The breed standard of the Labrador Retriever is not based on any actual dog. It is a theoretical ideal that no dog will likely ever reach. This breed standard is used to not only help dog show judges pick a winner in the ring, but can help you identify a Lab or Labrador cross breed in your local animal shelter. Labrador genes tend to be dominant when they mix with nearly every other breed. Knowing your rescue dog is a Labrador or part Lab can help you take care of him better.



A breed standard is a description of the perfect specimen of a particular breed, as agreed on by the reigning breed club. This breed standard is based on an ideal dog, not on any actual dog. No Lab can live up to all of the requirements of the breed standard. You can find a copy of the Labrador Retriever breed standard on any Labrador information website, book or even from good breeders.

A Labrador's head looks very much like a blunt version of most other dogs. On a profile, their heads look like a big oval attached to a square (the square being the muzzle). Their tongues are always pink and sometimes their noses are, too, even though the breed standard frowns on pink noses.

Their eyes are shades of brown. Yellow and black eyes can appear, but are also frowned on in the show ring. They usually seem like they are smiling. They have a characteristic loving gaze upon anyone they look at. Their teeth should meet in a scissors bite.

All Labrador information agrees that Labs are generally blocky dogs, with a square-ish head, a level backbone and strong, thick limbs. They should not have a body built like a Boxer - although this sometimes happens in purebred Labs.

Their ears are floppy but do not hug the head, so they get proper circulation. Their heads tend to be blocky, and their tongues are usually pink.

Crossing Golden and Labrador Retrievers is very popular, so you may come across this in a shelter. In England, they are the dog of choice for the blind. The breed standard also gives importance to the Labrador's temperament. They are to be friendly, affectionate and agreeable.