Labrador Retriever: From Past to Present

The premise was simple: Send out a photo of a big winner from long ago to a few AKC judges and breed specialists, and ask whether they thought that the dog, much admired in his time, could still win today.

Of course, it's not easy to imagine what the dog looked like in real life: I try to pick good photos, but we of course can't REALLY know what they looked like from a photo. It didn't help that apparently this time I chose a photo that at least one of the respondents thought was ”very unfortunate” — I thought it was quite flattering, in spite of all the people's hands, etc., that obviously had to be cropped.

The dog in the attached photograph was Top Sporting Dog and #5 All Breeds in 1968 with 12 all-breed Bests in Show. I didn't say who he was, but several of the respondents recognized him anyway, which is impressive since he did his winning more than 50 years ago. (The photo is of the famous Ch. Shamrock Acres Light Brigade, who held the all-time BIS record for his breed for a long time.)

Would or could he still win today? Does he have something to offer today? Are there still dogs of this type being shown? If not, what specifically would hold it back? Has the breed lost something important?

Over to the respondents, whom we also asked for their backgrounds and experience in the breed …

Kendall Herr

Dickendall Labradors

Gainesville, Texas

I've had Labs since 1963, and my first champion was born on October 20, 1970. My most famous dog was multi-Best in Specialty-winning Ch. Dickendall Arnold, who was a top producer of champions for many years and currently has 110 champions, champion/Master Hunters, hunt- and obedience-titled get. He also produced many guide dogs for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind.

I've been approved to judge Labradors since 1992. I've judged many specialties, including Potomac sweepstakes and Best of Breed, as well as specialties in Canada, Colombia, Brazil, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Italy, Germany, Argentina and Mexico. I also judged Westminster Kennel Club in 2019.

From the photo this dog looks as if he has good front angulation and leg-to-body balance, things that are hard to find in the breed today. However, I do not think he could do well in the show ring today. He is lacking the double coat and a “wrapped” otter tail, essential characteristics that really define Labrador breed type. His rear lacks good angulation and his head appears to be a little feminine for a male.

At that time in Labradors, people started bringing over dogs from the U.K., where they had been developed, more so than in the U.S. The U.K. had the best Labradors in the world at that time, and through incorporating the English dogs with our lines, it started to change the look and raised the quality and type in Labradors in the U.S.

You will see dogs with similar style as the pictured dog at some all-breed shows today, but I think there is stronger breed type even at all-breed shows now than there has been in the past. Many Labrador breeders show only at specialties, as good breed type is not always recognized by all-around judges.

It is only normal that a breed should be perfected and fine-tuned throughout the years. We also have better nutrition now, which helps to make better bone and muscle that we see in dogs today. 

P.S. Do you think people will get angry that the old dogs are getting criticized? It is a great learning exercise that can bring in valuable information, but can't you see the war it may start?

Pluis Davern

Royal Oaks, California

AKC judge approved for the whole Sporting Group in 2002 and Best in Show in 2007. She has judged the breed frequently, including at specialties, and received the AKC Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance in 2022. From the press release: "Davern started professionally handling client dogs in conformation, obedience and field work and titled all the retriever breeds, and many spaniels and pointing breeds in all three venues."         

Just happened to be browsing through Julie Brown's “Directory to Labrador Retriever Pedigrees” when your email arrived. I believe this photo is of Shamrock Acres Light Brigade, and while not the best “stack” in the world, he typified Labs of the period … 1980s-'90s. He was used extensively by breeders all over the country and consistently produced that beautiful reach of neck and those properly angled forequarters. I could wish for a stronger foot and rear assembly (could be the photo, too); I noticed going back through Julie's directory that he also produced a straighter rear and slightly lower tail set.

Yes, he is much less than what is in the ring today, but, my gosh, he certainly embodies the word “athletic” that is in the opening statement of the standard. His working ability also was passed onto many of his get in field and performance. Obviously, this dog could not win in the ring today, more's the pity, because his proportions, depth of chest, withers to elbow and elbow to ground are sooooo correct!

