LABRADOR RETRIEVER breed standard

Country of origin: United Kingdom
Date of publication of the current standard: 24.06.1987
Use: Aporter.
FCI Classification: Group 8 – Fetchers, retrievers and lead dogs.
Section 1 – Fetchers.
Subject to work trials.

GENERAL LOOK:
Dog of strong build, compact; very active; head broad; chest well developed, ribs well arched; loins and hind legs broad and strong.

BEHAVIOR – TEMPERAMENT:
Gentle, very mobile. Endowed with a great sense of smell; great lover of water. Easily adapts to the environment, a devoted friend. Intelligent, clever and obedient, inclined to play. Friendly disposition, without any sign of aggression or timidity.

HEAD:
Cerebellum:
Skull: Broad. Well defined, without prominent cheeks.
Stop: Marked.
Visceral Skull:
Nose: Wide, well developed nostrils.
Muzzle: Strong, not wedge-shaped.
Jaws/dentition: Jaws of medium length, strong; teeth strong, with excellent, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. Upper incisors cover lower incisors, closely touching and set square to the jaws.
Eyes: Medium in size, expressing intelligence and good disposition; brown or hazel.
Ears: Not large nor heavy, slightly close fitting, set rather at the back of the head.

NECK:
Smooth, strong and powerful, set in well set shoulders.

BACK:
Back: Upper horizontal line.
Loins: Broad, short and strong.
Chest: Wide and deep, with well sprung ribs.

TEA:
It is a characteristic feature of the breed. Very thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the end, medium length, without „feathers”, But well covered with short, thick and dense hair, giving the appearance of „round” (in cross section), described as „otter tail”. Can be carried cheerfully, but should not curl over the back.

EQUIPMENT:
Forelegs:
Of strong bone; seen from both front and side straight from elbow to ground.
Shoulders: Long and obliquely set.
Hind Limbs:
Rump well developed, not falling towards the tail.
Knee joints: Well angulated.
Ankle joints: low seated. Cowardly attitude undesirable.
Paws: Round, compact; toes well arched, pads well developed.

BODY:
Free, with good stride; limbs move parallel to body axis.

HAIR COVER:
Hair: Is a distinctive feature. Short, dense, no wave or fringe, hard to the touch; weather resistant undercoat.
Coat color: All black, yellow or liver (chocolate).
Yellow color ranges from light cream to red (as in fox). A small white spot on forechest is permissible.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT:
Ideal height at withers: Dogs 56-57 cm (22-22.5 inches)
bitches 54-56 cm (21.5-22 inches)

FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing pattern should be treated as a fault, reducing the mark according to the degree of severity.

NOTES:
Males must have two, properly formed testicles, completely placed in the scrotal sac.