<html> <head> <title>BOD</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= "text/html; charset=unicode"> <!-- Created with the CoffeeCup HTML Editor 2006 --> <!-- http://www.coffeecup.com/ --> <!-- Brewed on 12/04/2007 7:24:03 PM --> <meta content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0" name="GENERATOR"> <meta content="Atlantic Labrador Retriever Club" name= "description"> <meta content= "labrador retriever, labs, maritimes, clubs, atlantic, canada, puppies" name="keywords"> <style type="text/css"> <!-- BODY { scrollbar-face-color: fafoe6; scrollbar-3dlight-color: d2b48c; scrollbar-darkshadow-color: 708090; scrollbar-track-color: fafoe6; } --> </style> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#333300" vlink="#333300" background= "watermarkbg.jpg" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div align="center"><font face="Algerian"><strong><font size="7">Breed Standard</font></strong>&nbsp;</font> <hr align="center" width="60%" size="3"> <div id="bv_Text2" align="left"> <div align="center"><strong>Origin and Purpose<br> </strong>The Labrador Retriever originated and developed on the island of<br> Newfoundland as an all purpose waterdog and functional retriever. The<br> breed was preserved in England after anti-dog legislation almost<br> decimated the breed in its homeland. The breed is noted for its love of<br> retrieving and water, for its excellent nose, soft mouth, intelligence and<br> biddable temperament. Extraordinary versatility allows Labradors to<br> excel as hunting, service, and therapy dogs; in search and rescues; in drug<br> and bomb detection; as family companions, and in performance and<br> field events.&nbsp; <br> <br> <strong>General Appearance<br> </strong>Medium sized, strongly built, compact, short-coupled, powerful, athletic;<br> broad in skull; broad and deep through chest and ribs; broad and<br> powerful over loins and hindquarters. A water resistant double coat,<br> otter tail, and sound temperament are essential breed characteristics.<br> <strong><br> Proportion and Size<br> Proportions: </strong>Distance from withers to elbow approximately equal to<br> distance from elbow to ground; length from point of shoulder to point<br> of rump very slightly longer than height at withers. A well -balanced<br> dog is the ideal.<br> <strong><br> Size: </strong>Ideal height at withers: Dogs 22 &frac12; - 24 &frac12; inches (57 - 62 cm);<br> Bitches 21 &frac12; - 23 &frac12; inches (54 -60 cm). Weight commensurate with<br> height and with the breed&rsquo;s function as a medium sized, powerful,<br> active retriever. Approximate weights: Dogs 60-80 lbs (27.27-36.36<br> kilos); Bitches 55-75 lbs (25-34.09 kilos).<br> <strong><br> Coat and Colour<br> Coat Distinctive Feature: </strong>Outer coat short, straight, although a slight<br> wave down the back is also correct; dense without feathering, giving<br> fairly hard feel to the touch; soft, dense weather-resistant undercoat.<br> <strong><br> Color: </strong>Wholly black, yellow or chocolate. Small white spot on chest<br> permissible. Yellows range from light cream to fox red with variations in<br> the shadings on ears, under parts, hocks, and down the back. Chocolates<br> range from light sedge to dark chocolate.<br> <strong><br> Pigmentation: </strong>Black in blacks and yellows; brown or liver in chocolates.<br> Pigmentation fading to a lighter shade in yellows not to be penalized.<br> <strong><br> Head<br> Head and Skull: </strong>A kindly, gentle expression is characteristic of the<br> breed. Skull broad with defined stop; clean-cut without fleshy cheeks.<br> Muzzle of medium length, powerful, not snipey. Muzzle and skull on<br> parallel planes and of approximately equal lengths. Nose wide; nostrils<br> well developed. <strong>Eyes: </strong>Medium size, expressing intelligence and good<br> temper; almond or diamond shape, not round; color dark brown or<br> hazel. <strong>Ears: </strong>Medium sized; hanging close to head and set rather far<br> back. <strong>Mouth: </strong>Jaws and teeth strong; scissor bite.<br> <strong><br> Neck<br> </strong>Clean, strong, medium length, good reach; set into well-placed<br> shoulders.<br> <strong><br> Forequarters<br> Forequarters: </strong>Shoulders long and sloping. Forelegs well boned and<br> straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either front or side.<br> Legs of medium length, not short. <strong>Pasterns: </strong>Strong, short, sloping<br> slightly from the perpendicular. <strong>Feet: </strong>Compact, round, medium sized;<br> well arched toes; well developed pads.<br> <strong><br> Body<br> </strong>Chest of good width and depth; well-sprung ribs. Brisket extends to the<br> elbows. Straight, level topline. Loins wide, short-coupled and strong.<br> <strong><br> Hindquarters<br> </strong>Well developed, great power, not sloping to tail; well turned stifle. Hocks<br> well let down; cowhocks highly undesirable.<br> <strong><br> Tail Distinctive Feature: </strong>Very thick towards base, straight, gradually<br> tapering towards tip, medium length, free from feathering, but clothed<br> thickly all round with thick, dense coat, giving &lsquo;&lsquo;rounded&rsquo;&rsquo; appearance<br> described as &lsquo;&lsquo;otter&rsquo;&rsquo; tail. Tail may be carried &lsquo;happily&rsquo; but not at more<br> than a 35-degree angle with the back. Tail an extension of the topline and<br> balances the dog.<br> <strong><br> Gait Gait/Movement: </strong>Free, effortless, powerful, covering adequate ground<br> with good reach and drive; straight and true in front and rear. Tending to<br> converge at higher speeds.<br> <strong><br> Faults<br> </strong>Any departure from the foregoing ideal should be considered a fault. The<br> seriousness with which the fault should be regarded must be in<br> proportion to its degree and its effect upon the dog&rsquo;s function as a<br> working retriever.<br> </div> </div> <p><font size="2"><br> </font> </p> <div class="parastyle0"> <div class="parastyle1"> <br> <br> <hr align="center" width="60%" size="4"> <br> <font size="1"><strong>&copy; 2003 - ALRC All rights reserved</strong></font></div> </div> </div> </body> </html>