While I prefer a darker eye on a chocolate, if one has to choose between a light eye or a straight front, I will take the light eye hands down as the poor front impacts function. The biggest issue for me in chocolates is the poor turn of stifle in many and stuffy necks. In the attempt to keep a square outline, we are losing proper, functional structure.
How about the judges who put up a dog who is LIMPING!!! Was recently at a show where one was put up for points over a BEAUTIFUL moving dog.... Worst part is I overheard one of the judges saying movement is a key factor in all breeds then they go and put up a limping dog??? Just FRIES me!!!
How about actually being in the ring as the judge watches a handler do his best to disguise his dog's limp, and she comments as he does the down and back that he's not fooling her, but then she gives him the class anyway!!!!
LOL, just as bad as the professional handler that pulls the dog out of the crate last minute, pulls it into the ring, doesn't notice it peeing/pooping....everyone's got to wait until they clean it up...and then the judge puts up the dog as BOB because the judge is known for picking professional handlers. Seems like they shouldn't be rewarded for being so careless with the dog.
You can breed to the turn of stifle. But those eyes will take longer to get out of your lines. When you introduce some traits it takes generations. Eyes, mismarks, small heads, bad tails(gay), just saying, think before you leap. Are you picking a dog that is popular or the best for your bitch. Enough just pops up without adding things we know are there.
If it were that easy to breed a correct turn of stifle I would think we would be seeing fewer chocolate dogs with incorrect stifles and we are not. It is often combined with a fairly stuffy front. There are several Bc dogs that have this issue as well. I have a chocolate out of two lovely brown eyed chocolate parents who has lighter eyes (they are ok but not great). He also has a beautiful front and a rear to match, with correct turn of stifle. Given what is behind him, I would not breed to incorrect structure (all my dogs work) to keep a trait that is largely cosmetic. I really don't like light eyes but cannot live with poor structure.
How about 'too much' front? I have seen some dogs who look like they are going to tip forward there is so much chest.
I would call that a prodigious front and complete lack of balance. It's another peeve of mine, I see many unbalanced dogs put up, the judge acting as it they didn't notice too much on one end or the other.
Many times those large fronts are plain fat! It's difficult to if at all able to find the prosternum beneath the extra fat tissue. The same goes for no front but a great or overdone rear. All Labs should be balanced, to some degree at the very least. JMO.
