Mentors & Presenters

The LRC Inc.’s Judges’ Education Committee

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. is dedicated to the dual-purpose dog. The image of a Labrador Retriever should represent a working gun dog. Our Judge’s Education Seminars target discussions on the overall balance of a dog bred as a working gun dog and the characteristics that define Labrador type.

Some examples:

1. Head should be clean-cut with a kindly expression and a muzzle the same length as the back skull for efficient game handling.
2. The neck should be long enough to allow the dog to pick up game from the ground with ease. Necks of sufficient length that rise strongly from the shoulder also denote proper shoulder angulation.
3. The fore chest should not be flat, but extend slightly beyond the shoulder like the prow of a small boat.
4. The body and rib cage should be keel-shaped for water stability, not round.
5. The feet should be medium-sized, with arched toes and strong webbing.
6. Coat character should be short and dense with a protective undercoat covered by a coarser outer coat. The outer coat lays flat and wraps around the body protecting the dog from cold in the water and heavy cover in a hunting environment.
7. A thick “Otter tail” is unique to the Labrador and provides balance, as well as serving as a rudder in the water.
8. A biddable temperament, combined with a strong retrieving instinct, makes the Labrador a wonderful companion at home and in the field.

Form-to-function identifies what a Labrador Retriever should be. What is efficient in the field is what makes a Labrador “right” in the conformation ring.