About the Breed Council

The Labrador Breed Council represents the thirteen Labrador Retriever Breed Clubs in the United Kingdom. It is the official channel of communication with the Kennel Club. Meetings are held once per year and each club nominates & sends two representatives to the annual meeting. Each club has one vote at the meeting. The Chairman and Hon Secretary are elected each year by the club representatives.

The Labrador Breed Council is responsible for establishing a consensus from among the member Breed Clubs on Judging criteria, training, qualifications and lists, Breed Standard, Health issues, KC Registration

A separate sub committee of 6 elected representatives form a Health committee which meets biannually. Each member represents two Breed Clubs.

Sub Committees are set up as necessary to discuss detail or formulate policy which is then voted upon by all clubs at the annual meeting.

Labrador Breed Council – Judging Lists

How these lists are compiled

Each breed club asks potential judges to complete a form to collect information on judging experience, seminars attended, successes in the show ring – stud book numbers. The Club Secretary checks the form against the checklist to ensure the judge meets the criteria for the list they are being proposed for.

The forms are reviewed by a sub committee, members of which must be 75% Championship show judges. Judges are then put forward to the Labrador Breed Council.

For A1 & A3 lists information on each judge is circulated to each club and votes are taken in the club sub committee. The Breed club representatives are mandated to vote on each judge at the annual LBC meeting.

For B & Level 1 lists Clubs propose judges who are in the opinion of the sub committee are suitable to judge at Open Show level and if they meet the criteria names & judging forms are sent to secretary of LBC for inclusion on the appropriate list.

Lists are compiled by the Secretary of the LBC and posted on this website thus being accessible to all canine societies & clubs. 

Judges … If you see any errors in addresses, phone numbers or you want to add your Email address please email the Secretary.

Health Sub Committee

The sub committee was formed in 2005. Dr Jeff Sampson of the Kennel Club suggested that there should be a small group of Labrador enthusiasts who would meet with him at least annually. Health topics of interest to the Labrador breed could be discussed and it would be channel between the KC and labrador breeders to improve the health of the breed. This model has been proven to work in the Golden Retriever & Irish Setter breeds. Dr Sampson would be able to convey up to date information particularly on inherited diseases and members of the sub committee would be able to raise issues for discussion. Dr Sampson would act as an intermediary between the KC and breeders. As can be seen from the minutes many issues have been discussed and the KC have certainly acted on suggestions made by the sub committee especially in relation to the Accredited Breeder Scheme.

The Labrador Breed Council has a Health News Facebook group. Remember to like and follow for more information relating to health of our Breed.

Dilute Labradors

More information about the dilute gene causing colour defects in Labradors and the DNA test available for it.