Breed Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a strong, medium-sized, short-bodied retriever.
Strong athletic ability and well-balanced physique; able to hunt waterfowl for a long time in harsh environments;
has a good temperament and excellent family companion dog temperament.
The physical and psychological characteristics of the Labrador Retriever indicate that it can be bred to be a stable and efficient retriever. At the same time, it can also be used for various pursuits other than hunting.
The Labrador Retriever’s most distinctive features are its short, bushy, weather-resistant coat; an “otter” tail;
a clean head, broad back and moderate a strong forehead; strong jaw;
“good” friendly eyes, good character, intelligent and unique temperament.
The most important thing is that the Labrador Retriever needs to be well-balanced for a flexible body or super stamina when working in the field. Labrador Retrievers have a unique style and are of high quality without being overly delicate, bulky or short in size. The Labrador Retriever is bred primarily as a working dog; its body structure and soundness are very important.
Size, Proportion and Condition
Dimensions
The males are 22.5 to 24.5 inches tall; the females are 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall.
Anything above or below 0.5 inches is disqualified.
Weight under working conditions: 65 to 80 pounds for males; 55 to 70 pounds for females.
This standard does not apply to dogs under 12 months of age.
proportion
short body; from shoulders The length to the hips is equal to or slightly longer than the distance from the shoulders to the ground. The distance from the elbow to the ground should be equal to half the height at the shoulder.
The chest should extend to the elbows, but not too deep.
The body is of moderate length, allowing for a straight gait; however, the dog should not be too low overall, nor too long in body and legs.
Condition
Physical and bone ratio of the dog Overall coordination. Thin, “thin” individuals are definitely not allowed;
Similarly, individuals with clumsy gaits are also not allowed. When a Labrador Retriever is in working condition, it should be well muscled and free of excess fat.
Head
Skull
Skull broad; well developed but not exaggerated. The skull and foreface should lie in parallel planes and be approximately equal in length.
The forehead is moderate, the brow bone is slightly obvious, and the skull and nose should not be in the same line. The brow ridge helps define the forehead.
The head has a clear line and no excess flesh on the cheeks; the bone structure of the skull is clear, the eyes are well-defined, and the cheeks are not prominent.
The skull has a midline; the occipital bone is not prominent in adult dogs. The lips should not be square or droopy, but form a curve towards the throat.
A wedge-shaped head, or long, narrow mouth and posterior skull are defects. The jaws are strong but not slender, and the muzzle is neither long nor narrow nor short and thick.
Nose
The nose should be wide and the nostrils developed good. Black or yellow dogs, the nose should be black, chocolate dogs, the nose should be brown.
A faded or lighter nose color is not a defect. But a nose that is completely pink or lacks any pigment is disqualifying.
Teeth
Teeth strong and regular, scissors Occlusal; lower teeth are behind, touching the inside of the upper incisors. A pincer bite is acceptable but not desirable.
A mandibular protrusion is an occlusion, a maxillary protrusion or misaligned teeth are serious defects. A complete tooth system is ideal. Missing molars or premolars are also serious defects.
Ears
The ears should fit snugly against the head and set a little back , below the skull; slightly above the eyes.
The ears should not be large and heavy, but proportional to the skull and reach the inside of the eye when pulled forward.
Eyes – A kind, friendly look is indicative of a good temperament, and intelligence and alertness are hallmarks of the breed.
Eyes should be of medium size, well positioned, neither protruding nor sunken.
Black and yellow Labrador Retrievers should have brown eye color and chocolate brown or hazel.
Black or yellow eyes will appear incongruous and are not welcome.
Small eyes, eyes that are too close together or rounded protruding eyes are not typical of this breed.
Black and yellow labradors have black under the eyes; chocolate ones are brown. Eye circles without pigmentation are disqualifying.
Neck, Back and Body
Neck
The neck is well-length, well muscled and free of excess fat. The neck is strong and the chest is moderately arched. A short, thick neck or sheep neck is a defect.
Topline
Back Strong, with a level back when standing or moving. The waist is flexible and powerful.
Body
Labrador Retriever Medium Physique, ribs well elastic and tapering, chest of medium width.
The chest of the Labrador Retriever should not be too narrow; it should appear hollow between the front legs and should not have the broad front chest like that of the Bulldog.
The correct chest structure is wide on the top and narrow on the bottom between the front legs, and the movement of the forelegs is not restricted. A chest that is too wide or too narrow can limit movement.
An overly flat chest is also not typical of this individual; round or barrel chests are equally objectionable.
The underbelly of the adult dog is almost straight under the curve, with little or no folds. The loin should be short, broad and strong, extending to the well-developed, powerful hindquarters.
