I have a lab pup (9 months old) who has an umbilical hernia.
The hole has closed as the soft tissue will no longer push back
into the cavity.  I would like to show her but hadn't considered
the possibility that I may not be able to with a hernia?  I have
read the standards etc but can't actually find anything written
down to say that I can't show her?  Would she be penalised for
having a hernia?

Another point is that she is a lovely dog and turning out to be
true to type - her breeder is delighted with her - and the question
of breeding has cropped up.  All the books have advised against
it, the vet has advised against it and I wouldn't want to pass
on any defects, but what do experienced breeders say?  How
much risk is involved with hernia's in pregnant bitches?  Do they
tend to pass them onto the pups?  If the hernia is repaired, how
safe would a future pregnancy be? 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I make any
decision on whether to have her spayed or not in the future.

Have a read of this article.  http://www.showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/breedvet/umbilical.html
cut and paste this URL into yur browser.  It may be that your bitch only has a late closure and not a true hernia.

Brainless that was a great bit of information and has taught me alot!  Thank you for sharing that! :)

Thanks for the link and the info.  Sounds like she has a late closure, the bubble isn't too large and it is firmly in place.  At 9 months of age she has had no problem with her eating and has put weight on steadily.

It will be at least a year yet before I make the final decision as to spay her as I'd like her to mature properly first (in my own personal opinion I don't believe they physically develop the same when spayed young).

Thanks again.

The evidence may not be scintific just those of us living with dogs :D but I agree that bitches spayed before maturity never mature properly.