The Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular breeds worldwide, known for its friendly, outgoing nature. Per the American Kennel Club’s breed standard, the dog comes in three colors: yellow, black, and chocolate. Yet, there are some that claim to have Labrador Retrievers that come in silver. While many consider the color to be a diluted chocolate, breed purists say otherwise.
Silver Labs are undoubtedly beautiful animals, but there’s more to these dogs than what initially meets the eye. Learn more here.
What Are Silver Labs?
For decades, Labrador Retrievers reigned as the most popular dog in the United States—and for many good reasons. Known for being friendly and family-oriented, Labrador Retrievers have everything dog owners look for: devotion and high trainability.
The AKC breed standard notes that male Labs weigh 65 to 85 pounds, while females weigh slightly less at 55 to 70 pounds. As noted, they come in three colors: yellow, black, and chocolate. Silver is seen as a diluted chocolate, and the coat must be free of white hairs to conform to the breed standard.
A Labrador Retriever’s coat is not indicative of its temperament or personality. The breed standard notes that these dogs are known for their gentle nature and adaptivity, and that any sign of aggression is heavily penalized at dog show competitions. This is a breed that “much appeals to people” and is non-aggressive toward other animals.
Unethical Breeding Casts a Shadow on Silver Labs
To understand the controversy behind silver Labs, it’s important to first understand the controversy behind unethical breeding practices. Some backyard breeders will breed dogs and attempt to pass them off as something they’re not. For instance, an unethical breeder may mix a French Bulldog with a Chihuahua, then charge thousands for allegedly purebred puppies.
If the cycle continues, and these mixed-breed dogs are bred again, this can introduce undesirable behaviors and traits into the larger breed. Backyard breeders also don’t screen for genetic abnormalities that could lead to serious health complications that eventually lead to rehoming.
The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. notes that Labrador Retrievers do not carry the gene responsible for the silver coloration—but Weimaraners do. So, it alleges that silver Labs could actually be Labrador Retrievers mixed with Weimaraners, and therefore not purebred dogs. The fear is that if silver Labs get too popular, backyard breeders would breed Labs with Weimaraners to get the silver coat, prioritizing color over dogs’ health and jeopardizing the Labrador breed itself.
Complications That Can Result from Poor Breeding
Responsible breeders consider many things when breeding two dogs. They think about conformation to the breed standard, the parents’ genetic compatibility, and the parents’ health profiles. Having a litter of uniquely colored dogs is a happy, random occurrence, not something to achieve. However, unethical breeders don’t think that way. They may breed two silver Labs, hoping to get a litter of silver Lab puppies. In the long run, the smaller genetic pool can make the puppies more susceptible to congenital abnormalities and long-term health conditions that impair their quality of life.
Poor breeding practices like these are evidenced in the “double merle” phenomenon concerning some dog breeds, particularly Australian Shepherds and Great Danes. Here, irresponsible breeders mate two merle-colored dogs, hoping to get a litter of puppies with the same coloring. Yet, there’s a 25 percent chance that puppies will inherit both merle genes from the parents, increasing the likelihood of blindness and deafness. While these special needs dogs can live happy lives, breeders should do everything possible to avoid adverse conditions in litters.
What Other Dog Breeds Come in Silver?
Labrador Retrievers aren’t the only dogs with diluted chocolate coats that appear silver. Dachshunds also have this trait, except instead of being called “silver Dachshunds,” the coloration is called “Isabella.” With this coloration, dogs usually have light-colored olive eyes and may have patches of brown around the snout. Depending on who you ask, Isabella is sometimes called “lilac.”
Some Pitbulls also appear silver, sometimes called “blue.” Note that Pitbulls are not a unified dog breed. The term simply refers to dogs that are mastiff/terrier mixes. So, the coloration could come from one or both of a dog’s parents, depending on their breed.
Where Can I Get a Silver Lab?
Remember: getting a new dog isn’t necessarily about getting an animal that looks cool or has rare coloring. However, if you’re set on purchasing or adopting a silver Lab, you have options for doing this responsibly.
First, research breeders within the distance you’re willing to travel. Don’t write off an ethical breeder who might be located in another state; there are services that transfer puppies safely from breeder to owner. Next, make sure a prospective breeder is registered with certain organizations, such as the American Kennel Club or kennel clubs centered around a specific breed. A reputable breeder belonging to these clubs will readily furnish information about the parents’ breed, genes, and age.
Finally, be sure to temper your expectations. Chances are, if you’ve found a great breeder, you won’t get a silver Lab puppy within a few weeks of your decision. You’ll likely be on a waiting list before the mother even goes into heat, and even then, there’s no guarantee the puppy you’re purchasing will have a silver coat. Still, you might find the wait worth it!
Weimaraners Share Many Characteristics of Silver Labs
If you’re unsure about getting a silver Lab because of its controversy and relative rarity, you may turn your attention toward another breed: the Weimaraner. Affectionately called the “gray ghost,” these large dogs are known for their distinctive silver-gray coat. Like Labrador Retrievers, Weimaraners are great with kids and fare well with other dogs. These dogs only come in three colors: blue, gray, and silver-gray. So, if you put a deposit on a Weimaraner puppy that hasn’t been born yet, you can rest assured that it’ll come in silver or a variation.
