Frequently Asked Questions: The Labrador Retriever

I think the country has forgotten, or rather, never learned what a Labrador Retriever is supposed to look like.
You would think that the #1 breed in the USA would be more recognizable.
There are a few speculations I have as to why very few people can recognize a well bred Labrador.

Andy gets a lot of funny comments when we're out volunteering.
The usual ones are:
"What's he mixed with?"
"He is an English Lab!"
"Why haven't you neutered him?"
"Why is he so big?"
"Are you sure he isn't mixed with a bully?"

 Firstly, pretty much every dog over 40 lbs in a rescue or shelter situation is labeled a "lab mix" or purebred lab if it isn't already labeled pit. However incorrect those labels may be, the vast spectrum of what people are seeing and calling "Labrador" has distorted the correct image to the general public.

Second, when a breed is very popular, it unfortunately makes room for irresponsible breeders that do not do health clearances or strive to achieve the written breed standard.  The Labs created from poor breeding standards are often tall, thin, have a tail that lifts high off their back or curls, are lacking the correct double coat, and exhibit other structural faults (I'll have to dive into health concerns at a different time. That is it's own post... or two).

That being said, there are healthy Labradors out there that may not look like the standard. For example, guide dogs or other service dogs typically have the thinner and taller look. These dogs have been bred and raised for a different job than what the breed standard describes. They have also been spayed/neutered at a young age which prevents the hormones to finish "filling out" their structure. However, many Labrador conformation breeders donate puppies or sperm collections to service dog organizations.

I use Andy as an example. I know his structure, coat, movement, and temperament first hand. He is a Grand Champion, but he is also 10 years old now.  I would encourage you to look up top ranking Labrador Retrievers to compare their similarities and differences. You'll find that while each dog is an individual, they are all correct in the right ways to perform their original job.

So, here we go! A crash course in the FAQ of the Labrador Retriever:

What was the original purpose of the Labrador Retriever?
Labs are lovingly referred to as the Gentleman's Gun Dog. Their sweet and attentive temperament kept them with their owner instead of out with the other dogs while they were out on a hunt. Sometimes the only time the Lab would leave their owner's side was to go retrieve the bird that was just shot.  They are not a running breed. Smooth and efficient movement is still important in this sporting breed, but the Labrador Retriever is not a track star and they are not built like one. Think of the Labrador like a boat. Their tail should come straight off the back of their top line to hit the water like a rudder.Their feet are webbed and their front parts the cold water to keep their swimming efficient. Their double layer coat keeps them warm and dry.  The Labrador is smart, kind, loyal, and instinctual.

For a great explanation of the standard and origin, check out this article.


Why are show Labs fat?
Well, they usually aren't. You cannot truly know the makeup of a dog's structure without laying your hands on them. Double coats, muscle, and structure play into this "fat" misunderstanding. Labradors are supposed to be a bit longer than they are tall. They need their double coat to keep warm and dry while retrieving birds in the cold and wet. The standard also calls for little to no "tuck up". I think a big misconception is that no tuck up = no waist line and therefore, fat. For those of you wondering what a tuck up is; it is past the rib cage and just about where that tummy skin starts heading for the hind leg.

Can show Labs actually do their original job?
Yes. Many conformation Labradors have hunting titles and/or training. The whole reason responsible breeders conform to the standard is because performance is made possible by correct structure. Andy runs out in the yard and looks up at the sky for falling birds whenever we hear fireworks.

English Lab or American Lab?
Okay. This one gets me every time. Andy gets called an "English Lab" often. His pedigree is completely American. English and American are terms coined to describe the different looks of purebred Labradors. They are not different breeds. The "English Lab" type is typically more accurate to the American standard as well as other kennel club standards. Conformation show dogs are often the dogs people call "English Labs". Conformation show dogs are not spayed or neutered. A Labrador is a Labrador. The only difference is in pedigree and honor to the standard. So once again, there is no such thing as  American or English Labrador breeds. They are all just Labrador Retrievers.

