An Extension of the Labrador Retriever Breed Standard
(from the dogs perspective)
by Lyndsay Wilson, Editor Midland Labrador Trust (NZ) Magazine
copied with permission from Lyndsay Wilson
The head should be broad with a pronounced stop so that the skull is not in a straight line with the nose... the nose wide and the nostrils well developed... Extension - Yes, too true, we use our heads as battering rams. Our powerful noses can be used as jemmys to lever open pantry doors, fridges etc. One can also utilise one's nose and muzzle as a beverage dispenser... i.e. when your humans are taking a sip from their cup of tea etc one waits for their elbow to be in just the right position and then a few quick upward nudges with your muzzle should send copious quantities of the desired beverages dribbling down the cup and into one's mouth.
Neck should be clean, strong and powerful and set into well placed shoulders...
Extension - A good reach of neck is required for those hard to reach kitchen bench tops and biscuit tins. With a bit of luck you can reach the food without drawing attention to yourself by standing on your hind legs.
The chest must be of good width and depth with well sprung ribs...
Extension - A well sprung rib cage is essential for the 'doorway shuffle' this is where you and your kennel mates all try to squeeze through a doorway or gateway six abreast. As you know, the term 'single file' is an alien concept to a Labrador. The jostling and pushing involved in the doorway shuffle is performed best by those with a good spring of rib!
Feet should be round and compact with well arched toes and well developed pads...
Extension - It is most essential to have the rounded foot because when one walks over new laid concrete one leave really cool round holes in the wet cement. Your humans love these groovy prints too... you can tell by the way they scream and shout and wave their arms at you! The well developed pads and well arched toes are also vital for the crash landing on your human's lap as they leave nice uniform bruises on their legs and stomach!
The tail should be very thick towards the base and gradually tapering towards the tip. Clothed thickly all round with the Labrador's short, thick, dense coat...
Extension - One's tail is a multi-purpose tool. Firstly, one must perfect the "coffee table sweep" where one lashes one's tail vigorously amongst the coffee cups sending them and the rest of the table's contents flying like missiles through the room. Then comes percussion skills which involve lashing one's tail violently against any noisy object such as flyscreen doors, fibreglass sheeting etc. Try doing that with a whippety tail! Talented Labradors can work on their helicopter rotor tail spins which entail spinning the tail rapidly in a circle sending even quite high placed objects into orbit. Another useful side effect is the 'tail in your kennel mates eye' routine... ouch!
Coat should be short and dense with a weather resisting undercoat and should give a fairly hard feeling to the hand...
Extension - One must endeavour to leave the aforementioned coat all over the house and car. Best effects can be obtained by coming into the house when wet and shaking vigorously. This leaves a fine deposit of fur all over the walls, furniture, carpets and surfaces.
Colour ... black, yellow or chocolate. The coat should be of a whole colour and not of a flecked appearance.
Extension - Depends on what you roll in really!! Long dead possum really sets of any coat colour... and the smell (just a dab behind each shoulder blade)... divine daaahling!!
re-printed with permission from Lyndsay Wilson - Lyndridge Labradors, Editor Midland Labrador Trust (NZ) Magazine. |
