About The Labrador: Looks

The breed standard of the Labrador Retriever is not based on any actual dog. It is a theoretical ideal that no dog will likely ever reach. This breed standard is used to not only help dog show judges pick a winner in the ring, but can help you identify a Lab or Labrador cross breed in your local animal shelter. Labrador genes tend to be dominant when they mix with nearly every other breed. Knowing your rescue dog is a Labrador or part Lab can help you take care of him better.

Labradors are generally blocky dogs with floppy ears, a friendly face and a short coat. Their tails are thick, straight and never docked. Although there are a few official colors (black, chocolate, yellow and silver), purebred Labs have been known to come in white, brindle and black and tan. They are disqualified from the ring, but can still make wonderful pets.

A Labrador's head looks very much like a blunt version of most other dogs. On a profile, their heads look like a big oval attached to a square (the square being the muzzle). Their tongues are always pink and sometimes their noses are, too, even though the breed standard frowns on pink noses. Their eyes are shades of brown. Yellow and black eyes can appear, but are also frowned on in the show ring. They usually seem like they are smiling. They have a characteristic loving gaze upon anyone they look at. Their teeth should meet in a scissors bite.

Ideally, Labradors should range in height from the ground to the highest point of their shoulder from twenty one to twenty five inches. This makes them only medium sized dogs. It is very easy to get a fat Lab. Ideally, they should be only between fifty five to seventy five pounds. There are many purebred Labs who are too short or too tall for the show ring. They should have sturdy limbs, a level backbone and a bouncy stride. They shouldn't be knock-kneed or strut like a Hackney horse.

The Labrador was bred to hunt out in the fields in all weather and to dive into water to retrieve shot birds. Their bodies reflect this original use. There is to be webbing between the toes in order to help the dog swim. Their short but dense coats are usually water resistant, at least from the dog's point of view. The coat should not be curly, wooly or long like a Golden Retriever's.

Crossing Golden and Labrador Retrievers is very popular, so you may come across this in a shelter. In England, they are the dog of choice for the blind. The breed standard also gives importance to the Labrador's temperament. They are to be friendly, affectionate and agreeable. An aggressive Labrador is disqualified from the show ring. Problem Labradors tend to be hyperactive (as in Marley & Me by John Grogan), not mean. If your shelter dog meets many of the criteria in the breed standard, you should treat your dog like a Lab.

Brooke Sunderland loves everything there is about dogs, including Labradors. The Labrador Retriever is a very popular family pet. There are many books written about Labrador information.