Judging the Labrador Retriever: It’s Not as Easy as It Might Seem

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, October 2013 issue.

Judging the Labrador Retriever: It’s Not as Easy as It Might Seem

During my seminars on “Judging the Labrador Retriever,” a surprising number of participants comment that judging this breed is a challenge. They are particularly concerned with the concept of different styles within the breed. Entries in a class may have the essential characteristics that define Labrador Retriever breed (type), but they are not “cookie cutter” replicas. The defining features of type might come in different packages, or styles. Sometimes extreme variations in style can interfere with Labrador type characteristics. However, all the essential characteristics in the Breed Standard that define a Labrador must be present if an exhibit is worthy of an award in the conformation ring.

The Labrador is an exceptionally versatile breed that can perform numerous service dog jobs, from leading the blind to detecting bombs and narcotics; it is at home in virtually any climate and any situation and is the most popular family dog in the world. Such versatility often directs attention away from the Labrador’s primary function as a retriever. Yet, it is the breed’s history and character as a retriever that has allowed it to adapt so well to the modern world.

The Standard recognizes this versatility but also emphasizes that, from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail, the Labrador is designed to retrieve. The written Standard provides a clear description of the ideal Labrador Retriever and is the “bible” for judging the breed. It emphasizes the breed’s function as a water retriever par excellence.

The Standard also emphasizes that sound temperament is “a hallmark of the breed.” From its beginnings, the Labrador has been closely associated with humans. Its work as a fisherman’s dog and as a retriever demanded that the dog be trainable and cooperative. Early writers constantly used the terms “useful” and “sagacious” to describe the breed. There are numerous reasons why the Labrador has gained such extraordinary popularity as a retriever and a companion; none is more important than the breed’s consistently outstanding temperament. Labrador temperament requires that the dog be outgoing (but not out of control), friendly, and confident. The words the Standard uses to describe the ideal temperament are: kindly, adaptable, tractable, intelligent, gentle, and eager to please.

The Standard also provides a detailed physical description of a dog whose form (physical appearance) allows it to perform its primary function—retrieving, particularly in water or marsh. It uses words such as strong, powerful, and athletic to describe a medium-sized, efficient working retriever. While the dog is described as strong and powerful, nowhere does the Standard say the dog should be fat and cumbersome. The Labrador is a breed that, because of its genetic background, is prone to excessive weight in the overabundance of our modern world. Often one of the main problems with conformation dogs is that they carry excessive weight. However, the powerful build of a Labrador should not be confused with being too fat. Judges need to be cautious that their placements do not reward excess.

The Kennel Club in England has instituted a review of all breed standards with the guideline “Fit for Function; Fit for Life.” One breed singled out for attention is the Labrador, whose standard has been revised to read, “well-sprung ribs—this effect not to be produced by carrying excessive weight.” Another change is the inclusion of “very agile,” which precludes excessive body weight and substance. Sadly, this problem of excess is more than evident in North American Labradors.

While the question of excessive weight has been in the forefront of discussions about Labradors, the important and more contentious issue of excessive substance garners less attention. Are our Labradors too massive? Are we caught in that particularly modern mentality that bigger and more are always better? If a broad skull is good, isn’t a “bucket-head” even better? Isn’t a too short, thick tail more desirable than a tail that balances the dog? Isn’t more coat what we should aim for? Shouldn’t a Labrador have the shortest possible coupling?

Perhaps not!

An early writer (1833) on the Labrador, Peter Hawker, described the breed as “very fine in the legs.” This was, one must note, in comparison to the Newfoundland dog. Pictures of early Labradors show dogs that do not have excessive bone and substance. They are what I would call moderate, dogs that looked agile and athletic. Are we getting away from that moderation because breeders are producing dogs with more substance that severely lack agility and athleticism because that is what is rewarded in the conformation ring?

The Labrador Standard calls for a medium-sized dog that is “strongly built” with good bone and muscle. This is a far cry from the ponderous, massive dogs of extreme substance and bone that can be found in some conformation rings today. Too often, those who decry this situation are labeled as supporting the “generic dog” or advocating “field type.” However, there is a long distance between generic and medium, athletic, active, and strongly built. If judges are committed to maintaining breed type, focused on maintaining the integrity of the breed, and devoted to not betraying the history of the breed, should we not pay more attention to the form and function of the Labrador and less to rewarding a dog that is often an unfortunate caricature of what the breed was and should be?

The details of the Standard describe a dog that can work effectively in the harshest conditions. The Labrador’s head is ideal for the dog’s function—from the wide, well-developed nostrils needed to scent fallen game to the powerful muzzle essential to carrying heavy waterfowl and the ears that fit close to the head to keep out water and debris. The clean-cut, chiseled head is strong but without exaggeration. The medium-sized dark eyes reflect intelligence and good temper, with a kind and approachable expression. Those judging the Labrador should never tolerate any indications of shyness or bad temperament.

The Labrador’s body should be compact, with good spring of ribs, strong bone, a moderately wide chest, and a well, but not overly angled front and rear. The dog is clothed all around with a hard outer coat and soft undercoat that virtually sheds water. Indeed, the Labrador’s coat and unique “otter tail” are two of the breed’s “distinctive features.” The Labrador’s coat may be the bane of many households, where the breed’s heavy shedding is one of its few detractions. However, the coat is an essential element in the dog’s ability to perform its function and should be an important consideration when judging the breed.

While ‘fault judging’ can be the refuge of those who do not know the breed, judges should be aware that current areas of concern for breeders are poor front assemblies, weak toplines, rounded croups and low-set tails, too short legs, and faulty movement. These problems should be kept in mind when judging the Labrador.

Many Labrador breeders are frustrated by judges’ lack of knowledge about the breed, by the trend in Group judging to put up “hair” and “flash,” and by the Labrador’s lack of placement in Groups. The Labrador is the workingman of the Sporting Group. He lacks the glamorous flowing coat of some breeds and the flair and showmanship of others. His coordinated movement is typical of a breed whose work involves swimming and short bursts of speed rather than running over long distances. It lacks the tremendous reach and drive common to some breeds in the Group. However, any knowledgeable judge of the Labrador will focus on the breed’s function—on what it is designed to do, not on what it should possess to be a successful generic show dog. Exhibitors have the right to expect that judges know the standard for the breed and can make an educated decision between type and soundness in each breed.

There are some very good judges of Labradors, and many judges new to the breed are taking every opportunity to attend seminars and study groups on the breed, as well as attending specialties. The National Specialty, which rotates across the country and includes a Judges’ Study Group, provides such an opportunity. Additionally, numerous Labrador Retriever regional specialties held throughout North America offer judges the chance to see sufficient numbers of Labradors to become familiar with breed type. Breed experts, both domestic and foreign, often judge these specialties, providing a sounding board for evaluating one’s own judgments.

The Labrador Retriever is not an easy breed to judge. Those who wish to do service to the breed should approach judging with a firm understanding of the breed’s history, its function as a water retriever, and those characteristics emphasized in the Standard that make the Labrador a truly unique retriever. In the show ring, awards should never be given to shy or aggressive dogs. Judges should remember that this is a natural, balanced, unexaggerated breed whose presentation should reflect the dog’s ability to do an honest day’s work in a cold water environment. The Labrador should be strongly built, powerful, and athletic and should be neither cloddy nor weedy. A knowledgeable judge of the Labrador focuses on the breed’s function—on what it is designed to do, not on what it should possess to be a successful generic show dog.