![]() What Does a Silver Lab Look Like?Įxcept for the color of the coat, a Silver Lab has the same physical features and body type of any other Lab.Įven if Weimaraners were added at some point, the breeds are so similar in terms of type and the addition was so many generations ago that any slight physical differences have long since vanished. However, they must be registered as a chocolate and are not able to compete in conformation events, though they may participate in hunting trials. Surprisingly, considering the controversy surrounding the Silver Labrador, this variation can be registered with the American Kennel Club. This same dilution gene is also responsible for the charcoal (a dilute black) and champagne (a dilute yellow) Labs that have been gaining popularity. If a dog only receives one copy, he is referred to as being silver factored (Dd) and when paired with a Silver Lab or another silver-factored Lab could produce silver puppies. The silver color is the result of a puppy inheriting two copies of the dilution gene, “d,” one from each parent. Regardless, Silver Labs look like and behave like a full-blooded Labrador Retriever in every way. Silver Labs are, at the very least, mostly purebred Labs.ĭepending on your belief regarding the color’s origin, Silver Labs are either entirely purebred or were mixed with Weimaraner long ago. The truth is that, at this point in time, there’s no hard evidence to confirm that Weimaraners were once added, and the idea that Weimaraners account for the presence of the dilution gene is simply a theory. Their stance is that the “dd” combination does not occur naturally in Labs, and that because the Weimaraner does carry the diluting combination and is quite similar in appearance and temperament, this is the only logical explanation. Do Silver Labs Have Weimaraner in Them?Īlthough the limited testing that has been done on the silver-colored Labs showed no evidence of Weimaraners ever being added to the lines, some people believe that they were. However, when two Silver Labs are bred, all of the resulting puppies will be silver.įor this reason, several decades ago when Silver Labs were still uncommon, there’s a good chance that some unscrupulous breeders practiced some degree of inbreeding to produce as many Silver puppies as possible. When two silver-carrying Labs are bred, some of the resulting puppies may be silver. concurred that, “there was no proof that these silver dogs were not purebred.” Are Silver Labs Inbred? Interestingly, dogs from both kennels can be traced back to Kellogg Kennels, the same kennel that advertised for Gray Labs back in the ‘50s.Īfter investigating, in 1987 the American Kennel Club and the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. He denies that any other breeds were used in his lines, as does Beaver Creek. In an interview with Dean Crist of Crist Culo Kennels, one of the two kennels to produce Silver Labs in the 1980s, the breeder claims that Silver Labs popped up after breeding his Chocolate Lab to one purchased from Beaver Creek Kennels, the other kennel that saw the silver color appear. Others claim that the recessive “d” gene was introduced by the addition of another breed. Many breeders of Silver Labs adamantly believe that the silver color occurs naturally and no other breeds were added in order to achieve it. Many people don’t know that in the breed’s early days, Labrador puppies who were not black were culled at birth.Įven when the yellow variety gained popularity, this practice persisted with chocolate puppies.Ĭould it be that, along with other variations such as brindle that sometimes appeared, Silver Labs existed this whole time but were cruelly killed at birth?Ĭould it be that another breed was added recently?Ĭould the dilute gene have come from one of the breeds, such as the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, used in the creation of Labs and simply remained hidden for years? Are Silver Labs Purebred? However, it wasn’t until the 1950s when an advertisement for Gray Labs appeared in a magazine that people began to take notice and question whether or not these strangely colored dogs were indeed Labradors. The earliest Silver Labs produced can be traced back to the 1920s. More importantly, you’ll have what you need to decide if this Lab is right for you. While the origin of the silver color is hotly debated, a Silver Lab will possess the same physical features and temperament traits common to the Labrador breed.Īs you read the following information about the gorgeous Silver Lab, you can decide for yourself whether the mystery and debate surrounding these dogs is justified or not. What is a Silver Lab? A Silver Lab is a Labrador Retriever with a diluted chocolate coat that appears silver or faded brown in color. So where do the Silver Labs fit into the equation? ![]() It’s common knowledge that Labrador Retrievers can have a black, yellow, or chocolate coat.
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