Labrador Retriever Breed Standard
Sporting Group

General Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog; the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions; the character and quality to win in the show ring; and the temperament to be a family companion. Physical features and mental characteristics should denote a dog bred to perform as an efficient Retriever of game with a stable temperament suitable for a variety of pursuits beyond the hunting environment.

For more specific information please visit the American Kennel Club web site.

above information and picture provided by AKC.

Hunt Test titles can be earned thorough the AKC, UKC and NAHRA. Hunt Tests are non-Competitive tests in which the dog (and handler) is measured against a standard. If the dog (and handler) meet the standard, a "pass" is earned. The AKC, UKC and NAHRA Hunt Tests are designed to resemble actually hunting situations. Each organization has different requirements yet is equally difficult and resembles different hunting scenarios. Hunt Tests are the most popular field events.

• JH - Junior Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 4 passes at the Junior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the beginning level in the AKC Hunt Test program.
• SH - Senior Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 5 passes (4 with a JH title) at the Senior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the level at which most hunting retrievers run.
• MH - Master Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 6 passes (5 with a SH title) at the Master level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the highest possible Hunt Test title offered in the AKC.

• HR - Hunting Retriever - This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 40 points. 30 of those points must be at the Seasoned or Finished level. A Seasoned pass is worth 10 points.
• HRCH - Hunting Retriever Champion - This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 60 of which must be earned at the Finished level. A Finished pass is worth 15 points.
• GHRCH - Grand Hunting Retriever Champion - This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 220 points at the Finished level and 80 points from the HRC Grand Hunt. 1 Grand pass is worth 40 points. This is the highest possible hunt test title offered in the UKC.
• UH - Upland Hunter - This is a UKC title that is available for those that train their dogs for upland bird hunting. 40 points must be acquired. A pass is worth 10 points.
• SR - Started Retriever - This is the entry level NAHRA title. This title is earned by acquiring 10 points. At this level, a pass is worth 2.5 points.
• WR - Working Retriever - This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 20 points in the Intermediate level. At this level and higher, a pass is worth 5 points.
• MHR - Master Hunting Retriever - This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 80 of which must be earned at the Senior level.
• GMHR - Grand Master Hunting Retriever - This is a NAHRA title which is earned by acquiring 300 points at the Senior level. This is the highest possible title offered by NAHRA.

• WC - Working Certificate -Curly Coated Retriever Club of America Award. The land test shall be a single, consist of a freshly killed bird thrown 40 to 50 yards from the line in light to moderate cover. The throw shall be accompanied by a shotgun shot either live shells or blanks. The dog need not be steady and may be restrained. The water test shall consist of back to back singles, using ducks, in open swimming water. The first bird shall be thrown 25 to 35 yards from the line, accompanied by a shotgun shot. The bird must be visible from the line when in the water. The second retrieve will have the same requirements as the first except it must land approximately 60 degrees or more from the first retrieve and be in light cover. The line may be moved so that the fall will be in a different area from the first retrieve.
• WCX - Working Certificate Excellent -Curly Coated Retriever Club of America Award. The land test shall consist of one double on land. One bird shall be thrown approximately 50 yards from the line; the second may be up to 100 yards from the line. One bird shall be a shot flyer. The birds must land in light to moderate cover approximately 60 to 90 degrees apart. The dog may not be physically restrained at the line. A shotgun shot will accompany the fall of each bird. The water test will also consist of a double. It will utilize ducks, one thrown approximately 50 yards from the line, the second not over 100 yards. The birds must land approximately 60 to 90 degrees from each other, and at least one downed bird should not be visible from the line. A shotgun shot must accompany the fall of each bird. When circumstances allow, it is recommended that one bird in the water test shall be a shot flyer. Decoys shall be used in at least one test (normally the water test.)

WCQ - Working Certificate Qualified The land test shall be a triple mark in moderate to heavy cover with falls of up to 120 yards. One of the birds shall be a shot flyer. A shotgun shot or shots will accompany each fall. The test will involve changes of cover, terrain, or other barriers.
The water test shall be a double mark in light to moderate cover utilizing ducks. The downed birds shall not be visible from the line. Falls may be up to 100 yards from the line and preferably of different lengths. A significant portion, but not all of either mark, needs to be through water. This test should include changes of terrain, cover, or other barriers, and the angle of the falls shall be sufficiently tight to provide some temptation to switch or go back to re-hunt the first fall after having retrieved that bird. A shotgun shot or shots shall accompany the throwing of each bird.
Dogs shall be required to honor while another dog is sent on one set of marks. The honoring dog will remain where indicated by the judges until the working dog has left the line and/or until released by the judges. It is permissible to speak to the honoring dog as long as it does not interfere with the working dog. A dog whose failure to honor interferes with the running dog shall be disqualified.

Conformation titles

Conformation titles are those earned by “show dogs” in competitions that judge the dog based on its structure, conformation, movement, and adherence to the written breed standard. Conformation titles (championships) are always located BEFORE the dog's registered name. Each organization and/or registering body that awards conformation championship titles has its own procedures and rules for becoming a champion. Therefore, an AKC champion is not automatically granted any other kind of championship—they have to start at the bottom all over again! Thus, a dog with multiple conformation Championship titles is well-traveled and has defeated numerous other dogs of its own breed in many shows!