I dunno why the 'judge' would single out her rump. Looks fine to me and in balance with the rest of her. So she doesn't look like The Incredible Hulk. She's not supposed to - she's a working line dog. In that last pic it doesn't look like she has a lack of rear end power to me. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Thank you all, I needed a sanity check so appreciate your views & advice. I don't normally take much notice as I know I'm taking home my number one friend but would hate to think I had missed something that other people can see
Blimey , she looks great to my unqualified eyes ! In fact she looks quite like my working lines boy who is 40 kilos but lean and muscular . As Rachael says , working lines don't tend to be bulky , more lean , I don't think you have anything to worry about at all x
She looks perfect and very much fit for purpose. Love her rich shiny chocolate coat, and nowt wrong with back end in the last photo!
Thanks Beanwood she's definitely in the dark chocolate confectionery section lol. This forum is great for putting things into perspective She's my first labrador so I'm always looking in here for advice (wanted a lab for an age) have to say I'm hooked, what a wonderful breed, totally besotted I'm like a big kid when I see one lol I have to give them all a fuss Mollie must get so embarrassed Lol
She looks good to me Unfortunately some dog trainers / judges aren't actually qualified to comment on things like this, and it seems this is the case for this woman.
Great photos and I'm glad others have chimed in to reassure you. It seems so subjective what judges/trainers like to see anyway. The whole show thing seems a bit crazy-making! I've been going to shows for about a year now just to educate myself on Labs and to me (compared to what I'm used to) show Labs still look a bit too....er..."well-padded" (lol) while the photos I see here on the forum seem more "normal". So maybe it's all in the eye of the beholder!
I have read here on the forum that walking uphill on leash is good for strengthening the back end. I guess different muscles are working than those used when running uphill. Not to say your girl needs strengthening -- I am no expert here -- but just chiming in on the walking part. My boy needs attention to his back (slipped disc) and I walk up him uphill every day on leash (I have no option, we live on a mountainside!), and I must say, I feel the muscles working in my own back and glutes while walking uphill. I don't know whether running would be any different, although sometimes it does feel less effort to run uphill -- I know, sounds counterintuitive, but the bounce forward (from running) seems to override having to use my back and glute muscles to pull me uphill, and I'm guessing I'm using more of my calves and thighs when running uphill.
Unless you are planing to show her, I would not worry much about what a judge said. As long as she is sound and moves well why do anything. Cooper is too tall, and her butt is taller than her shoulders, but who cares. She is very fast and very athletic.
