“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.”
SIZE
- Dogs 1 year and over: 22½ to 24½ inches +½ inch and 65 to 80 pounds
- Bitches 1 year and over: 21½ to 23½ inches +½ inch and 55 to 70 pounds.
Disqualification
oAny deviation from the prescribed height
PROPORTION
- Length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump is equal to or slightly longer than the height
- Distance from elbow to ground equal to ½ the height
- Brisket should extend to the elbows, but not perceptibly deeper
Incorrect
SUBSTANCE
- Substance and bone proportionate to the overall dog
- Shown in working condition well-muscled and without excess fat
Incorrect
oLight, "weedy" individuals are incorrect
oCloddy lumbering specimens are incorrect
HEAD
Skull
- Well developed without exaggeration
- Skull on a parallel plane with and approximately of equal length as foreface
- Brow slightly pronounced so that the skull is not absolutely in a straight line with the nose
- Brow ridges aid in defining the stop
- Head should be clean-cut and free from fleshy cheeks
- Bony structure of the skull chiseled beneath the eye with no prominence in the cheek
- Occipital bone is not conspicuous in mature dogs
- Lips are not squared off or pendulous, but fall away in a curve toward the throat.
- Jaws are powerful and free from snippiness
- Muzzle is neither long and narrow nor short and stubby.
Incorrect
oHead long and narrow in muzzle and back skull
Nose
- Wide with well-developed nostrils
- Black on black or yellow dogs and brown on chocolates (nose color fading to a lighter shade is not a fault)
Disqualification
oA thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment
Teeth
- Strong and regular with a scissors bite (lower teeth just behind, but touching the inner side of the upper incisors)
- Level bite is acceptable, but not desirable.
- Full dentition is preferred
Serious Faults
oUndershot, overshot, or misaligned teeth
oMissing molars or pre-molars
Ears
- Hang moderately close to the head
- Somewhat low on the skull
- Not large and heavy, but in proportion with the skull
- Reach to the inside of the eye when pulled forward.
Eyes
- Kind, friendly eyes imparting good temperament, intelligence and alertness
- Neither protruding nor deep set
- Color is brown in black in yellow Labradors and brown or hazel in chocolates
- Rims are black in black and yellow Labradors and brown in chocolates.
Undesirable
oBlack, or yellow eyes give a harsh expression
Disqualification
oEye rims without pigmentation
NECK, TOPLINE AND BODY
Neck
- Proper length to allow the dog to retrieve game easily
- Muscular and free from throatiness
- Rise strongly from the shoulders with a moderate arch
Incorrect
Topline
- Topline is level from the withers to the croup when standing or moving
- Loin should show evidence of flexibility for athletic endeavor
Body
- Good spring of ribs tapering to a moderately wide chest
- Correct chest conformation will result in tapering between the front legs that allows unrestricted forelimb movement
- Underline is almost straight, with little or no tuck-up in mature animals
- Loins should be short, wide and strong
- Well developed, powerful hindquarters
- From the side, a well-developed, but not exaggerated forechest
Incorrect
oAppearance of hollowness between the front legs
oWide spreading, bulldog-like front
oBreadth either too wide or too narrow for efficient movement and stamina
oRotund or barrel chested
Tail
- Distinguishing feature of the breed
- Very thick at the base, gradually tapering toward the tip
- Medium length, extending no longer than to the hock
- 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
- Follows the topline in repose or when in motion
- May be carried gaily, but should not curl over the back
- Completes the balance of the Labrador by giving it a flowing line from the top of the head to the tip of the tail
Serious Faults
Disqualification
oDocking or otherwise altering the length or natural carriage of the tail
FOREQUARTERS
Forequarters should be muscular, well coordinated and balanced with the hindquarters.
Shoulders
- 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
Incorrect
oStraight shoulder blades
oHeavily muscled or loaded shoulders
Front Legs
- Viewed from the front, legs should be straight with good strong bone
- 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
- 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
Incorrect
oShort legged, heavy boned individuals
Serious Faults
HINDQUARTERS
- 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
- Hind legs are strongly boned, muscled with moderate angulation at the stifle, and powerful, clearly defined thighs
- No slippage of the patellae while in motion or when standing
- 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.
- Feet are strong and compact, with well-arched toes and well-developed pads.
Faults
COAT
- Short, straight and very dense, giving a fairly hard feeling to the hand
- 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
Serious Faults
COLOR
- Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog
- Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate
- 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
Disqualification
oAny color or combination of colors other than black, yellow, or chocolate
MOVEMENT
- 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
- Viewed from the rear, the hind legs should move as nearly as possible in a parallel line with the front legs
- The hocks should flex 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
Serious Faults
oHigh knee action indicates, indicating a straight shoulder
oPaddling indicates long, weak pasterns
oA short, stilted rear gait indicates a straight rear assembly
TEMPERAMENT
- Kindly, outgoing, tractable nature
- Non-aggressive towards man or animal
Serious Faults
oAggressiveness towards humans or other animals
oEvidence of shyness in an adult
SUMMARY OF DISQUALIFICATIONS
- Any deviation from the height prescribed in the Standard.
- A thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment.
- Eye rims without pigment.
- Docking or otherwise altering the length or natural carriage of the tail.
- Any other color or a combination of colors other than black, yellow or chocolate as described in the Standard.
Effective as of March 31, 1994
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All rights reserved. Copyright 2004 by Annette Gilliam
