Labrador Retriever – AKC Dog breed series
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the Labrador Retriever is a
we built medium-sized short coupled dog
with a conformation enabling it to
function as a retrieving gun dog and a
staple temperament suitable for a
variety of pursuits beyond the hunting
environment the breeds most
distinguishing characteristics are its
short dense weather resistant coat its
Ottertail its clean-cut head and its
kind friendly eyes expressing character
intelligence and good temperament above
all the Labrador Retriever must be well
balanced so that it can move in the show
ring or work in the field with little or
no effort structure and soundness are of
great importance dogs spend twenty two
and a half to twenty four and a half
inches at the withers bitches 21 and a
half to twenty three and a half inches
in the confirmation ring any specimen
twelve months of age or older which
stands more than a half inch over or
under these specifications is to be
disqualified puppies under 12 months are
to be disqualified if more than a half
inch over the requirements exception is
made for puppies which measure under the
prescribed height because it is a
disqualification judges must take
responsibility for measuring any dog
whose height is in question
as for weight dogs and working condition
are from 65 to 80 pounds bitches in
working condition from 55 to 70 pounds
in proportion the Labrador Retriever
should be short coupled the length of
body from point of shoulder to point of
rump is equal to or slightly longer than
the distance from withers to ground in
addition the distance from the elbow to
the ground should be equal to 1/2 the
height at the withers this Labradors
proportions are less than ideal it is
long and low these are correct
proportions for a Labrador its length is
approximately equal to its height the
brisket should extend to the elbows not
perceptibly deeper the dog should be of
sufficient length to permit a straight
free and efficient stride substance and
bone are in proportion to the overall
dog Labradors must be shown in working
condition being well muscled without
excess fat the Labrador retrievers head
is well-developed but without
exaggeration the skull and four-faced
are on parallel planes and have
approximately equal length
there is a moderate stop with the brow
ridges aiding in defining the stop the
brows are slightly pronounced so that
the scowl is not absolutely in a
straight line with a nose the head
should be clean-cut and free from fleshy
cheeks with the bony structure of the
skull evident in the chiseling beneath
the eye this head long and narrow in
muzzle and back skull is incorrect as
our massive cheeky heads the skull is
wide and may show some median line the
occipital bone is not prominent in
mature dog’s lips fall away in a curve
toward the throat and are not pendulous
or squared off jaws are powerful and
free from sniping us the muzzle neither
long and narrow nor short and stubby the
nose is wide with well-developed
nostrils it is black on black or yellow
coated dogs and brown on chocolate dogs
although some fading of the nose color
to a lighter shade is permissible a
thoroughly pink nose or one lacking any
pigmentation at all is a
disqualification teeth are strong and
regular meeting in a scissors bite a
level bite is acceptable but not
desirable full dentition is preferred
under shot over shot or misaligned teeth
are all serious false as our missing
molars or premolars ear is hanging
moderately close to the head and are set
rather far aback and somewhat low on the
skull slightly above eye level they are
in proportion to the skull and reached
to the inside of the eye when pulled
forward eyes are kind friendly and
impart the breeds good temperament
intelligence and alertness thereof
medium sized set well apart and are
neither protruding nor deep set the eyes
are brown in black and yellow labs with
black rims and brown or hazel in
chocolates with brown rims this dog’s
eyes are too light in color
here again are the appropriate eyes
medium and size set well apart and brown
in color lack of pigmentation of the
iris is a disqualification this dog has
correct pigmentation for chocolate
leopard or black or yellow eyes small
eyes set close together or round
prominent eyes are not typical of the
breed and are undesirable the neck
should be the proper length to allow the
dog to retrieve game easily it is
muscular and free from throat enos and
rises strongly from the shoulders with a
moderate arch short thick necks or you
necks are incorrect the shoulders are
well laid back long and sloping forming
an angle with the upper arm of about 90
degrees ideally the length of the
shoulder blade should equal the length
of the upper arm before quarters should
be muscular throughout well coordinated
and balanced with the hindquarters
elbows should lie directly under the
withers and the front legs perpendicular
to the ground and well under the body
straight shoulder blades short upper
arms or heavily muscled or loaded
shoulders restrict free movement if a
plumb line is dropped from the withers
to the ground it should touch the back
of the elbow
pasterns are strong and short and slope
slightly from the perpendicular line of
the lake seen from the front the
shoulders should not appear heavily
muscled or loaded which can restrict
