Sporting Dogs

The Labrador. Most popular of all Retrievers, the Labrador, combines keen scent and fondness for water with a wonderful ability to find and retrieve game. The muscular and compact animal descended from large Newfoundland dogs (this breed was originally called St. John's Newfoundland or St. John's Water Dog) and for nearly two centuries has excelled as a worker and house pet. Its great endurance and trainability made him useful as a guide dog for the blind and for police and guard work. Dogs are 21-24 inches at the shoulder. The short, hard coat turns off water and gives admirable protection from cold, ice and mud. The Labrador is shorter of leg than other retrievers, and generally more solidly built. The tail is very characteristic, having a peculiar rounded appearance, from which it is known as an "otter" tail. Thick towards the base, it tapers gradually to the tip, is of medium length, and has practically no feathering, but is clothed thickly all round with a short, dense coat.

The Curly-Coated Retriever. Unfortunately the curly-coated variety of the Retriever is somewhat uncommon at the present time. As a sporting dog, it is of immense value, being well disciplined and keen. His exact origin is not known, but amongst his ancestors are probably the now extinct Water Dog and, possibly, the Irish Water Spaniel. The tightly curled coat which so often gathered burrs during the day's work was possibly one drawback which explained why it went out of favour. Now there is a welcome revival of this breed. They can make charming, faithful, and intelligent companions but it is well to remember that first and foremost they are gun dogs, and as such are in the front rank.

Head long and well proportioned, skull not too flat, jaws long and strong but not inclined to snipiness, nose black, in the black-coated variety, with wide nostrils. Teeth strong and level. Eyes black or brown, but not yellow, rather large but not prominent. Ears rather small, set on low, lying close to the head, and covered with short curls. Coat should be one mass of crisp curls all over. A patch of uncurled hair on the back or a white patch on breast are undesirable. Colour, black or liver. Shoulders should be very deep, muscular, and obliquely placed. Chest not too wide, but decidedly deep. Body rather short, and muscular. Loin powerful, deep, and firm to the grasp. Legs should be of moderate length, forelegs straight. Quarters strong and muscular, hocks low to the ground with moderate bend to stifle and hock. Tail should be moderately short, carried fairly straight and covered with curls, slightly tapering to the point.