Which type of labrador

In some breeds of gundog the working type and the show type have become so different that they do not look as though they belong to the same breed.

Whilst the Labrador retriever has not yet become ‘split’ to quite the same degree as the cocker spaniel for example, the divide between working and show types is now quite pronounced.

Just wondering which type of Labrador members of this forum prefer: the stocky heavier show dogs with their squarer head and thick otter tails, or the lean and racy 'working type' with their more sensitive nature?

(I do appreciate that these are generalisations and that not everyone's working (or show) lab will fit the above stereotypes )

Pippa

 

Re: Which type of labrador

Should prove a lively thread!

I think they're all gorgeous with merits on both sides, although I don't like to see them so square and chunky they look like tables which is all too common with the show type sadly.

 

Re: Which type of labrador

That made me smile! And I agree. However....

I love my field bred labs, but, I do think that it would be nice if more working stock breeders paid more attention to conformation. And I admit to being at fault here myself.

My youngest lab, bless her, is known in our house as Jar Jar Binks because of her oversized long dangly ears. I bred her myself from my older pretty bitch and paid attention to health, temperament, and working ability when chosing a sire. I didn't give much thought to conformation and perhaps I should have.

People often ask me what she is, and to be honest I don't blame them. She has a whippy tail which is carried too high, and her eyes are too close together. I see a lot of working dogs that look just like her, and I know many working breeders are not worried about appearance, but I personally think that is a shame.

Pippa

 

Re: Which type of labrador

This is a subject being discussed within other Working Breeds, they too differ so much. Personally I can see both sides of the issue, "however fit for purpose" is the crucial consideration. It is ok having a lovely looking Dog (confirmation), but can they fulfill the role they have been Bred for?

Personally I want a Dog/Bitch that has been bred from proven working ability, these are the ones that I feel will have least issues throughout their lives and would think more likely to have the temperament/trainability.

These are just my opinions and fully understand that each to their own.

Paul.

 

Re: Which type of labrador

I think I am one of the few breeders coming from the working side who also brings conformation into the mix. There are far more on the show side who will bring in some working blood.

It started out mainly just my preference to have a good looking dog sitting beside me, and coming from a background with Weimaraners who I took to shows and worked, and culminated in my homebred 2nd generation bitch getting a 2nd in the Gamekeepers Ring at Crufts this year.

 

Re: Which type of labrador

If that is Spice Jill, I think she is absolutely beautiful. Just the type of bitch I like.

What is and is not beautiful, is terribly subjective of course. My own working cockers for example, are to my eyes far more beautiful than the show type with their exaggerated ears and hanging jowls. Conformation wise, I do not think working cockers could be improved upon very much if at all, whereas I do believe that the show cocker breeders have shown some disregard for fitness for function in these animals, with their impractically long ears, and loose eyelids.

However, with labs, I think it is some of the working breeders that have departed too far from the breed standard, and I definitely think we are sacrificing some of the original beauty of the Labrador retriever in some (not all) of our modern working dogs.

Pippa

 

Re: Which type of labrador

I agree with Paul that we should not sacrifice working ability in favour of looks.

I do though sincerely believe that we could pay more attention to the appearance of our working labs without losing ability in the process. I would not be at all sorry to see a conformation certificate of some kind being required for our working labs before being awarded a FTCH title for example, as is done in some other countries.

I am not suggesting that our working labs be required to look like show labs, but that they should at least be recognisable as Labradors!

Pippa

 

Re: Which type of labrador

Well I have only owned on Labrador. She is from 100% working stock and is also small for breed. I'm completely biased of course, but I think she would win prettiest bitch competitons hands down! I prefer the look of the working labs to the show ones. I also like the way she lives to retrieve and is full of get up and go. At just under 2 years old she's still just a pup of course. I'll put a pic on my profile when I can figure out how to do it.

 

Re: Which type of labrador

Slightly off topic but on the topic of conformation I recently heard a dog described as "cow hocked" what does this mean?

 

Re: Which type of labrador

As I understand it, this means that the hocks are too close together which in turn makes the back feet splay outwards in a kind of 'frog like' position. Great for swimming breastroke but not pretty in a dog!

 

Re: Which type of labrador

Hi Caroleb,

Pippa is correct in her explanation and you can also have "bow hocks", opposite to cow hocks, breed people say that this is a fault because the dog dosent/hasent got the correct amount of drive or power from behind.

Not as though breed type ever need to use this, but confirmationally incorrect.

Paul.

 

Re: Which type of labrador

Hi Pippa,

Interesting feature in this weeks Shooting Times Re "Labradors with Stature", would be interested to hear what shooting people think about this.

Just for those who do not subscribe, the article is basically about a Breeder who is trying to keep the heavier set Labrador. Must admit the Photos of his Dogs do look good.

Regards,
Paul.