What colors do Labrador Retrievers come in?
This is very very important. Please listen carefully.
Labrador Retrievers come in ONLY 3 colors: Black, Yellow, and Chocolate. 
Black should be solid black. A small patch of white on the chest is not ideal, but also not a disqualification.
The color yellow can range from "fox red" to almost a white creme color. There are no white labs or orange labs. All shades are still considered yellow.
Chocolate should be a solid rich shade of brown.
Responsible breeders will do genetic tests to see what colors their dogs may be carrying before a litter is bred. For example, a black lab could be a carrier (meaning they could produce puppies of these colors) of only black, black and yellow, black and chocolate, or black yellow and chocolate. There are certain combinations to avoid which is why the tests are so important. Another day and another post can be used to go into deeper explanation of the genetics of coat color.

There are individuals out there that will try to tell you that silver or other "rare" colors are the result of special and unique dilute genes. Do not fall for it. These breeders will falsely register these dilute dogs as chocolate with the AKC. To spare the genetics lesson today, the short story is that Weimaraners were added to these kennel's special gene pools generations back and they continue breeding for the dilute (dd) gene to market them as purebred Labradors for ridiculous prices.

Do labs shed?
Yes. A lot. In my experience, yellows seem to shed the most!

Why is my Lab so hyper? I got a Lab because I wanted a well behaved easy dog.
All dogs need training! Behavior is a mix of upbringing and genetics. Some dogs will need more work than others. Dogs are not only products of their environment. Generations of genetics play into their instinct and behavior. That is why pointers point and collies herd. Their behaviors can be fine tuned and adjusted with training and care, but that raw deep genetic influence will always be there. A well bred Labrador will be a loving companion, but some are more high strung than others.
If you are looking for a Labrador puppy of a certain personality, make that clear to the breeder. Good breeders will often pick out your puppy for you. They know their lines well and can better predict which puppy might be right for your family and lifestyle.


Do you have a question about the Labrador Retriever? Leave it in the comments below!

The Difference Between Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals, and Therapy Dogs

While I am out volunteering with Andy as a therapy dog team, we often get questions from people about where they can find a service or emotional support dog for someone they love. 
I spend a lot of time explaining that there is a huge difference between what Andy and I do and what they are looking for. 

Andy with his English Setter friends Tru and Eve
 at CSUN's Special Needs Resource Fair 2016

Therapy dogs are pets first. They have gone through a difficult testing and registration process to be insured by an organization. Their temperament must be reliably easy going and pleasant around different noises, animals, and people.  Therapy dogs do not provide a service for their owner; instead they provide comfort and joy to all types of people from nervous airport passengers to hospital patients.  A therapy dog team is 100% volunteer. To become a therapy dog team, the owner must pay for yearly dues and other fees associated with testing and registration. Therapy dogs may only go where they are invited and are not exceptions to animal free housing. Andy and I are members of Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Ready to go to our first visit at the Ronald McDonald House! 2016

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are not required to have any training. These animals can help their owners with anxiety, stress, or other psychological issues. ESAs are NOT service animals under title II and III of ADA. A doctor must decide that this animal is needed for the mental health of their patient. Under the Fair Housing Act ESA are allowed to live with their owners in a residence with a no pets policy, however, ESA are not permitted to be taken to all establishments. 

Service dogs include guide dogs, hearing or signal dogs, sensory signal dogs, psychiatric service dogs, and seizure response dogs. These dogs are protected under ADA to be with their handlers in all establishments at all times. Service dogs undergo extensive training to provide support specifically for their designated person and their disability. These are the dogs you may see with vests that say "Don't Pet Me". Please respect that wish and do not distract a service dog. You could be putting their handler's life at risk.



This is the part where I beg that you do not abuse the system and falsely claim that your dog is a service animal. 
Service dogs are in a way, medical equipment for their owners. Their human needs them to live as independently as possible and stay healthy and safe. Please do not disrespect and diminish the hard work and dedication that continuously goes into each service dog because you hate leaving Fluffy home alone. 


Regardless of what your animal may be classified as, all animals are still required to follow vaccination and licensing laws. Be sure that your pet is up to date! 

10 Tips for Junior Handlers

My childhood was enriched by showing in junior showmanship and my adulthood was shaped off of the lessons I learned through junior showmanship. I am eternally thankful for the junior handler program through the AKC.

