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are all show labs square

33 replies

Jamandcheesesandwich · 27/12/2022 12:34

hi all

Merry Christmas

I like the look of the slimmer labs however these appear to be working labs and I am not sure they would be too active/hyper for me

the show dogs however are square, I know this is breed standard, however is there such a thing as a slim show lab or are they going to be just bsb

cheers

OP posts:
LBF2020 · 27/12/2022 12:39

You can definitely get slimmer 'show' labs. If you look on champdogs you can select dual purpose as the type which might help you get a slimmer build. Other than that look at pictures of mum and dad. A lot of it is also down to diet and neutering etc too.

thelobsterquadrille · 27/12/2022 12:43

It's a bit of a game of chance, really. Yes, some show labs are slimmer than others but there's no guarantee, even if you do see the parents, as it goes against the official breed standard unfortunately.

Diet plays a part but you can't change their build.

mintbiscuit · 27/12/2022 13:00

I’ve a working lab and have previously had a show lab. Whilst the working lab is more active on walks and could walk for miles, activity levels in the house are the same. Definitely not hyper. Chilled and relaxed most of the time.

Lonecatwithkitten · 27/12/2022 14:19

Quite simply

Show condition = Fat

Single biggest thing that damaged joints after genetic disease is weight.
Single biggest welfare problem in companion animals is obesity.

littlepeas · 27/12/2022 14:38

We have a working lab and he is not hyper - he is more chilled than the show labs we see out walking (who are all very stocky). A couple of things that I think may make a bit of a difference - he is one of two (other dog is a golden retriever), so he has a playmate, and we chose one of the quieter puppies in the litter.

Honeyroar · 27/12/2022 14:48

This one s our show type lab. He’s seven and is very easy to keep slim (all our vets rave about him, saying it’s unusual to see a lab at a healthy weight). Our previous lab was sport type and was slim while young and hyper, but took work to keep slim when older. Our first lab was show type and took a fair bit of work to keep slim. All labs can be slim!

are all show labs square
Idratherbepaddleboarding · 27/12/2022 15:12

You could probably get a working/ show mix but honestly, our working lab isn’t hyper at all. He is dynamite at agility and flyball though!

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 27/12/2022 15:12

He’s also a lot less barky than the show labs we know.

Spanielsarepainless · 27/12/2022 15:17

My Lab is dual purpose. One grandmother was a champion (on the show bench but got her working certificate), the rest of his grandparents and both parents worked. So slim but not like the snipey greyhound-looking Labs.

Blanketpolicy · 27/12/2022 15:19

Our working lab is light and lean(ish) and also placid and very laid back. Only ever barks when he is in the dog walkers van, or a single half bark if he wants in from the garden.

On the other hand one of ds's friends has a huge show lab that is noisy and boisterous.

Picking a type is no guarantee of temperament.

GyozaGuiting · 27/12/2022 15:22

I’ve got a square show lab and a thin working lab. As others have said, they’re not that different to be honest.
The working lab isn’t that hyper, she’s just really obedient and LOVES walks and any gun dog practice. She’s a joy to be honest.
The show lab is just a bit slower and not as keen when it comes to commands! Both are lovely though. Highly recommend either around children.
I have dog sat numerous breeds recently (spaniels, setters), they ARE hyper active, not my cup of tea.

tabulahrasa · 27/12/2022 16:07

Show labs are a slightly different shape, but the big difference is because as someone’s already said, show condition is in fact overweight. They have them overweight on purpose.

bareface99 · 27/12/2022 16:12

I have a slim show Lab, he is 18 months and only 26kg so yes you can have a slimmer show Lab, they are not all chunky monkeys

Jamandcheesesandwich · 27/12/2022 16:14

thanks so much for your responses most helpful

am hoping to do agility when , what ever I get , is old enough

happy new year

OP posts:
ToBeOrNotToBee · 27/12/2022 16:15

Most labs in the show are obese.

I know a few show bred labs who are kept at healthy weights and are beautiful looking dogs.

fucketyfuckwit · 27/12/2022 16:19

Our working lab isn't hyper at all. She's fast asleep on the sofa. We have Covid so she's not been out much for the past few days.

wonkyheadwoes · 27/12/2022 18:21

This post is quite sad. Why are show labs obese?
I love labradors.

AdventFridgeOfShame · 27/12/2022 18:30

wonkyheadwoes · 27/12/2022 18:21

This post is quite sad. Why are show labs obese?
I love labradors.

Because if you keep a lean working lab, people will call the RSPCA.

My vet is prone to rants about obese dogs, she had to write a letter and speak to the RSPCA about healthy weight working labs. They now tell people to Feck off (nicely) when the labs are reported.

I might get a Pointador as my next dog, working my way towards labs as a retirement dog.

Many pet, show labs are obese, it is very sad. 20kg over weight is tragic.

AdventFridgeOfShame · 27/12/2022 18:34

One thing to remember with working dogs.

You may not get the chance to pick the prettiest at three weeks.

By about 8 weeks the breeder will identify those likely to actually work. Then the others will be sold as pets. Quite common to get a working dog as a slightly older pup 9-12 weeks instead of 8 weeks.

tabulahrasa · 27/12/2022 18:37

wonkyheadwoes · 27/12/2022 18:21

This post is quite sad. Why are show labs obese?
I love labradors.

Because people over feed them because they think they’re supposed to be that shape - most pet labs are overweight as well to be fair.

thelobsterquadrille · 27/12/2022 19:03

wonkyheadwoes · 27/12/2022 18:21

This post is quite sad. Why are show labs obese?
I love labradors.