I don't feel like I have real presence in the Labrador world, since I was not a “breeder,” but a handler of the well-known Campbellcroft dogs, to be an active participant in your survey, but I've enjoyed just giving you my take on this dog.

I'm off tonight to judge Goldens and Vizslas in Adelaide, Australia (while I still can!). Looking forward to seeing the result of your survey!

Beth Sweigart

Bowmansville, Pennsylvania

AKC judge approved for the whole Sporting Group and BIS (as well as the Terrier and Toy groups and additional breeds). Judged BIS at Westminster KC 2023 and is often considered a Terrier specialist because of her association with Peter Green and handling the Norfolk Terrier Ch. Cracknor Cause Celebre (winner of at least 69 BIS and top dog of all breeds in 2003). However, Beth actually started out in Labrador Retrievers.

I did receive the photo of Light Brigade and I well remember this dog being shown. This is a very unfortunate photograph of him. That being said, I really do not think I should make a comment on whether he’s able to win today because I am now about to do Best in Show at the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, and I really don’t think my comments would be appropriate at this time.

Labradors were my first breed and I bred many champions under my prefix Yarrow back in the '70s and early '80s. I was a founding member of the Potomac club: Liz Clark, Connie Barton, George Bragaw and I were the impetus for forming a club that would be primarily interested in conformation, unlike the parent club, which is basically a field-trial organization: Particularly back in those days they had very little interest in conformation. Jack Lafore was in charge at AKC and supported Liz Clark’s effort for a breed club with a basic interest in conformation. This is what makes me all the more excited to be able to judge the largest independent specialty in the world, especially with my own original breed being the focus.

Thank you for asking me of my opinion; any other time I would be more than happy to participate.

Vicky Creamer

Belquest Labrador Retrievers

Mount Airy, Maryland

I also have a boarding kennel and wouldn't have the time at this time to help you with a proper response.

I know the dog … Gee, I am old!

Would or could the Labrador Retriever in the attached photograph still win today? - NO.

All-breed shows or specialties? - Not either!

Does the dog have something to offer today? - NO.

Are there still dogs of this type being shown? - Field?

Do you think it would be competitive today? - NO.

If not, what specifically would hold it back? - Not enough, tail set, lack of rear, bone substance.

Has the breed lost something important? - The job of the breeder is to improve the breed.

I am president, charter member and long-time show chair of The Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, Inc., the largest AKC single-breed entry show for many, many years. The club is very well known.

From the Belquest website: Top Breed-winning Labrador Retriever in the U.S. 2020, 2013, 2008, 2007, 2001, 1999, 1998 and 1997. AKC Breeder of Merit (Platinum, highest achievable level), the first and only AKC Labrador Retriever breeder to achieve this. Westminster BOB 2019, multiple all-breed and specialty BIS, National Specialty winners, BOB at the largest Labrador Retriever show in the world (the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, Inc.), BOB at the Canadian National three consecutive years. Winner of the “Top 25” competition Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. 2014 and The Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac, Inc. 2015, #1 obedience dog in the U.S. in 1979, the only Labrador to date to achieve this honor.

Michael Faulkner

Center Cross, Virginia

Retriever specialist judge, numerous Labrador Retriever specialty show assignments around the globe, including the 2018 World Show. Judging for 27 years. As a handler finished over 100 Labrador champions, group and specialty winners. Golden Retriever breeder/judge. Judged the Sporting group at Westminster in 2006.

I'm familiar with the Labrador depicted.

He would most certainly find challenges in today's breed ring. His general outline lacks substance, coat and rear angulation and is too leggy for my liking. With that said, his head properties are appealing, especially when viewed from the side, along with a good length and reach of neck.