From the side, the Labrador Retriever has a well-developed forechest, but not exaggerated.
Tail
The tail is a distinct feature of the breed characteristic. The bottom is very thick, tapering towards the tip, of medium length, and does not extend beyond the hocks.
The tail has no feathers and is surrounded by thick, short, dense hairs, hence the name “otter” tail.
At rest or in motion, the tail should follow the topline and straight, but should not be curled. An extremely short or slender tail is a serious defect.
The tail is coordinated as a whole, forming a streamline from the top of the head to the tip of the tail. Docking or otherwise altering the natural length or posture of the tail is a disqualification.
Forequarters
The forequarters are well muscled and balanced with the rear quarters.
Shoulders
Shoulders are long and sloping back, forming an approximately The 90-degree angle allows the dog to easily move the front legs forward.
Ideally, the length of the shoulder blade should be equal to the length of the upper arm. Straight shoulders, short upper arms, heavy muscles or shoulder loads all limit free movement and are faults.
Front legs
Leg straight and strong bones when viewed from the front. Too much bone mass is just as undesirable as too little, and short-legged, heavy-boned individuals are not typical of this breed.
From the side, the elbows should be directly below the shoulder joints and the front legs should be perpendicular to the ground and below the body. The elbows should be close to the ribs without loosening.
An entangled or everted elbow can interfere with movement and is a serious defect. The knuckles should be strong, short, and slightly sloping from the vertical of the leg.
The feet are strong and compact, with well-arched toes and well-developed pads
. Wolf toes may be removed. Splayed feet, hare feet, knuckle valgus, varus or valgus feet are serious defects.
Hindquarters
The Labrador Retriever has broad hindquarters, Well muscled, well developed from croup to hocks, well-rotated knee, short and powerful hocks.
Viewed from behind, the hind legs are straight and parallel to each other.
Viewed from the side, the angle of the rear legs is balanced with the front legs. The hind legs are well-boned and muscular, with moderately angled knees, strong thighs and well defined outlines.
The knee joint is strong and the patella does not slip during movement or standing. The hock joints are strong and do not slip or hyperextend during movement or standing.
The angles of the knee and ankle joints allow for the best balance of drive and traction. When standing, the back toes are only slightly behind the hips.
Excessive angulation, with a sloping topline, is not typical of this breed.
The feet are strong and compact, with well-arched toes and well-developed pads. Cow hocks, extended hocks, sickle hocks and excessive angulation are serious postural defects.
Coat
The Labrador Retriever coat is a feature. The coat is short and straight, very dense, and feels rather hard to the touch.
The Labrador Retriever has a soft, weather-resistant undercoat that protects against water, cold and skin.
Slight waves on the back are allowed. Furry coats, soft silky coats, and sparse smooth coats are serious faults.
Color
Labrador Retriever Coat Colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or combination of colors is ineligible. A small white spot on the chest is allowed but not advisable. Gray hair from aging or scarring should not be misinterpreted as streaks.
Black – Black is all black. Black with zebra markings or black with tan markings is disqualified.
Yellow – Yellow can range in color from fox red to pale cream, with different shades on the dog’s ears, back, and underparts.
Chocolate – Chocolate shades can range from light chocolate to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is not acceptable.
Exercise
When the Labrador Retriever is exercising, the movements should be Free and easy. Viewed from the front, the elbow should show no signs of eversion as the dog moves.
More precisely, the elbows should be kept neatly on the body, and the legs should not be too close together. Walk straight ahead, without pacing or interlacing, the legs should form a straight line, all moving in the same plane.
Viewed from the rear, it should give the effect that the back leg is moving as parallel to the front leg as possible.
The hocks should be fully functional, with good elasticity and sufficient strength. From the side, shoulder movement should be free and easy, and the front leg should be extended forward, close to the ground.
Short, unstable movements or high-knee movements indicate straight shoulders; strokes indicate long, weak wrists; short, stilted rear gaits indicate straight rear drive;
All of these are serious flaws. Obstructive movements, including interlaces, side bends, crossovers, high-knee movements, strokes, and short, undulating movements, are serious deficiencies.
Character
The Labrador Retriever’s personality with the otter-like tail is typical of this breed logo.
The ideal personality is a kind, outgoing, trainable; eager to please and non-aggressive person or animal.
The Labrador Retriever has many attractions, gentle behavior, intelligence and excellent adaptability.
Aggression towards humans or other animals, or any sign of shyness in an adult dog, is a serious deficiency.
Disqualification
Any deviation from the standard height.
A nose that is completely pink or lacks any pigment.
Unpigmented under eye circles.
A tail or body that is docked or otherwise altered from its natural length.
Any color or combination of colors other than black, yellow or chocolate as described in the standard.
