The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. is the only organization officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as the national parent club of the Labrador Retriever, a 'Dog for All Reasons.'
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2023 LRC Board of Directors Announcement 

The LRC, Inc. Board of Directors announces the following for 2023: 

Officers: 

  • President: Frances O. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACT
  • Vice President: Anthony Emilio
  • Secretary: Nancy Brandow
  • Treasurer: Lyn Yelton 

Executive Committee Members: 

  • Juxi Burr
  • Grayson Kelley
  • Marilyn Little 

Delegate to the American Kennel Club: Anthony Emilio 

Nominating Committee: 

  • Chairperson: Marilyn Little
  • Director: Gerry Saldano
  • Treasurer: Lyn Yelton
  • LRC Member: Glenda Brown
  • LRC Member: PK Litchenberger 

President Smith thanks everyone for their hard work and anticipated contributions for 2023. 

 

labradors laying in grassPurina® Parent Club Partnership (PPCP) Program

Nestlé Purina instituted this unique program in 2002 to help with the future health and well being of our beloved Labradors. All Lab-lovers are encouraged to participate to help us earn funding for canine health studies, education and/or rescue work. Since the PPCP Program began, more than $7 million has been raised for canine health research, education and rescue efforts. Together we are improving the health of Labrador Retrievers around the world!
Find out how to contribute

The Purpose of the Labrador Club

The goal of the Club shall be to encourage and promote quality in the breeding and performance of pure-bred Labrador Retrievers and to do all possible to bring their natural attributes as working retrievers to perfection.

LRC Mission Statement

  • To maintain a Standard that will preserve the character and breed type of the Labrador Retriever.
  • To preserve the Labrador Retriever as a working retriever and promote its multipurpose function.
  • To conduct national specialty shows, field trials, hunting tests, and companion dog events under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club.
  • To provide educational programs that promote the health and training of the Labrador Retriever, and responsible ownership and breeding practices. [READ FULL MISSION]

Puppy Buyers Beware!

The Labrador Retriever breed standard only allows black, chocolate and yellow. Any other coat color is a disqualifying fault. Visit the LRC Breeders Directory for a listing of reputable breeders in your area. 

Learn more about selecting a puppy
 

black chocolate yellow labs

It is the opinion of the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., the American Kennel Club Parent Club for the breed, that a “silver” Labrador is not a purebred Labrador Retriever. The pet owning public is being duped into believing that animals with this dilute coat color are desirable, purebred and rare and, therefore, warrant special notoriety or a premium purchase price.

Over the past few years a limited number of breeders have advertised and sold dogs they represent to be purebred Labrador Retrievers with a dilute or gray coat color—hence the term “silver labs.” The AKC has accepted some of these “silver labs” for registration. Apparently, the rationale for this decision is that the silver coat color is a shade of chocolate. Interestingly, the original breeders of “silver” Labradors were also involved in the Weimaraner breed. Although we cannot conclusively prove that the silver Labrador is a product of crossbreeding the Weimaraner to a Labrador, there is good evidence in scientific literature indicating that the Labrador has never been identified as carrying the dilute gene “dd.” The Weimaraner is the only known breed in which the universality of “dd” is a characteristic. Download the full article here.

Frances O Smith, DVM, PhD Chair, Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. Genetics Committee

Learn more about the breed standard
We Love Labrador Retrievers!
Who doesn't love to browse through pictures of Labrador Retrievers? At the LRC, we sure do.