When I was active in Juniors I qualified for Westminster and the Eukanuba Classic each year, but due to life outside of dog shows I never got a chance to go and compete. In 2004 I was the #1 Junior Handler for German Shorthaired Pointers in the USA. Now at 26 years old, I'm excited that I get to partake in Juniors once again by judging. 

I get misty eyed when I watch junior handlers now. It touches my heart to watch young individuals work so hard with their dog and partake in this hobby that creates a unique and wonderful bond with their pet. 

Through my years of handling, I have learned a few techniques that can really improve performance. Here are my top ten tips! 

This article is dedicated to Carol, Alice, Nancy, and my Mom for their love, support, and education in the dog world. I wouldn't be anything without you.

Eukanuba Classic Junior Showmanship with "Becky"
 CH Imagine-ation Runs Wild JH
2003? 2004?

1. Be Prepared and On Time

First thing is first! Make sure you are there and ready. 

Know your number before you go to pick it up from the ring steward. Entering the ring frazzled will cloud your head and distract you from your dog. 

Being on time means arriving for your class early with all of the ringside tools you might need. Make a checklist if you need to. What is the weather like? You might need the cool coat and spray bottle. Do you have enough bait? What about that squeaky toy? Once you get this down to a science your ring experience will be much more relaxed. 

2. Don't Look for Mom

Parents are great. They let you do this. They probably taught you how to show dogs in the first place. Go give your parents a big hug and say thank you.

I'm asking that you do this now because they can't save you when you're actually IN the ring. I see this mostly in the novice classes and it bums me out that these awesome little handlers aren't trusting themselves in the ring. 

If you're not feeling confident yet, watch the more advanced classes. Take notes and learn from your peers. Look for handling classes in your area! Many show catalogs will have a list.

From a judge's perspective, we notice when you're looking outside the ring. We notice when you get frustrated. Handling your dog is a special time you get to have with them so don't let outside interferences tarnish it. Getting upset and splitting your focus will make matters worse. The only person that can save your showmanship is you!

Parents... please let your children do their thing. Your confidence in your child will build confidence in them. If your child has fun, learns, wins, or loses, the entry was not wasted. Supportive critiques can be talked about after junior showmanship judging has come to a close. 

Trust yourself, junior handler! You have a wonderful companion at your side! You've got this.

3. Disappear

Junior showmanship is a special conformation class that judges how the handler shows their breed appropriately to the written standard. The conformation of the dog is not judged, but the correctness of their presentation by the junior handler is. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is to show your dog like you aren't even there. 

What does this mean? 

No unnecessary movements. Don't be waving your arm around with bait and switching positions around your stacked dog when they're standing like a perfect statue and don't require it. Demand attention to your dog, not you. Busy hands draw attention for the wrong reason. Clean, precise, and well thought out handling is a very advanced skill that should be rewarded.

I know how nerve racking juniors can be. Trust me. I know. Fidgeting might feel like you're showing how badly you want that win, but it is an even stronger skill to release that energy into enjoying the moment. I want to see you love and present your dog in a way that shows them in their best light. Getting up, kneeling back down, waving your arm around, and throwing bait does not do that when they're already holding a perfect stack. 

That being said, if your silly pooch is distracted or not listening, do what you need to do to get them to stack and move well. We can tell the difference and I know you can, too!

4. Smooth Movement

The way a handler moves their dog says a lot about their abilities. While we dive into this tip, keep my perspective on clean handling in mind. 

Get to know your dog. Do they need a little turn before the down and back or can you go straight from a stack into the movement pattern? 

Make sure you've adjusted their collar to being right up under their jaw. Some breeds/handlers prefer the lead to come off the top and some prefer the lead to come out from under the right side. Either is fine. 

Take your time. You don't need to rush into your movement pattern the second the judge instructs you. Take a breath, look at your dog, and get your lead held nice and neat. 

Make sure the dog is going straight out from the judge. They don't need to see your gait so show them your dog's. Line your dog up with the judge so they do not have to move to see them. When you get to the corner and turn, look at the judge to make sure your dog is lined back up (they may have moved to test you). It is okay to stop for a moment and take a breath to do this. 

