Labrador Retriever
Gundogs

Group:

gundog

Size:

large

Lifespan:

10-12 years

Exercise:

medium

Grooming:

low

Trainability:

very high

Watchdog ability:

high

Protection ability:

low

Area of Origin:

Canada

Date of Origin:

1800’s

Other Names:

Yellow Retriever

Original Function:

water retrieving

History

Once known as the "St John's Dogs," the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada the Labrador was trained to jump overboard into the icy waters to haul fisherman's nets to shore. These dogs had been known variously as the Black Water Dog, the Lesser Newfoundland, or the St John's Dog; they were descendants of dogs taken there by explorers, settlers and fishing crews. The dogs, found to have excellent hunting and fishing abilities, were brought to England early in the 1800's where their "modern" development carried on. Crossed with other local sporting breeds, the strong and sturdy Lab became, and continues to be, England's most popular gundog. This breed excels in obedience and field trials, needs plenty of outdoor exercise and especially enjoys swimming.

Temperament

The Labrador Retriever is a kindly, outgoing dog breed. The Lab's easy-going and friendly manner makes him an excellent addition to families with children. The Labrador Retriever is easy to train and, by nature, is a true sporting dog. Labs love swimming and will play fetch in the water for as long as you will!

Upkeep

Labradors are active and sociable dogs. They need daily exercise, preferably in the form of retrieving and swimming. Owners with swimming pools either must fence them out or be prepared to share the pool with dog. The Lab coat sheds water easily. It needs weekly brushing to remove dead hair. Although Labs can live outdoors in temperate climates, they are much happier indoors with their family.

Official Breed Standard

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The general appearance of the Labrador should be that of a strongly-built, short-coupled, very active dog, broad in the skull, broad and deep through the chest and ribs, broad and strong over the loins and hind-quarters. The coat close, short with dense undercoat and free from feather. The dog must move neither too wide nor too close in front or behind, he must stand and move true all round on legs and feet.

Head and Skull:
The skull should be broad with a pronounced stop so that the skull is not in a straight line with the nose. The head should be clean cut without fleshy cheeks. The jaws should be medium length and powerful and free from snipiness. The nose wide and the nostrils well developed.

Eyes:
The eyes of medium size expressing intelligence and good temper, should be brown or hazel.

Ears:
Should not be large and heavy and should hang close to the head and set rather far back.

Mouth:
Teeth should be sound and strong. The lower teeth just behind but touching the upper.

Neck:
Should be clean, strong and powerful and set into well placed shoulders.

Forequarters:
The shoulders should be long and sloping. The forelegs well boned and straight from the shoulder to the ground when viewed from either the front or side. The dog must move neither too wide nor too close in front.

Body:
The chest must be of good width and depth with well-sprung ribs. The back should be short coupled.

Hindquarters:
The loins must be wide and strong with well-turned stifles; hindquarters well developed and not sloping to the tail. The hocks should be slightly bent and the dog must neither be cow-hocked nor move too wide or too close behind.

Feet:
Should be round and compact with well-arched toes and well-developed pads.

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 and practically free from any feathering, but 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.

Coat:
The coat is another distinctive feature of the breed, it should be short and dense and without wave with a weather-resisting undercoat and should give a fairly hard feeling to the hand.

Colour:
Wholly black, yellow or liver/chocolate. Yellows range from light cream to red fox. Small white spot on chest permissible.

Weight and Size:
Desired height. Dogs: 56 - 57 cm (22 - 22.5 in) Bitches: 54 - 56 cm (21.5 - 22 in).

Faults:
Under or overshot mouth; no undercoat; bad action; feathering; snipiness on the head; large or heavy ears: cow-hocked, tail curled over back.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.