The Labrador Retriever is a sturdy, structured, medium-sized dog with short joints. Its healthy, stable structure allows it to be a gun-hunting dog that retrieves prey. Its physique and sturdy construction will enable it to work long hours in harsh conditions, hunting waterfowl or hilly areas like this. Traits and qualities are crucial to its success in competition, and its temperament lends itself to being a family companion. Here’s how to pick a great Labrador!
1. Head.
The top of the head is expansive, making the head look quite large. The forehead segment should be prominent, the head should be well-defined, and the jaw should be long and firm but not overly long. The nose should be broad and the nostrils should appear wider. The teeth should be solid and neat in a horizontal or scissor bite. The ears hang moderately on the sides of the head and are somewhat backward, with a low hanging but not heavy feel. The eyes are medium-sized and look and feel understanding in demeanor, giving a brilliant and gentle feeling, and can be brown, yellow, or black.
2. The body.
The Labrador Retriever has a short joint. The chest should not be so narrow that it appears empty between the front legs, nor should the chest be so broad that it seems like a pit bull’s forequarters. The correct chest configuration is slightly thinner between the front legs, allowing the front legs to move freely. The curve of the underbelly of the adult dog is almost straight or lifted somewhat. The loin is short, broad, robust, plump, and powerful, extending to well-developed and powerful hindquarters. When viewed from the side, the Labrador Retriever has a very well-developed, but not exaggerated, forecast.
3. The foot claws.
Sturdy and compact, with rounded arching toes and well-developed foot pads. Wolf paws can be removed. Open paws, rabbit feet, protruding joints, or paws bent inward or turned outward are severe defects.
4. Front legs.
She is observed from the front, the front legs straight, with strong bones. Too much bone or too little is not necessary. Regarded from the side, the elbow is located just below the horse’s shoulder rung, the foreleg is perpendicular to the ground and in the proper position under the torso. The elbow is close to the rib cage and shows no laxity. The joints are strong and short and appear slightly angled about the vertical legs.
5. Hindquarters.
The Labrador Retriever has broad, muscular hindquarters, well-defined from the hips to the fly joints, well-turned knees, and short, strong fly joints. From the rear, the hind legs are straight and parallel to each other. When viewed from the side, the angle of the hindquarters is in harmony with the forequarters. The bones and muscles of the hind legs are strong and the knee joints are moderately angled. The knee joint is strong and does not slide when moving or standing. The fly joint is solid and low and does not slide or hyperextend during movement or standing. Knees and fly joints are angled to an optimal position to balance propulsion and traction well. When standing, the hind limb toes are slightly further back than the hips.
6. The coat.
The Labrador Retriever has a distinctive coat. The coat is short, straight and very dense, and when touched, it gives the fingers a rather hard feeling. The Labrador Retriever has a soft undercoat that can withstand harsh weather. A slightly wavy coat on the back is allowed.
7. Hair color.
Hair color has three black, yellow, and chocolate, respectively defined as follows.
Black: the whole body is black if a small piece of white hair on the chest is allowed.
Yellow: the yellow coat can range from reddish brown to light cream, mixed in the ears and lower hair or tail lining hair.
Chocolate: mixed with light chocolate to dark chocolate color is allowed, and a small patch of white hair on the chest is allowed.
8. Tail.
The tail is a unique feature of the species. It is very thick at the root and tapers toward the tip. Medium in length, the length cannot extend beyond the fly joint. The tail is not feathered and is surrounded by a thick, short, dense coat of Labrador Retriever hair, resulting in a peculiar rounded appearance, described as the “otter” tail. The tail is an extension of the dorsal line at rest or during exercise. It may be held gaily but not curled behind. The bottom is harmonious with the whole, forming a flowing curve from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
Dietary considerations.
Choose the puppy of your choice. During the puppy period, the dog’s stomach is weak, should choose some easy-to-digest food, special milk powder, thin rice, or softened dog food, bones, and meat for a small amount of feeding.
At the same time, Lala prefers to be “around the table,” but do not feed it human food; human food oil and salt are not suitable for it; you can select some high-quality natural food, recommend cheap wild dog food, and then with some fresh fruits and vegetables so that it can give it a rich nutritional composition!
Conclusion: After reading so much about your selection, I do not know whether there is help. The selection method is only to provide you with reference, each dog more or less has some shortcomings, the most important thing is that you like, wish you can select the desired Labrador!
