The overall general appearance of the Labrador should be one of a sturdily build and short-coupled active dog. It's friendly and gentle nature can be seen in the dog's relaxed manner and constant wagging tail.

The average lifespan of this breed is around 13 years. Height varies from 22.5 inches to 25 inches for dogs, and 22 to 23 inches for females. Weight ranges from 25 kilograms to 36 kilograms depending on whether they are working line or pet line, well-exercised and well-fed.

Head: The skull is broad with a pronounced stop and a fairly wide muzzle. The head is well set on a clean and muscular neck.

Eyes: The eyes are well set and of medium size with dark rims coloured brown or hazel. Black eyes are rarely seen in Labradors. Some breeders are of the opinion that black eyes and a stubborn nature go hand in hand. The expression should express the dog's intelligence and even temper. Eyes should not protrude as bulging eyes puts the dog at risk from damage when working in thick undergrowth.

Ears: The ears should not be too large or heavy but should lie set back to the head. Ears hanging forward will hinder the dog from picking up game effectively. The floppy ears protect from dirt and debris entering the ear canal.

Nose: Wide nose with well developed nostrils. Generally black though with yellow Labs the colour may change with age and take on a pinkish hue. This is called a 'snow' or 'winter' nose. The muzzle should be of a good length to enable the dog to carry game even heavier hares and rabbits.

Mouth: The Labrador has a scissor bite (the lower teeth fit just inside the upper) and the mouth should lie square to the jaw.

Neck: Appears strong and powerful set into well placed shoulders.

Body: The Labrador has a short coupled body (i.e. the spine is not overly long) a deep, broad chest with well sprung ribs. The Labradors body should be as long from the withers to the tail as it is from the ground to the withers. A level topline goes into strong loins with well turned stifles. The hindquarters are well developed and do not slope to the tail. The hocks are slightly bent. The angulations of the legs are designed so that when jumping the upper joints can concertina downwards which protects the bones from impact stress.

Feet: The feet are round and compact with well arched toes and webbed to assist in swimming. Deep snow and ice do not get caught up in the Labradors feet enabling the dog to work in the harshest of weather conditions.

Tail: This should be carried high, thick at the base and thinning to the tip. The Labradors tail is described as an "otter" tail as it assists in the dogs awesome swimming abilities.

Coat: The early Labradors were almost entirely black sometimes with white patches on the chest legs and feet. Today's Labrador comes in three colours, black, yellow, (this can range from pale cream through to rich foxy red) and chocolate or liver. All three colours can occur in one single litter as each Labrador carries multiple genes. The harsh coat is short, dense and flat with a soft, weather resistant undercoat. The Labradors coat needs little grooming except when moulting. Bathing is also unnecessary as the coat contains oils that repel dirt.

Temperament: Despite being a tough working dog full of energy, the Labrador Retriever is the most kind and gentle of dogs with no aggressive tendencies. This is not a guard dog and would probably greet a prowler with a wide grin and a wagging tail. The most that can be said for their guarding abilities is that they may bark a warning. The Labrador Retriever is playful, lovable and patient around children. They show a desire to please their family and love being stroked and fussed over.

Exercise: Labradors are high energy, active dogs that require both mental and physical exercise on a daily basis. Labs are hard wired to retrieve game over land and water and even though they are now a firm favourite as a family poet they still need an outlet for their abundant energy. They will play fetch endlessly or climb mountains with you. They will accompany walkers, joggers, cyclists and will swim enthusiastically in any body of water. Labradors also do well in canine sports such as agility or flyball. A well exercised Lab will be content to sleep all day while the family is out. Lack of exercise creates boredom which leads to them being destructive and stubborn. Many Labs end up in rescue shelters because their owners have not understood the animal's physical needs. Training should play a large part of the exercise session finishing with plenty of playtime.

Character: These dogs are friendly, gentle, versatile, agile, hard working, energetic, playful loyal and willing to learn. The Labrador Retriever can learn hundreds of words or commands so it is easy to see why they have been voted the most popular dog worldwide. They are late to mature and retain puppy like behaviour for anything up to three years. Labrador puppies are famous for mouthing and will constantly nip at fingers or clothing. They need firm training to overcome this. So laid back is this breed that a potential owner may be fooled into thinking that the dog/human relationship needs little input from the owner. This is definitely not the case! As Mary Feazell, a Labrador lover and dog trainer says, 95% of the adult dog depends on its owner and only 5% on the dog itself. Mary Feazell says: "Being realistic, Labs swim well, but they can't walk on water"

The physical appearance of the dog or indeed most of the gundog breeds shows breeding for purpose. As with many of the sporting breeds, the Labrador Retriever has split into two distinct groups, the field and the show types. The differences between the two types are significant so much so that in America the field type is mistakenly called 'American' and the show type 'English'. Those dogs bred for their natural retrieving abilities and an instinctive desire to work are named 'Field Labradors. Generally Field Labradors are longer legged, have narrower heads and longer muzzles. The 'Show' dogs have been specifically bred to conform to a particular physical standard and character laid down by the leading kennel clubs.

This is a dog that loves just about everything and will happily live alongside children and other pets. It's placid temperament and loyalty to its family remains constant whatever challenge is thrown its way. However good they are seen as a family dog and all round pet, it should be remembered that this dog was bred to work, and unless you give your Labrador plenty of activity, both mental and physical, you will probably experience some difficult behaviours at times. The best way to keep such a dog is as a working dog, using his working drives to keep him busy and fulfilled.