I don't think the situation with the immune system in the Labs is QUITE as bad as in Goldens, the major problems seem to be with hips and eyes and oddball cancers.
I subscribe to the Golden Retriever News because there's just no equivalent magazine for Labs, I mean with good solid medical and training advice (Just Labs is just a photo mag for doting owners).
My girl was originally training in obedience and was probably ready for CD, but my trainer said she thought she would be happier in agility. She was . . . but now that she's settled down a bit we might go back and try for it. If we can get the running down, she might be able to do CDX now. I think JH is achievable (she already has her UKC Started Retriever title) but there's no way this sweet girl is EVER going to get even a single conformation point. A cousin of mine is an AKC judge, we were at a family reunion and I asked her as a favor to watch my dog trot out and back. When she stopped laughing, she told me all the things that are "wrong" with Shelley - she's got sort of a conformation front end but a field trial hind end (feet set down too close together in back - although of course that's great for the dog walk) and a very fieldy head. And of course she's TOO SKINNY!
You can see what we're dealing with here -
