The History of Silver Labradors |
The controversy among breeders of Labradors. This is what I have learned about 'how' you get a Lab to turn out Silver or Charcoal. When a Labrador who is Silver-factored is bred with another Silver-factored Labrador, Silver puppies can be produced in the litter. What I know is that the genetic make-up of both parents is what determines what the puppies will turn out like and provides the possibilities for the different colors. There is much negative talk going on about the Silver (Gray) Labrador, but be assured that these dogs are as pure to the breed as the more common Black, Chocolate, and Yellow Labradors. They are classified by AKC as a diluted Chocolate. Charcoal pups are classified as Black and have been called "Smoky Black" by some breeders who produced Charcoal unknowingly. Labrador Breeders have been accused of cross-breeding Chocolate Labradors with the Weimaraner breed to achieve the Silver color which is completely untrue. Non-Silver breeders have been known to say that this color comes from interbreeding which is also untrue. Silver Labs have been 'advertised' since the 1950's in the western U.S., and have also appeared in other countries (especially the United Kingdom) before making their appearance in the U.S. The first U.S. Kennel found to be breeding and producing Silver Labradors was investigated thoroughly by the AKC. The AKC verified that the bloodlines of the Silver Labradors were in fact a pure Labrador Retriever, and the breeder in question had no links to any other breed of dogs (specifically the Weimaraner) in his kennel. The AKC Stand on Registration of Silver Labradors Response of Jack Norton of the AKC on 1/24/00 giving AKC official position on the issue of Silver Labs: The registry of the American Kennel Club is based on parentage and not the coat color of a member of any breed. In 1987 the AKC, in corporation with the Labrador Retriever Club of America, conducted an inquiry into the breeding of litters that contained members that were registered as silver. An AKC representative was sent to observe these dogs. AKC staff and representatives of the Labrador Retriever Club of America reviewed the report and color photographs of these dogs. Both Parties were satisfied that there was no reason to doubt that the dogs were purebred Labrador Retrievers, however they felt that the dogs were incorrectly registered as silver. Since the breed standard at the time described chocolate as ranging in shade form sedge to chocolate, it was felt that the dogs could more accurately be described as chocolate rather than silver. This remains the current policy of the American Kennel Club. -Jack Norton Special Services Dept |