Labrador Retrievers are gentle and friendly, making them very suitable as pet dogs. Labradors are easy to recognize, especially their very distinctive head features. Let’s learn about them together.

Labrador

　　The Labrador’s skull is broad; very clear but not exaggerated. The skull and muzzle lie on parallel planes, and are roughly equal in length. The stop is moderate, and the eyebrows slightly protrude, so the line from the head to the nose tip is not a perfect straight line. The brow ridge emphasizes the stop. The head lines are clear, the cheeks have little flesh, the bone lines of the head are distinct, and the outline below the eyes is defined but the cheeks are not prominent.

　　The head slightly shows a center line; the occipital protuberance in mature dogs is not prominent. The lips must not be square or drooping, but form a curve towards the throat. A wedge-shaped head, or a long narrow muzzle, or a coarse head with thick cheeks are all faults. The jaws are strong but not slender, and the muzzle is neither long and narrow nor short and thick. Nose leather: the nose leather is broad, with very well-developed nostrils.

　　The nose leather is black in yellow or black dogs, brown in chocolate dogs; fading of the nose leather to a lighter shade is not a defect. A completely pink nose leather or lack of any pigment on the nose leather is disqualifying. Teeth: the teeth are strong and even, with a scissors bite. A pincer bite is also acceptable but not ideal. Overshot or undershot bites or misaligned teeth are serious faults. A complete set of teeth is ideal; lack of molars or premolars is a serious fault.

　　Ears: hanging, moderately close to the head, positioned rather towards the rear, slightly lower than the top of the skull; slightly above the eye level. The ears must not be too large or heavy, but proportionate to the head, and when pulled forward, can extend to the inner corner of the eye.

　　Eyes: sharp, friendly eyes show good temperament; intelligence and alertness are typical of this breed. The eyes are medium-sized, set well apart, neither bulging nor too deep-set. The eye color is brown for black or yellow dogs; for chocolate dogs, it is brown or hazel. Black or yellow eyes produce a glaring expression and are undesirable. Small eyes, eyes set too close together, or round, bulging eyes are not typical for the breed. The eye rims are black in black or yellow Labradors, brown in chocolate Labradors. Lack of pigment in the eye rims is disqualifying.