Labrador color variations

Labrador Retriever is a very friendly breed of dogs, serving for many years faithfully to man. The exact origin of the species is still unknown. During the service to humans, the breed has undergone many changes related to its appearance. To date, there are several color options for these animals.

The first representatives of this breed were only black in color, for which they received the current name. Labrador is a semi-precious stone of a dark shade, which is mined on the North American continent. In the 19th century, the exclusively black color of the breed described was recognized at the official level. By the end of the century, specialists were able to bring out individuals of brown and fawn. Currently, the colors recognized by the breed standard are as follows:

• the black - Pets with this color have a similar color to the eyelids, lips and nose;
• chocolate - animals of this shade have brown pigmentation;
• pale yellow - individuals differ in light coat (the shade may vary from close to white to red), while their lips and nose are black.

When breeding Labradors, you can not guess what color puppies will be. Parents' color doesn't matter. In order to at least roughly predict the color of the puppies, specialists should study their pedigree in detail, but even such a serious approach is not a guarantee of 100% success.

This beautiful color more than 100 years ago aroused the interest of Europeans. A dark labrador is more likely a rule than an exception.This color is recognized as dominant, therefore, if there is a gene responsible for the black color, then the dog will only have a dark coat color. Similar animals look spectacular. On their glossy wool there is not a single spot, except for a tiny speck on the chest of a snow-white shade, which is not always visible in this species.

This is the rarest color of the breed described, so a puppy with this shade of coat is much more expensive than the rest. Among all the colors, similar to chocolate, are considered valid:

• light chocolate;
• hepatic;
• bitter chocolate.

Such puppies should have a plain coat. The requirements for color exclude the presence of spots of other colors (with the exception of a bright spot on the chest - it is considered acceptable). When buying such a pet you need to be very careful. Irresponsible scammers will try to cash in on the buyer's ignorance.

For a very long time the beige color of the puppies was considered a marriage. This color was included in the standard only in 1924. Nowadays, the situation has changed a lot: the coloring has become quite popular, and many breeders specifically try to get this particular color. In this form, individuals of the following colors are allowed:

• golden;
• cream;
• almost ginger;
• sand (light);
• gray.

It is worth noting that snow-white labrador unknown to geneticists. Fawn cubs may have a light color, as close to white as possible, but it is not pure white. In the case when the fawn dog will be next to the black, only then against a dark background will it appear white (but only seem). The color of the eyes in this color is brown, and the pigmentation of the muzzle is dark.

The number of colors of Labradors is not limited to 3 options. The rest are simply not listed in the standard, the dogs will not be able to compete for first place at the shows. However, many dog ​​breeders are looking for non-standard animals. For these purposes, non-trivial colors are suitable.

• Dudley - this is usually a yellow labrador with no pigmentation of the nose and around the eyes. The eyes of such animals are even green. But this option is not valid for the standard.
• Silver. Silver individuals bred thanks to the great work of breeders. The color is not recognized as a standard, although among ordinary dog ​​breeders it is in demand, because the pets have beautiful gray wool. According to the laws of the market, demand creates supply, so many breeders offer to purchase the original silver color for a lot of money.
• Blue-eyed - they are very difficult to find, but many want to buy a dog with just such a feature.
• Pale yellow with chocolate pigmentation.
• Spotted - black and white puppies of this color look very beautiful. Dogs with spots on the body and paws are also not acceptable by breed standards, which makes them unpopular among dog breeders who want to get a pet for further participation in various exhibitions and competitions. But this unusual coloring is interesting for many breeders today, so puppies of this kind are dismantled quickly.

Many people wonder if the color affects the character and behavior of the dog. After all, black Labradors look very impressive (it’s better not to joke with such ones), while light ones look like plush toys. The first impression is deceptive, and the color absolutely does not affect anything.

These dogs are good companions and lifeguards. Many use them as a hunting option. And also they can be easily trained.Dog of any color will be cheerful, lively, devoted to his master.

It should be noted that the labrador of red color burns out very much in the sun, but, given the activity of these animals, it is not possible to keep them constantly in the shade. For this reason, in the summer, the color of the animal may be uneven. In winter, of course, he will return to normal. Therefore, because of this, do not worry.

When choosing a puppy, you need to be guided not only by useful tips, but also by common sense, taking into account certain details:

• why and how you will keep a particular dog;
• consider how active she is;
• evaluate your capabilities: can you give her the right amount of time;
• how much space will be allocated for her space.

A large dog needs a lot of space, and also needs to decide whether you take a puppy for further breeding or as a friend. Having studied all the nuances of this breed and made a firm decision to purchase such a dog for ourselves, we begin the search for a breeder. It can be either a professional club or a private breeder. Then you need to ask about the presence of puppies, if there are few of them, you need to be extremely careful, as the strongest and most active are first of all sorted.

The age of the puppy to be purchased must be at least 1.5 months. All vaccinations should be given to him. During the inspection of the individual you need to pay attention to some features:

• painting standard;
• complete staining of the nasal mucosa and lips;
• the baby should be active and friendly;
• Do not show fear and attacks of aggression;
• must be proportionate, move confidently;
• special attention should be paid to the correct bite.

Useful tips.

• If you get a Dudley dog, then you should consider that at times it may not show the best behavior. The reason for this is the fact that pets of this color often have problems with vision and hearing.
• Labradors of any color are big lovers of bath procedures. Bathe your pet in time, play with him in the water.
• All fawn (yellow) Labradors can be disqualified if they do not have a characteristic contrasting with the overall color of the pigmentation of the skin around the eyes, nose and gums, there will be a different shade of the iris of the eyes or there are spots on the coat (brown or snow-white).

See Labrador color variations below.