free movement the legs are straight with
good strong bum consistent with the dogs
overall substance this front assembly is
incorrect the shoulders are straight too
much bone is as undesirable as too
little bone short legged heavily boned
labs are not typical of the breed light
weedy individuals are definitely
incorrect the chest is of sufficient
depth and width to allow for good heart
and lung function an unrestricted
movement of the forelegs it should reach
to the elbows but not perceptibly deeper
narrow chests or conversely Bulldog type
chests are incorrect elbows are held
close to the ribs without looseness tied
in elbows or being out at the elbows are
both serious faults feet are strong and
compact with well arched toes and
well-developed pads
dewclaws maybe removed splayed feet here
feet knuckling over and feet which turn
in or out are all serious faults the
Labradors body is short coupled with a
good spring of ribs tapering to the
moderately wide chest the brisket should
extend to the elbows not perceptibly
deeper there is a well developed but not
exaggerated for chest dogs lacking for
chest have a distinct disadvantage in
the water the back is strong with the
top-line level from weathers to croup
whether standing or moving the underline
is nearly straight with little or no
tuck up in mature dogs the loins are
short wide and strong extending to the
well-developed powerful hindquarters the
tail is very thick at the base and
gradually tapers to the tip it is of
medium length extending no lower than
the hock it should be free from
feathering and enclosed thickly all
around with the Labradors short dense
coat giving it the peculiar rounded
appearance often described as an otter
tail the tail should be set on so as to
follow the top-line whether in repose or
when the dog is in motion
it may be carried gaily but should not
be curled over the back as demonstrated
by this dog the tail should complete the
overall balance of the dog preserving a
flowing line from the top of the head to
its tip docking or otherwise altering
the natural length of the tail is a
disqualification the Labrador
hindquarters are broad muscular and
well-developed from the hip to the hock
the angulation of the hindquarters
should match that of the four quarters
hind legs are strongly bombed with
powerful clearly defined thighs and
moderate angulation stifles are well
turned and the Hawks are short and
strong correct angulation should be such
that the hind feet are only slightly
behind the point of the rump when the
dog is standing normally over angulation
indicated by a sloping top line is not
typical of the braid and should be
faulted seen from the rear the hind legs
are straight in parallel the Hawks are
well let down and are turned neither in
nor out cow Hawks sickle hocks and
spread Hawks are all serious faults
rear feet like the front feet are strong
and compact with well arched toes and
well-developed pads the Labrador
Retrievers distinctive coat is short
straight and very dense giving it a
fairly hard feeling to the touch a
slight wave down the back is permissible
there is a soft weather resistant
undercoat that provides protection from
cold water and all types of terrain the
combination of a short dense outer coat
and a soft woolly undercoat allows the
Labrador Retriever to shake itself dry
after retrieving game from the water
wooly coats soft silky coats and sparse
slick coats are not typical of the breed
these incorrect coats all allow water to
penetrate to the skin and are to be
severely penalized as a working gun dog
the Labrador should be shown in its
natural state
excessive trimming destroys correct
characteristics tidying is allowed and a
removal of whiskers is permitted as for
color the Labradors coat may be black
yellow or chocolate any other color or
combination of colors is a
disqualification a small white spot on
the chest is permissible but not
desirable black labs are all black with
no markings or bundling blacks with
brindle markings or with tan markings
are to be disqualified white hairs from
aging or scarring may produce the
impression of Brent Ling but should not
be taken as such
blacks and chocolates may develop a
rusty cast when about to shed yellow is
may range from a fox like red to a light
cream with some variation in shading on
the ears back and under parts which
include legs feet and tail chocolates
can vary in shade from light to dark
chocolate they may bleach in the summer
Sun
as with the black coats Brenda lling or
tan markings disqualify the Labradors
movement should be free and effortless
shoulders should move freely and the
forelegs should reach forward close to
the ground the top line remains straight
coming toward you the four legs should
reach straight forward with the elbows
held neatly to the body and the legs
forming straight lines going away the
rear legs should move as nearly as
possible in a parallel line for the
front legs
the Hawks should do their full share of
work flexing well with power and
strength above all a Labrador should
never appear labored when moving these
rear legs are cow hopped and have no
Drive
this front movement is unacceptable it
is unsound and very labored here again
is correct movement free and effortless
indicating and ability to work in the
field or in the show ring with little or
no effort
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