The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions; the character and quality to win in the show ring; and the temperament to be a family companion.
Dogs should be 22½ to 24½ inches at the withers; bitches 21½ to 23½ inches. Dogs weighing 65 to 80 pounds; bitches 55 to 70 pounds. The approximate weight ranges are for dogs and bitches in working condition.
The skull should be wide; well developed but not exaggerated. The skull and foreface should be on parallel planes and of approximately equal length. There should be a moderate stop — the brow slightly pronounced so that the skull is not absolutely in a straight line with the nose.
The chest of good width and depth, with well-developed forechest; however, not so wide as to interfere with the efficient movement of the forelegs. The body must be of sufficient length to permit a straight, free and efficient stride; however, the dog should never appear low and long or tall and leggy in outline.
The coat is a distinctive feature of the Labrador Retriever. It should be short, straight, and very dense, giving a hard feeling to the hand. The coat should have a soft, weather-resistant undercoat that provides protection from water, cold, and all types of ground cover.
The coat is solid colored and may be black, yellow, or chocolate. Yellow may range from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate can vary from light sedge to dark chocolate. A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable.
Movement of the Labrador Retriever should be free and effortless. When watching a dog move toward oneself, there should be no sign of elbows out. Rather, the elbows should be held neatly to the body with the legs not too close together. Moving straight away, the rear legs should be neither too close together nor too far apart.
True Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the breed as the "otter" tail. The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive towards man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog.