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• Group:

  Group 3 (Gundogs)

• History:

• 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 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 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 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 - 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 liver/chocolate. Yellows range from light cream to red fox. Small white spot on chest and the rear of front pasterns permissible.

• Sizes:

  Ideal height at withers:
  
  Dogs 56 - 57 cms (22-22.5 ins)
  
  Bitches 55 - 56 cms (21.5 - 22 ins)

• 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, 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. 

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***SILVER LABRADOR WARNING***

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National Labrador Retriever Breed Council (Australia) 

POSITION STATEMENT 21st April 2010 

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Silver Coat Colour 

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The National Labrador Retriever Breed Council (NLRBC) is an officially sanctioned representative body responsible for dealing with any and all issues that may directly affect the integrity of our breed throughout Australia. A significant and important function of the NLRBC is to directly interact with and provide advice and make recommendations to the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) on all matters that it regards as significant. 

The improved and ongoing health, structural soundness and welfare of the Labrador Retriever breed is a primary focus of the NLRBC as is the conservation of the original breed function – that of a “working” retriever. To this end the Internationally recognised “Breed Standard” (first developed in England in 1916) remains in force to this day. 

An important part of that breed standard describes the three acceptable coat colours. Black, Yellow and Liver/Chocolate are the only recognised coat colours in our breed. Any diversion from these three standard colours indicates a cross breeding combination may have occurred. 

Disturbing evidence has now been uncovered which suggests that some unscrupulous breeders in Australia may be considering promoting a new coat colour to unsuspecting Australian Labrador puppy buyers – Silver (or Platinum or Charcoal). 

This concept is not new – for some years in the USA and more recently in New Zealand so called Silver Labradors have been peddled by “backyard/designer dog” breeders as being rare or unique. Not surprisingly this advertised rarity comes at a significant price both financially to the buyer and in health concerns to the individual dogs concerned. The sad fact is that these Silver Labradors are cross bred dogs – the result of crossing a Labrador Retriever with a Weimaraner. 

Genetically these crossbred designer Labradors are at high risk of inherited structural and health defects. Neurological disorders such as epilepsy are widespread amongst “Silver” Labradors due to the inbreeding that is required to maintain the unnatural silver coat colour. These dogs also suffer debilitating skin and thyroid problems. It has also become evident that significant numbers do have problems with hip and elbow dysplasia due to generations of breeding from “untested” breeding stock. 

The NLRBC has issued a Silver Coat “high alert” to all State based member clubs around Australia. If you require more information or you wish to report the activities of a suspected Silver Labrador breeder please contact the Labrador Retriever Club in your home state. They will be more than happy to assist you with your enquiries. 

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