Silver Lab

[jrmasm]

If you are expecting to show/register the dog, then no, don't buy silver until the AKC accepts it.

If you want a family pet, then why not? If it is a cross between a lab and another breed, then chances are it will be healthier than a purebred. While he lived to be 15, our purebred black lab had some issues common with his breed. He was one of the few in his litter that had good hips though!

Not necessarily. The best and healthiest examples of a breed are not used for crossbreeding.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not necessarily. The best and healthiest examples of a breed are not used for crossbreeding.

Yup, hybrid vigor does not occur in mixed breeds bred on purpose, just random dogs. (This was well explained by a veterinarian who used to post here.)

I thought the pic in the OP looked like a Lab-Weimeraner cross. I bet if you look in Petfinder you could find such dogs if you wanted one.

 

[Deb in IA]

I know the Labrador world does not recognize "silver" labs, just as they do not recognize "minature" labs.
http://lrr.org/
To the OP: How about checking out your local animal shelter? Or check the national listing of Labrador rescue groups:
http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/show_contents.php?page=Overview

And here's the organization for the Virginia/DC area:
http://lrr.org/

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I know the Labrador world does not recognize "silver" labs, just as they do not recognize "minature" labs.
http://lrr.org/
To the OP: How about checking out your local animal shelter? Or check the national listing of Labrador rescue groups:
http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/show_contents.php?page=Overview

And here's the organization for the Virginia/DC area:
http://lrr.org/

LOVE my rescue dogs. One is breed specific, two are just dogs.

 

[Hrhpd]

I think they are really just a chocolate lab with color variation.

Not according to the geneticists with the Labrador Retriever Club, the official AKC breed club.

The weim is the only breed known to carry the dd dilute gene (the grey dilute.) The dd dilute gene has never been found in a lab.

This points to an almost 99.99% chance that any lab with the dd dilute gene is crossed somewhere with a weim.

 

[Magic Mom]

Not according to the geneticists with the Labrador Retriever Club, the official AKC breed club.

The weim is the only breed known to carry the dd dilute gene (the grey dilute.) The dd dilute gene has never been found in a lab.

This points to an almost 99.99% chance that any lab with the dd dilute gene is crossed somewhere with a weim.

WHat I meant is that they aren't their own specific breed.

 

[Hrhpd]

WHat I meant is that they aren't their own specific breed.

You are right. They are a mixed breed, not a breed at all.

 

[Magic Mom]

You are right. They are a mixed breed, not a breed at all.

ooookay

 

[CathrynRose]

BLAH!

Adopt!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

BLAH!

Adopt!

It's a possibility have people looking for labs for me to adopt.

 

[Hrhpd]

It's a possibility have people looking for labs for me to adopt.

It is perfectly ok to get a lab from a reputable breeder. Just reference the Labrador Retriever Club for references to reputable breeders. While rescue is great, there is nothing to feel guilty about purchasing a well bred dog from a great breeder.

However, anybody breeding mixed breed dogs such as the "silver" lab and trying to pass them off as chocolate dilute purebreds, is about the farthest thing from reputable that you can get. (we have labs, btw).

Read the article previously posted that a silver lab cannot be a purebred lab because labs do not carry the silver gene. The only breed that carries the dd gene is the Weimaraner.

If you want one of those beautiful grey ghosts, I highly recommend looking into the Weim.