Welcome to The Labrador Club

Breed Standard

The standard is the term used to describe the conformation of a Labrador as laid down by the English and N.Z. Kennel Clubs.

General Appearance

Strongly built, short-coupled, very active; broad in skull; broad and deep through chest and ribs; broad and strong over loins and hindquarters.

Temperament

Intelligent, keen, and biddable, with a strong will to please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue shyness.

Head and Skull

Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. Jaws of medium length, powerful not snipy. Nose wide, nostrils well developed.

Eyes

Medium size, expressing intelligence and good temper; brown or hazel.

Ears

Not large or heavy, hanging close to head and set rather far back.

Mouth

Jaws and teeth strong with a perfect, regular, and complete scissor bite, i.e., upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaws.

Neck

Clean, strong, powerful, set into well placed shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders long and sloping. Forelegs well boned and straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either front or side.

Body

Chest of good width and depth, with well sprung barrel ribs. Level topline. Loins wide, short-coupled and strong.

Hindquarters

Well-developed, not sloping to tail; well-turned stifle. Hocks well let down, cow hocks highly undesirable.

Feet

Round, compact; well arched toes and well-developed pads.

Tail

Distinctive feature, very thick towards base, gradually tapering towards tip, medium length, free from featherings, but clothed thickly all round with short, thick, dense coat, thus giving rounded appearance described as an otter tail. May be carried gaily but should not curl over back.

Gait/Movement

Free, covering adequate ground; straight and true in front and rear.

Coat

Distinctive feature, short dense without wave or featherings, giving a fairly hard feel to the touch; weather-resistant undercoat.

Colour

Wholly black, yellow, or liver chocolate. Yellow ranges from light cream to red fox. Small white spot, on chest, permissible.

Size

Ideal heights at withers; dog, 56-57cm (22-22 half ins), bitchers 55-56cm (21 half – 22ins)

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

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