If you are looking for a Labrador with a unique color, you have come to the right place. If you are looking for one of the rarest colors in the dog breed, you will find that there are five distinct types: Fox-red, Silver, White, Yellow, and Grey. Let’s take a closer look at each one and discover if you have one on your hands. Listed below are a few examples.
Fox-red
If you’ve been looking for the perfect Labrador puppy, you might be surprised to find out that the most common color is the fox-red. The name fox-red came about because the dog’s coat is dark red, but is actually a peach color with darker pigmentation. A lighter-colored Lab will have a yellowish coat with pinkish pigmentation. While these dogs can compete in the show ring with their lighter-colored siblings, the darker hue is not always the most desirable.
While the fox-red color is one of the rarest of the Labradors, there is controversy surrounding the name. Some people believe the fox-red color comes from a cross with a Vizsla, while others say the breed does not possess the genes to be a true silver color. However, many Labrador breeders disagree, and believe it is a completely different breed.
In the early days, fox-red Labradors were relatively rare. They were not very common until the 1850s, when they gained popularity among hunters. Although their fox-red color is a dark red variation of yellow, they are a unique breed with their own distinct appearance and personality. As a result, it’s a good idea to breed your yellow lab with a fox-red Lab for a chance of getting a fox-red puppy.
White
While you might have seen white Labradors in the media, this color does not occur naturally. They are actually diluted shades of yellow. Although the American Kennel Club registers white Labradors as yellow, there is no specific gene that produces the white color. A white Labrador is simply the product of a combination of two genes: one from a mother and one from a father. The result is a dog with a pale silver coat, which is not at all distinctive from a classic yellow Lab.
Other colors of Labradors are possible, but the most common are black, chocolate, and yellow. The rarer colors are called mismarks, and any other color is considered a mixed breed. Most mismarks are caused by recessive genes. These genes are passed down through generations, and aren’t noticeable until two Labs with the same gene breed together. As long as one or two Labs has the genetics for the color, the offspring will be free of mismarkings.
Albinism affects people and their pets, and white Labradors are no exception. Both types can be affected with this condition, which can lead to blindness or other serious problems. If you notice a white Labrador’s skin is white, it may be a sign that it is suffering from a genetic disorder. Albinos, however, aren’t always the result of malnutrition.
Yellow
The Kennel Club and AKC recognize three unique colors in the Labrador. Yellow is one of the most rare and stunning colors of the breed, and can range in color from pale cream to the richest fox red. Labrador coats can also be black, brown, or silver. However, the controversy about the Labrador’s coat color isn’t limited to appearance. In fact, scientists have discovered that the color of the coat can influence the dog’s behavior, too.
The yellow Labrador color is coded in the DNA at a different locus than the B gene. The E gene is recognized in the same way as the B gene, but the lowercase E gene can actually mask the B gene. If there is only one e gene present in a dog, it could cause a quarter chocolate pup. Consequently, yellow dogs are more prone to have two little ee genes.
White Labradors are another variant of the yellow color. These dogs are the exact opposite of yellow labs and are often welcomed in show rings. To distinguish them from the Yellow Labs, White Labs have dark noses and eyes. Lack of pigment can indicate albinism, and can pose health problems. Some people consider Silver Labs to be Weimadors, but this is not the case. There are also Silver Labs, which are Chocolate Labs with a dilute genotype.
Silver
While the rarest Labrador colors are not actually that rare, they are not all that common. This color was created in a recent mix of Labradors and Weimaraners and did not originate with the breed as a whole. Because of this, a silver lab is now one of the most expensive and highly prized Labrador colors. You should be aware of the nuances and differences between a lab and a silver Weimaraner before you purchase one.
While there is a genetic difference between chocolate and silver labs, the resulting color is still unique. Silver Labs have a slightly different coat than the average chocolate Lab, thanks to two recessive genes. These two genes make the lab’s color lighter than average and its eyes blue. This type of color is not as prevalent as the chocolate color, but it is still a unique Labrador. And while silver labs are not the most common of Labrador colors, they do make an excellent choice for owners of chocolate and silver dogs.
Though silver is not an official Labrador color, some breeders sell their pups in “rare” labrador colors. This is a misleading practice because it is a color that is not accepted by AKC. In fact, the only colors considered “rare” by the AKC are light cream yellow, chocolate, and dark chocolate. The other colors are incorrect and should be avoided unless you are 100% sure you want a lab with a particular color.
Snow
Rare Labrador colors include snow, fox-red, champagne, and silver. These colors are not separate breed standards, but are considered a very dark variation of yellow. Historically, these colors were more common, but because of demand for lighter-colored dogs, breeders began breeding light-blonde Labradors. These dogs became rare, but fox-red is still kept alive in hunting lines.
Black Labradors are solid black with a white patch on the chest. Some blacks have sparse white hair between their toes and footpads. Black Labs may have an orange or red hue during certain seasons. Another color that is rare in Labs is chocolate, which can vary from a dark chocolate to a rich chocolate. Chocolate Labs should have brown or hazel eyes. Rare Labrador colors include snow, fox red, and dudley.
Other Labrador colors include black, chocolate, and yellow. However, there are no Labradors in Silver, Snow, or Champagne. These colors are derived from the dilute gene in all Labradors. Breeders of yesteryear and today would have produced this color. These breeders also teach new breeders how to breed these beautiful dogs. And if you are interested in learning how to breed Labradors, these breeders are a great resource.
Red
There are many reasons for owning a rare Labrador. The black Labrador is the best choice for hunting and is considered the most loving and affectionate color of the dog breed. The red Labrador is also a good choice for game-shooting. The chocolate color is very rare and is usually reserved for dogs that are show ring champions. The different shades of chocolate can be obtained from the genes of the parents.
The genetics of colors are complicated, but these dogs have different levels of pigmentation. The genetics of color are controlled by two different genes, called alleles. The dominant allele expresses the color and the recessive one masks the expression. For example, a dog may be red, but it might be black or yellow, or even a mixture of the two. Rare Labrador colors include red, black, chocolate, and yellow.
The labrador’s floppy ears and muzzle are similar to those of a yellow lab, but the silver color is dilute. The silver color appears silver on some dogs while others appear closer to chocolate in color. Some people mistake the silver color of a Labrador for a Weimaraner, although this isn’t the case. It’s possible that silver labradors are descended from the same gene as the Weimaraner. In fact, there are two distinct varieties of the breed, both of which are relatively rare and have their own unique characteristics.
