If you're interested in purchasing AKC lab puppies as pets or for showing, you'll need to know at least a little bit about the AKC standard. That can help you understand whether a puppy is likely to grow up to compete, and whether you're looking at a good breeder. Knowing as much as you can about the standard will make buying AKC lab puppies a lot easier.
Labrador retrievers are meant to be be strongly built medium sized dogs with a well balanced, athletic shape. They were originally bred to help fishermen haul nets and retrieve fish, and became a retrieving gun dog. They need to be patient and eager to please, lovable, friendly to people and other animals, and capable of following commands.
In terms of looks, AKC lab puppies should have thick, short coats capable of resisting weather, a broad skull and powerful jaws, a thick "otter" tail and friendly eyes. They shouldn't be too thin or overly stocky, and they should move well. Every Labrador retriever should be capable of working, even if it never needs to.
Most labs are between twenty one and twenty five inches at the withers, depending on their sex. Males are usually between sixty-five and eighty pounds, and females between nissui idonesia fifty-five and seventy pounds. Overly large dogs are considered to be faulty, as are overly small animals. Dogs should be the same length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the rump as they are from the withers to the ground. Dogs should never look long or overly leggy. Some of these things are hard to look for if the puppy is very young.
There are three basic colors for AKC lab puppies. The original labs were black, with a black nose. Yellow Labradors and chocolate Labradors are also common. Yellow labs have a black nose, and chocolate labs have a brown one, though these colors may fate with age. AKC lab puppies with a completely pink nose are very cute, but are disqualified from competition. They should have medium sized, friendly eyes with brown or hazel coloring, not yellow or black.
Brindling, tan markings, and other spotting are disqualifying, too, though coat colors can come in a wide range. "Silver" labs aren't a showable color, and are pet quality only. Be careful of breeders offering "AKC lab puppies" in silver or blue colorations, as these colors aren't recognized by the AKC. These breeders may not be on the level.
Can non AKC lab puppies be great pets? Of course they can. But looking for the AKC qualifications can help you get a pet dog of higher quality and with better health, or a show quality dog. You just have to know what you're looking for. Choose a breeder who produces healthy dogs with a good temperament, rather than going for looks, and you'll end up with a great Labrador retriever.
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