....or....
 A layman’s guide to a Labrador
....“more or less”....

• General Appearance: A solidly built dog, short coupled and active, with a good square head, deep chest and ribs - broad, strong and muscular in loins and hindquarters.
• Character: Friendly, good tempered and agile, with an excellent nose - particularly for food, soft mouth, loves water. With love and gentle training, they can become an adaptable and dependable “follow you anywhere” friend. They’re renowned for their temperament, being “well balanced”, intelligent and with a strong will to please everybody. They have a gentle,  friendly nature and are good with children.
• Head: This should be broad, with well defined stop - “just had my hair cut” type look. The nose should be broad -  with well developed nostrils. The eyes should be medium sized - like small dark pears lying on their side, “soft and intelligent”,  colours range from brown to hazel. The ears shouldn’t be too large or heavy - hanging close to head and set well back. The mouth should be “clean” with strong jaws and teeth set in a neat and complete scissor bite.
• Neck: Clean and solid - gently sloping into broad shoulders.
• Body: Chunky - a nice level top line - with a full chest and “barrel” shaped ribs.
• Forequarters: Shoulders should be solid, long and sloping - well-boned solid square legs should be straight from elbow to ground - when viewed from either front or side.
• Hindquarters: The “powerhouse” of a good labrador needs to be well developed, with good wide loins - with well turned stifle and  hocks well let down.
• Feet: Should be round, neat and compact with generous  pads.
• Tail: A very distinctive feature of a labrador - should be thick towards the base, gradually tapering towards the tip - medium length - no feathering - well covered  with a short thick dense coat, giving a “rounded” appearance - known as “otter” tail.
• Movement: Free, easy, head up and positive - “I’m going places” - straight and true in front and rear.
• Coat: Another distinctive feature - short, dense, without waves or curls. It should give a fairly “robust and thick”, not “silky” -  feel to touch.
• Colour: Black, yellow or liver / chocolate. The yellows can range from pale cream to red fox. Some have a small white patch / star on the chest.

From experience, the chances of finding that “perfect” labrador are remote. As a prospective “pet” owner - the important things to look for are good breeding and good health - good temperament usually comes with those!