A colleague of mine at work is keen to get a dog and is going to see a litter of chocolate labs at the weekend.  I get the impression they are from working lines but not 100% sure.  What health tests are essential for labs and what is a decent hipscore for the breed?  If the dog is from working lines what sort of things would demonstrate that the breeder and his pups are credible?

I know this is a very basic question but I don't know much about labs apart from seeing near crippled ones lurching around the park and other extremely mobile ones jumping up at me with their owners feebly asking them to get off and sit.  Thanks in advance for any guidance 

http://www.lab-health.co.uk/

Here you go a very imformative site ;-)

Thanks for that, I will let her see it tomorrow. :)

This may also be of use, The GB club.
Has about working trials and also show work too.

Worth reading about.. I would be contacting the club secretary about what to look for on a pedigree and when speaking to the breeder have a look at the bitches and they should have a copy of the dogs pedigree there as well.
If it is a working Lab then you should be seeing signs of some achievements in the lines, and recent ones at that.
You should be able to research the bitch and dog through google if they have done anything on the field or in the ring.

http://www.thelabradorretrieverclub.com/

I would also steer her away from them if they are from working lines.For a first time dog owner it will be a very big challenge to keep a working dog active and occupied as they are more highly driven that the show types and can cause problems unless you know what you are doing ;-)

If they are first time owner perhaps a young rescue Lab maybe the best answer for them as it will help them get used to owning a dog first then the challenge of a pup and the hard work it involves can come later :-)

I concur with the amount of work involved with working lines, they never ever stop. Worn out just looking at the little one we have here, been trying to train him and my pup at the same time.. Nightmare.. He is getting better..
BUT for a first time dog i wouldn't ever recommend a working line, not unless they have a lot of free time and are prepared to spend many hours training and putting the field work in or doing something similar to work their brains..

Thanks for all the advice I will show her the thread and she can make a decision based on the info here.  Thanks

I would say though that there aren't a lot of chocolates working.  they are the current fashionable colour among breeder producing a product for the pet market, so extra care should be taken, though sadly the breed as a whole is used for 'pet production' (production being the oeprative word) more than most.