General Appearance
The general appearance of the Labrador should be that 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 feather.
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 inches (57-62 cm); Bitches:
21-1/2 - 23-1/2 inches (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 as
follows:
(a) Blacks
All black, with a small white spot on 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
Yellow 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 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 the 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 yellows. Nose and
eye rim pigmentation dark brown or liver coloured. ?Fading? to pink in
winter weather not serious.
Head
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. Head should be clean-cut
and free from fleshy cheeks. 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. 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. 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 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 round 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
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 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.