The first breed's standard was drafted in 1916 and remained unchanged until 1950, when it was slightly modified. The FCI standard in force at present, was drafted in 1989, year of its last revision. The American Kennel Club applies a slightly different standard of the FCI one, and was drafted in 1994.
The Labrador is a hunting, rustic, polyvalent dog, extremely devoted to his master, with an excellent personality, sweet, eager to work and please. Loves water and swimming is important for his equilibrium. Sweet with the family, it doesn't bear loneliness. Is patient with kids. For his nature, he will never be a watchdog.
8th Group - Gundogs, tracking dogs, water dogs
FCI Standard no.122 (1989)
Origin: Great Britain

The Retriever Labrador is a sturdy and solid dog, very active. The skull is big; the chest is large and the thorax deep; the loins and the rear quarters are large and strong.

Very agile and of good nature. His sense of smell is excellent, the mouth is soft. Lover of water. Adaptable and affectionate companion.

Intelligent, enthusiastic and mild. Eager to please. Of good nature, with no trace of aggressiveness or of excessive shyness.

Large skull with a defined stop. Head is nicely shaped, lean, without chubby cheeks. Medium length jaws, strong and not pointed. Large muzzle, with well developed nostrils.

Of medium size that express intelligence and a good nature, brown or hazel.

Neither large nor heavy, set high, that hang near the head.

Strong jaws and teeth, with a perfect, regular and complete scissors bite: upper incisors just overlap lower incisors, such that the rear surface of the upper incisors touches the outer surface of the lower incisors. The teeth are perpendicular to the mandible.

With a nice line, strong, powerful, inserted into well construed shoulders.

Long and slanted shoulders. Forelegs with good bone structure, straight from the elbow to the earth, seen either from the front or by the side.

Round, sturdy with nicely curved fingers with well developed pads.

Round, compact with well arched toes and well-developed pads.

Well developed, not inclined towards the tail; well bended knee, well let-down hocks. Cow-hocks are undesirable.

It is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed. Very big near the join, it thins out gradually towards the point, it is of medium length, without fringes but covered with short hair, thick and dense, that gives it that typical round aspect (otter tail). It can be shaken happily but it never has to be curled on the back.

Easy, with an adequately long reach; straight and parallel limbs, seen either from the front or the back.

It is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed. Thick and short hair, without fringes or curling, quite hard at the touch; undercoat resistant to bad weather.

Totally black, yellow or chocolate brown. The yellow varies from a light cream to a fox red. A small white spot on the chest is permitted.

The ideal height at the withers is of 56-57 cm for males and 54-56 cm for females.

Every deviation from the standard is to be considered a defect, which is penalized according to gravity.

The males have to have two testicles of normal aspect, well let-down in the scrotum.