Breed Standard
Group 3 = Gundogs
Labrador Retriever: Last updated 01 Jan 2018 by Australian National Kennel Council.
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.
Characteristics:
Good tempered.
Very agile, (which precludes excessive body weight or excessive substance).
Excellent nose, soft mouth, keen love of water.
Adaptable, devoted companion.
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 snipey.
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 the jaws.
Neck:
Clean, strong, powerful.
Set into well placed shoulders.
Forequarters:
Shoulders long and well laid back.
With upper arm of near equal length placing legs well under body.
Forelegs well boned, straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either front or side.
Body:
Chest of good width and depth, with well sprung barrel ribs.
This effect not to be produced by carrying excessive weight.
Level topline. Loins wide, short coupled and strong.
Hindquarters:
Well developed, not sloping to tail, well turned stifle.
Hocks well let down, cowhocks 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 feathering but clothed thickly all round with short, thick, dense coat.
Thus giving "rounded" appearance described as ''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 feathering.
Giving fairly hard feel to the touch, weather resistant undercoat.
Colour:
The only correct colours are wholly Black, Yellow or Chocolate/Liver.
Yellows range from light cream to fox red.
Small white spot on chest and the rear of front pasterns permissible.
Size/Ideal Height:
Dogs 56 - 57 cms (22-22.5 inches) at the withers.
Bitches 55 - 56 cms (21.5 - 22 inches) at the withers.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault.
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.
And on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Notes:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Contact Details
Ben & Robyn van MaanenStawell, VIC, Australia
Phone : 03 53573254
Email : [email protected]