The Labrador retriever
According
to the American Kennel Club Website (www.akc.org)
the Labrador Retriever breed standard is as follows:
"The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built,
medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound,
athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables
it to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance
and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for
long hours under difficult conditions; the character
and quality to win in the show ring; and the temperament
to be a family companion. Physical features and mental
characteristics should denote a dog bred to perform
as an efficient Retriever of game with a stable temperament
suitable for a variety of pursuits beyond the hunting
environment.
The most distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador
Retriever are its short, dense, weather resistant
coat; an "otter" tail; a clean-cut head
with broad back skull and moderate stop; powerful
jaws; and its "kind," friendly eyes, expressing
character, intelligence and good temperament.
Above all, a Labrador Retriever must be well balanced,
enabling it to move in the show ring or work in the
field with little or no effort. The typical Labrador
possesses style and quality without over refinement,
and substance without lumber or cloddiness. The Labrador
is bred primarily as a working gun dog; structure
and soundness are of great importance."
Did You Know?
The Labrador Retriever did not come from Labrador, but from Newfoundland.
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In England, no Labrador can become a bench show champion unless it has a working certificate also.
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The Labrador Retriever is one of the prime breeds selected as guide and rescue dogs.
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The original Labrador gradually died out in Newfoundland on account of a heavy dog tax which, with the English quarantine law, practically stopped importation of the dogs into England. Therefore, many Labs were interbred with other types of retrievers, although fortunately the Labrador characteristics predominated until fanciers wrote up an anti-interbreeding law.
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There are three acceptable colors in Labradors: Black, yellow, and chocolate.
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The pedigrees of the two most influential Labs,"Peter of Faskally" and "Flapper," go back as far as 1878.
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