HEAD & SKULL
Broad, strong foreface and underjaw, well-developed nostrils as this air- scenting dog have amazing olfactory senses, he relies on his nose in order to do his job well. Scissor bite and lips that fit well, as loose flews can easily be caught by teeth when picking up game, thus causing the dog to drop his retrieve.

EYES
The correct “diamond” shaped eye contributes greatly to the lovely expression. Loose eyelids are likely to cause real problems to the worker in the field, collecting pollens and grass seed in the course of his work.

EARS

Ears should be medium sized; they need to lie close to the head as the ear set & size has an impact on expression. Ear size does not really affect type.

NECK
Strong and powerful, clean and free from dewlap and very well muscled.

SHOULDERS
The long sloping shoulder with good length of upper arm is essential when one considers that this dog picks up and carries game weighing up to 8kgs. such as a fox. The dog picks up this retrieve on the run or lifts it from the water in the case of large waterfowl, so the neck and shoulder must be constructed properly or he cannot perform his work.

FORELEGS
Well-boned, almost straight from elbow to foot, with strong pasterns. Tied in elbows prevent the dog functioning with stamina and ease as he will tire easily and quickly and find carrying game difficult.

FEET
The foot should be cat like and well padded. The functional Labrador relies on his feet to be able to handle a great variety of terrain as well as muddy, silt filled rivers and dam bottoms, and they need to be fairly tight to avoid injury, which could be incurred on thin pads or elongated feet.

BODY
The well sprung, barrel rib cage of the Labrador is required for lung and heart room as well as aiding in floatation of this natural water dog. He must be deep through the brisket, which should reach to the elbow, and the very important “keel” should be obvious as the dog stands over his front on his well-placed shoulders. He should be well ribbed back and short in the coupling. Top line should be straight with no slope to the croup.

HINDQUARTERS
In this rear-wheel-drive dog, the hindquarters are of paramount importance, they are the engine that drives the dog forward off well let down hocks. The Labrador needs well-angulated hindquarters with good musculation through the thigh, and he should be well let down into short, straight hocks. Cow hocks or sickle hocks are not acceptable, as the stamina and drive that are the hallmark of the Labrador cannot exist with these faults. The key words in describing the hindquarter of the Labrador are broad and strong, he is broader in the back end than the front and this facilitates his prowess as a swimmer.

TAIL
This is a very important breed characteristic; it should be a continuation of the spine, very thick at the base, gradually tapering to the tip. Enhanced greatly by the correct coat which clothes the “Otter” tail closely with no feathering. The underside of the tail is flat when you lift it and there is almost a herringbone effect of the coat.

COAT
This is such an important breed characteristic, the topcoat is coarse, fairly straight although a slight wave is often evident in a very heavily coated dog, it is harsh to the touch and there is a soft, dense undercoat. When checking for undercoat, it is most prolific on ribcage from the water line down, not along the back.

COLOUR
Black, Yellow (Cream through to fox red) and Chocolate.

SIZE
Dogs 22 – 22 ½ inches (56-57 cms)
Bitches 21 ½- 22 inches (54-56 cms)