Lisa Weiss

Lobuff Labrador Retrievers

Setauket, New York

Along with my father, the late Col. Jerry Weiss, I started a line of Labradors called Lobuff. I've been breeding since 1968. Most of my dogs today can be traced back to my foundation bitch Ch. Spenrock's Cognac. She was a daughter of the famous Ch. Spenrock's Banner, owned by Janet Churchill, sired by the equally famous Ch. Lockerbie Goldentone Jensen, bred and owned by Helen Warwick. Both dogs were national and BIS winners. Jensen was shown by Eric Thomee, a top handler in the '60s, and Banner by Bob Forsyth.

We bred our first homebred champion in 1971, Ch. Lobuff's Dandy Lion, who won many BOB and group placements shown by myself and later by Bob Stebbins.

Cognac proved to be a very good producer and produced many champions and specialty winners for us: Ch. Lobuff's Seafaring Banner and Ch. Lobuff's Tequila Sunrise, to name a few. Banner was also a group winner. Tequila Sunrise also proved to be a great producer, the dam of Ch. Lobuff's Missouri Breaks and Ch. Lobuff's Sundown at Kerrymark, both specialty winners, and Missouri Breaks was #1 Labrador bitch in the country in 1976. Both bitches were also good producers.

We were really lucky, or skilled enough, to create a long line of solid-producing bitches; I carry that formula on today. In fact, I don't breed to a stud dog unless I love his dam and her mother. This formula has served me well. I've been lucky enough to have several U.S. #1 Labs, seven Westminster winners and several national winners: Ch. Lobuff's Bare Necessities, CD, JH (shown by Beth Sweigart), Ch. Lobuff Hollyridge Brookstone Savannah (co-owned with Juan Carbonell) and Ch. Lobuff Hollyridge Puffin (co-owned by Julie Quigley Smith). I'm the only breeder to ever win the Potomac specialty three times.

It's always been my philosophy that while science is great, it can’t replace a feeling for breeding. It’s good to have important information tucked back in your mind; all my breeding dogs are OFA heart and eyes clear, but our breed has fallen into testing madness! Basically, I believe that breeding is more an art than a science. I see people go over the edge with testing but breeding animals that are not correct or pleasing to look at — they get stuck in a rut and never breed a really typey dog but don't understand why! It's because they have files full of paperwork that says they have an animal that’s tested clear — but they forget to make sure that the dog is really typical.

I have been judging since 1990. I've been lucky enough to be invited to judge on five continents, in 11 or more countries. I have three children, grown now but they traveled with me a good deal: We all went to Australia and had the trip of a lifetime. I have judged most of the specialties here in the U.S. … The Lab National and the Garden were highlights. Some of my other favorites have been Santa Barbara, the National Dog Show in Philadelphia, Detroit in its heyday and Westchester years ago. This year I am doing the AKC National Championship/Royal Canin in Orlando, Florida.

Another highlight and honor was judging the specialty in Scotland with Margie Cairns of Blaircourt fame sitting in my ring.

Of course, I know who the dog pictured is and saw him shown and amass a huge number of wins, including many Bests in Show. I think he held the BIS record for the breed until it was broken in recent years by Ch. Aquarius Centercourt Delight, JH.

This dog was typical of the '60s and early '70s, until people started importing dogs from England — a fad that's no longer in fashion.

I don't mean to be disrespectful because this was a dog of another time and place, but this dog couldn't get a ribbon today in an Open Yellow class at a specialty.

He doesn't have any type — he could almost be a Pointer. He does not have a pleasing head, not enough coat, not enough bone, no otter tail, not enough turn of stifle, not enough depth of thigh, and I could go on … but why? Just suffice it to say he's all wrong. And even though the quality at all-breed shows is not what it is at a specialty, unless the all-breed show is being judged by a breeder, you'd never see a dog like this anymore. He'd never finish … I don't care if you're a handler who likes to say, "I could finish anything" — you couldn't finish this dog today.

I hope I haven't been too tough on Ch. Shamrock Acres Light Brigade. He was typical of the dogs in his area at that time. In the East, we were already starting to bring in English blood and adding more depth to the dogs.