal dog. Aggressiveness
towards humans or other animals, or any evidence of
shyness in an adult should be severely penalized.
Disqualifications
1. Any deviation from the height prescribed in the
Standard.
2. A thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any
pigment.
3. Eye rims without pigment.
4. Docking or otherwise altering the length or
natural carriage of the tail.
5. Any other color or a combination of colors other
than black, yellow or chocolate as described in the
Standard.
Approved February 12, 1994
Effective March 31, 1994