Keep your dog on the mats if you are indoors! We want all humans and dogs to be safe. Wear shoes with good traction so if you need to run off the side of the mat to keep your dog safe, you won't slip either.

When moving, you have THREE places to look: where you're going, your dog, and the judge. Split your attention between these points. 

5. Be Polite

Junior Showmanship is about sportsmanship. YOU are the future of this sport. Think about the kind of community you want to compete in 20, 40 years down the line. Be a good example by being a gracious winner and loser. You can't win them all. I promise. Give your congratulations and look out for your fellow competitors. Use your "please" and "thank yous". Take care of each other and be supportive.

6. Be Aware

Safety is the top priority. While there are precautions in place to keep the show and the junior ring as safe as possible, you have the responsibility of being aware of your surroundings.

 Keep a close eye on your dog to make sure they aren't getting too close to another dog. Is another dog coming too close for comfort? You may not notice these things if you aren't paying attention.

 How fast is the dog in front of you going? If you need to move fast give that little dog in front of you plenty of room before you take off. 

What is on the ground in front of you? It might be a courteous gesture to move that left behind treat or stick out of the ring for the safety of you and your fellow competitors. 

7. Keep it Functional

When I try to explain to people why we dress up for dog shows, I use the parallel of dressing up to see a play. When you attend a live theatre production, you dress up as an audience member out of respect. You aren't the one on stage, you don't have anyone to impress, but your attire and effort commend the work of the performers and crew. 

As handlers, we aren't the ones being judged, our dogs are, but we still dress presentable for the occasion. As a junior handler, your handling is being judged. Please understand that you don't need to go out and buy an expensive outfit. The key to your outfit is that it needs to be functional. If your skirt is too long you run the risk of tripping. If your hair is in your face, it could be distracting. Do your shoes have enough traction? I will not judge you on your outfit. However, keep in mind that an outfit that is not functional or well prepared can impact your handling. 

8. It is Okay to Ask

Sometimes judges do not give clear instructions. Sometimes you just didn't quite hear them. Maybe your judge speaks a different language. 

It is okay to ask for your judge to repeat or clarify their instruction. However, this is all leaning on the understanding that the way you ask is everything! Trade out a "huh" or "what" for "I'm sorry. I did not hear you" or "Could you please repeat that?". It is better to ask and do it right than assume you understood and do it wrong.

If you have a special need, please inform the ring steward. If you are Deaf or hard of hearing, hopefully your judge will either use ASL or very clear gestures. If you need a special step stool or another piece of adaptive equipment, informing ahead of time will help the ring procedure run smoothly. These are not circumstances anyone should be embarrassed about. The dog fancy is for people of all walks of life and all abilities. I can only hope every judge and ring steward will be helpful to you.

9. Mistakes Happen

I've slipped on wet grass (multiple times in the same class), fell flat on my face in a gopher hole, had my shoe fly off and across the ring during my go around, and bumped heads with judges during examination (this happened in my junior days and actually happened last weekend, too). My very first show at 10 years old I went around the ring the wrong way. 

Here is the secret: It is all how you handle it. You're a handler, remember? From the days I made those mistakes, I still went BJH or won my class. 

Don't die of embarrassment! Keep going! When you fall (literally and/or figuratively) you have to get right back up again. Take a deep breath and refocus yourself. You're too great to let a little thing like that ruin your day.

Apologize if you bump heads, make sure your dog is okay if you slip and fall and then keep going (if you're not too hurt), and if your shoe flies across the ring keep going, do your free stack and then wait for the judge to say it is okay for you to go get your shoe (that's what I did at least).

10.  Smile

Okay. I know this one probably seems cheesy (no pun intended). I'll have you know that I won a few BJH with tough competition because I was the only one that smiled! I'm not talking about a fake synchronized swimmer smile. Show your judge that you love this sport and that you love your dog. A smile here and there won't hurt. Be genuine! 

It's a dog show. We are so privileged to have this experience with our animals.  Enjoy it! 

Michelle and her family's first dog "Morsel"
circa 1994