Does anyone own a labrador like my Bess? She is very thin and looks more like a whippet. She has a full pedigree and comes from working stock. Just interested to hear if anyone has one similar.

Working-bred labradors are usually lighter-built than the show-bred ones. Have you wormed her recently?

There is a very small one that is walked over our country park, 2 or 3 inches shorter than than the average bitch and very, very slim, not underweight just very small framed. I have seen 'proper' working Labs, albeit a while ago now, and she is much finer and shorter than they were.

Because the history of the working gundog was, "If it was not good enough to be in the show ring it might as well be worked" (this statment was made in letters dated around 1900) working gundogs have always been rather variable in appearance. As time has passed the best workers have been used on the best workers so that todays working gundogs are some of the very cleverest dogs in the world! So saying, they are still very variable in appearance. My own Anna is around 3 inches over breed standard in height and weighs in at 86lbs! A big Labrador in every way although there is not an ounce of fat on her!

Regards, John

Hi
I have been looking for a labrador that is thinner and not as chunky as the show type lab, the only time I have seen labs like this has been in America, may I ask you where you got Bess from and if there is any chance we could get some information about the breeder. How is Bess temperament wise, around kids etc?
Thanks