General
Appearance: The general
appearance of the Labrador should be 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
feathering.
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 in. (57-62 cm);
bitches, 21 1/2 - 23 1/2 in. (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 follows:
a)Blacks: All black, with a small white spot on the
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: Yellows 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 the 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
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 yellow. Nose and eye rim
pigmentation dark brown or liver coloured.
"Fading" to pink in winter weather not serious.
Head:
The 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. The head
should be clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks. The 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. The
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. The 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 the 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 around 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 the
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 close 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.)
