Comments on: What The Labrador Breed Standard Is Really Telling You

By: Chuck Hird

Chuck Hird — Sun, 04 May 2025 18:21:42 +0000

To clarify my Superior Lab post. The Superior Labrador statement is my creation, not Wisdom’s. Wisdom only identified the gene for the perky ears and the gene for the longer snoot, I added the Superior part with tongue in cheek. Wisdom did identify that he is 100% Lab.

By: Chuck Hird

Chuck Hird — Sun, 04 May 2025 18:12:57 +0000

My Lab is a superior Labrador. He meets all but 2 breed standers. The 2 he does not meet are he has a slightly longer snoot which allows for superior smelling ability and he has wrinkled ears which allows better hearing and healthier inner ears because being open allows more air getting into ear canal. All these points were discovered by genetic study by Wisdom. And Duke is a rescue dog and is one of the the best dogs we have ever had.

By: Marcia

Marcia — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 02:19:02 +0000

Hi Pippa, very nice explanation of breed standards. I want to make you aware of one significant difference. In the United States, the parent clubs write and own the Standard, NOT the kennel club. The parent club comprises 100s of breeders from around the country. They provide the Standard to the AKC, and the AKC then registers the dogs.
Thanks for a good article!

By: Sally B

Sally B — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 14:31:19 +0000

My puppy (5 months) is developing a bit of a wavy pattern just above his tail on his back. He’s from working stock and I intend to work him when he is old enough, however I’m wondering whether this would matter if I wanted to enter him into shows? The breed standard says no waving or feathering, but it’s only slight and the fur is otherwise short and dense.

By: Eleeanor

Eleeanor — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 21:18:12 +0000

In reply to Dave.

Hello.as an owner of a “European show labrador” just go for it. Every judge is different. Every show is different. My boy is either too large/ over weight or too muscular and too small, too large in head or not enough muzzle or not enough in the eye… blah blah. I have seen many variations, but personally believe that the “fit for purpose ” clause is too important to ignore. Labradors should look like they can work in the way they are meant to. Good luck.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 17:11:46 +0000

I’m going to “try” my field dog in some shows in the upcoming months. He’s a beautifully muscled yellow with no less than 7 NFC/AFC/NAFC titles in his lineage and lots more MH’s!
My girlfriend is a professional handler for other breeds and is going to help me as she also has seen the joke that the breed has become in the ring….a literal laughing stock of the show world.
I’ll post back what I assume will be negative results from the show world that, IMO are ruining our breed.

By: Pippa

Pippa — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 15:03:02 +0000

In reply to Rosie Featherstone. The dogs in the Gamekeeper's Class at Crufts are usually of working type. The judges will have the breed standard in mind though. Good luck if you decide to have a go :)

By: Rosie Featherstone

Rosie Featherstone — Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:04:08 +0000

I have a working fox coloured labrador who picks up regularly I am thinking of putting him in the Gamekeeper Class at Crufts fro working labs Do I have to hit the breed standards if he is to have any chance of winning he is probably a bit too long and a bit too narrow for the show classes

By: John Marshall

John Marshall — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 15:56:02 +0000

In reply to Tina. Not for a Lab.

By: Tina

Tina — Mon, 23 May 2016 02:06:23 +0000

My 1 year old chocolate Labrador has a curly tail? Is this normal?