Because the breed standard says they should be. It's horrendous.

You should be able to feel your dogs' ribs easily, and there's nothing wrong with being able to see the last rib when standing either.

Most people think overweight dogs are normal dogs, so when they actually see a dog that's a healthy weight, they think they're too skinny.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 27/12/2022 19:13

thelobsterquadrille · 27/12/2022 19:03

Because the breed standard says they should be. It's horrendous.

You should be able to feel your dogs' ribs easily, and there's nothing wrong with being able to see the last rib when standing either.

Most people think overweight dogs are normal dogs, so when they actually see a dog that's a healthy weight, they think they're too skinny.

Same with humans to be fair (and I definitely tend towards being "show" 😂).

We had a large rescue working Lab who arrived at 42kg. Managed to get 10kgs off him and our vet was very impressed at the shape he was in. Despite being a working Lab, he was really calm and docile. We were very lucky.

CantFindTheBeat · 27/12/2022 19:17

Honeyroar · 27/12/2022 14:48

This one s our show type lab. He’s seven and is very easy to keep slim (all our vets rave about him, saying it’s unusual to see a lab at a healthy weight). Our previous lab was sport type and was slim while young and hyper, but took work to keep slim when older. Our first lab was show type and took a fair bit of work to keep slim. All labs can be slim!

@Honeyroar

Your lab looks lovely.

What and how much does he eat?

ShouldIknowthisalready · 27/12/2022 19:24

thelobsterquadrille · 27/12/2022 19:03

Because the breed standard says they should be. It's horrendous.

You should be able to feel your dogs' ribs easily, and there's nothing wrong with being able to see the last rib when standing either.

Most people think overweight dogs are normal dogs, so when they actually see a dog that's a healthy weight, they think they're too skinny.

The breed standard does not say they should be fat! The standard says they should be broad chested. The standard actually states that labs should not be fat this effect not to be produced by carrying excessive weight.

However judges and breeders as usual have taken the standard to extremes and are breeding broad chested short legged dogs which have now become the show kind.

The general public think labs should be covered and hence overfeed. Andrex puppy was obese not normal puppy weight.

CocoonofDavid · 27/12/2022 19:30

I think, even within a type, it’s partly luck how heavy set they are.

We have had three show type labs. All have been physically and temperamentally slightly different.

1- Both parents had JW and mum was ShC. He was the hardest work to keep slim. At his best he was 32kg, when I took my eye off the ball he crept up to 36kg! He was heavier in bone, but that 4kg was fat- my fault. We did do some showing with him as a young dog, he was on the finer side, and slim side compared to others. He was very chilled at home and out and about. The nicest ‘person’ you could wish for. We did some young dog pet agility and he wasn’t very good but we both had a nice time!

2- Both parents show dogs, mum didn’t have any titles, dad was ShC. She is probably the most conformationally correct of the three. Yes, left to her own devices she’d eat herself into obesity, but compared to dog 1, she’s much easier to keep a healthy weight, ranging between 25.5, to 27kg now at almost 12 and slowing down in terms of exercise. (Obviously if we’d have wanted to show she would have looked very out of place at her slim weight, however, several people involved in showing and one that had crossed from showing to working, said she was a VERY good example in terms of conformation). She has been the most intelligent of the 3, and easiest to train/most obedient. We did a few small pet gundog classes and she was great and had a lovely time. Had they been closer (1.5hrs away) we would have kept it up. We also did pet agility (and pet obedience) with her when she was young, just for fun. She loved it, and really wanted to do well. She’s a delight at home and has always been (once past the land shark puppy stage!)

3- She is the niece of dog 2. Her mum didn’t have any titles. Her dad is a ShC and has his show gun dog certificate (can’t remember the official title of it now- it’s been many years since we looked into it all). The idea with that certificate is to show that not only does a particular dog stick to the breed standard in terms of looks, but that they have the temperament and breed traits to do the job too. She is the finest boned of the three. She was second pick of the litter, in terms of aiming towards showing. However, I think she’s too fine boned to have done well, and the angles of her back end aren’t 100% if I were to be critical. She is the bounciest of the three. Despite her dad’s achievements she doesn’t have the temperament to have worked. Her drive to retrieve is not as strong as dog 2, nor is her desire to please. (Don’t get me wrong, compared to many many dogs, esp other breeds, she wants praise, but dog 2 is DESPERATE to get it right and be told she’s a good girl, and never needed a stern voice, whereas dog 3 does the canine equivalent of shrugging her shoulders and asking what’s next when she was told off). She’s super fun but also VERY cuddly. She’s 7.5 but we still get asked if she’s a young dog- I think the bounciness plus being fine boned and slim make her look younger than she is. Everything is ‘wooohooo!! My favourite thing ever!!’

My reply has got a bit long winded but what I was aiming for was to say I’ve had three show bred labs, the second two very closely related, and all related by the great and great great grandparents and all three have been different. Only the first one would I say was typically ‘square’, and not much unless he got overweight. However, he had to be on a MUCH stricter diet than the other two and, despite this, carried more body fat. I am in contact with a few owners of siblings and close relatives of 2 and 3 and they do vary amongst themselves as to how much bone they have as well as fat they carry.

All three would have been physically fit enough/capable to do pet/fun agility. I think only dog 2 would have had the drive to be competitive, because she so wants to get everything right.

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