Silver Labs – Labradors Or Not, You Decide
Author: S Wheeler
Source: ezinearticles.com
Few people would argue that the Labrador breed of dog is one of, if not the most popular choice of canine companion made by man. When people are asked to point to or create images that best represent the phrase “mans best friend” almost without fail people point to an image of a Labrador. Although devotees of other breeds would disagree (that’s one of the things that makes us dog lovers such interesting folks!) there is something very….well, complete about a Labrador. Sure, he has a leg at each corner, a broad “enthusiastic” tail and a large square-ish melancholic face. I’m not referring to all that stuff. It’s the character that has always got to me. The almost human personality traits (I know, I know the psychologists will tell us that the personality, as we like to refer to it is merely that which is conveyed to the dog by us. We imbue them with the traits we want to see coming back. Ah well, maybe.
That’s what I love about the world of dogs. Take the total number of species in the world, multiply by the number of breed variations, add in the various authority standards and what do you have? Masses and masses of conflicting opinions, advice, training regimens etc etc.
Take for example the case of Silver Labs (excuse my shortening the name, it’s the affection of an owner!) Silver Labs are every inch a Labrador – Silver Labs have the square melancholic face, the “otter” tail, the broad strong gait etc etc. However, for a very long time they were regarded by the establishment as very much not a Labrador. Traditionalists felt that the “true” Labradors should be either Black, Chocolate or Golden. However, it soon became clear that within the Chocolate breeding stream variations were a common occurrence. Research showed that two particular genes were involved in color production.
The E gene determines whether or not pigmentation occurs and the B gene determines the relative density of such pigmentation. Within the chocolate nomenclature dog colors ranging from a deep, dark cacao chocolate colour right down to a sedge peat colored grey were regularly and reproducibly seen. Following this the American Kennel Club decided that Silver Labs did indeed exist as a true pigmentation, however, such dogs are registered with the Kennel Club as Chocolate!
I think Silver Labs around the world (and their owners) can probably live with that compromise. After all, the other qualifying attribute for the breed standard is that Labrador coats must be of one single solid color. Certainly all the Silver Labs that I know of are most definitely, 100% Silver. That’s good enough for me, how about you?
Stephen Wheeler is an avid Labrador lover, trainer and dog website owner. If you want more FREE Silver Labs information from Stephen then please click here.