Breed Spotlight: The Labrador Retriever

Question:
 Well Feb. is rolling in so Labs are the talk of the town:D
The Labrador Retriever is a retriever in the class of Sporting dogs. They are considered a 'flushing' dog that will retrieve the game for the hunter once down. They are generally used to hunt both upland game birds and waterfowl. More recently some have worked on perfecting a pointing characteristic with Labradors. No matter what it's AKC classification, Labradors have come to be one of the favorite family house pets in America today due to its wonderful personality, gentle disposition and loyalty.(Loyal??HAHA..Anyone with a big juicy steak has my dog)
As the name indicates Labrador, they did not come from there but were instead originated in Newfoundland.
Labradors almost became extinct a few times and the St. John's dogs that Labs came from are now extinct in Newfoundland. It was only through some events and efforts of some key people that we have the wonderful companion we call the Labrador today.
The 5th Duke of Buccleuch (1806-1884) started his kennel in Scotland about 1835 independently from Malmesbury. The dog was first documented under the name Labrador in 1839. The Duke's brother, Lord John Scott also started importing the St. John's dogs from Newfoundland. A number of the dogs that the brothers imported were named Jock, Nell (1843) and Brandy. Brandy earned his name when he was being transported across the Atlantic ocean. He went overboard into rough water to fetch the cap of one of the crew. It took them 2 hours before they could pick up the dog and he was so exhausted they revived him with Brandy(ahh the many uses of Brandy :) ). The earliest photograph of a Labrador Retriever was of the Duke's dog named Nell. She was about 12 years old when this photo below was taken in 1856.

Nell 1856This (St. John's) dog was part of the breeding stock for the Labrador and had white feet and a white muzzle. This trait was noted in some other Labradors being bred in the 1800's in England. Today the breed standard prefers no white in the coat color. Sometimes as the present day Labrador ages you will notice that areas that gray tend to be the paws and muzzle. Perhaps a left over of the St. John's Dog? Nell is 12 years old here
Nell was owned by the Earl of Home (1799-1881)
In 1917 the AKC first recognized the Labrador Retriever and in 1927 there were only 27 labs registered. Today there are more than 2000 labs registered with AKC.
The current breed standard
DOG: 22 ½” to 24 ½” weighing between 65 and 80 lbs.
BITCH: 21 ½” to 23 ½” weighing between 55 and 70 lbs
They come in three colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. Acceptable yellows can vary from extremely light to fox red and chocolate can be light or dark.
The three basic colors:
Black
Chocolate
Yellow
Stay tuned more to follow

Answer:
 Typical lab... jumping the gun :rolleyes: :rofl:
Ready, set...... Let's see those Labs.

Answer:
 Black is the most consistent of the colors. Chocolate can vary slighlty from light to dark. The greatest variation can be seen in the yellow from white or silver all the way to the dark fox red. Many people will try to sell these extreme colors for extra money when in fact are simply a shade of yellow and recognized by AKC as yellow.
A labs nose can also be liver or black and often times many labs get winter nose. There nose will be black during warm months and change to a liver color during the winter. Either color is acceptable.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/yellows.html
You might have seen the ads, "Rare white Labrador puppies" or "Rare fox red" or "cinnamon" or "honeybacked" or "Golden Labs". These are not rare, these are just normal varying shades of yellow. These ads are preying on an unsuspecting public. Don't fall for it.
Golden Labs: Actually a Golden Lab is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Labrador Retriever. The proper term is Yellow. Doesn't matter what shade of yellow, its yellow. Again, don't fall for anyone calling them Golden Labs and its recommended you don't use the term either when describing a Labrador.
From the AKC Standard in regards to the yellow coloring: "Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog."
Pale Yellow
Photo courtesy of Pathway Labradors This is a very light yellow. Some would call this white, which is incorrect. Its still a yellow, just a very pale color.
Light CreamThis is a light cream yellow. Though the body is light, the ears, the face, the hocks and the tip of the tail have shading.
Medium yellowThis is more of a medium yellow. Not as light as the one above, but not extremely dark.
Dark YellowThis is a dark yellow. Not a fox red, but definitely darker than the average yellow. Nothing rare about this color either.
This dark yellow pup will probably continue to darken up as it grows. You can see the "skirts" of the pup are lighter than the rest of his and he has shading throughout his body.

Fox Red
Photo courtesy of Lakeview Labradors
This is a fox red Labrador. Though you don't see a lot of them around, they are hardly rare.
If they are fox red, they will be red from birth.

Photo courtesy of Little River Labradors

Photo courtesy of Little River Labradors Plus they will stay that red color as they mature.
Photo courtesy of Little River Labradors

Answer:
 Since I can't fit all the pics in one post More from the woodhaven lab site
In General
This dog was a result of breeding a dark yellow to a fox red. Doing so does not guarantee you will get fox red puppies. The pups were all varying shades of dark yellow, but none were actually a fox red.
This pup is a repeat of the dog above's breeding and you can see the dark coat. He is still not a fox red, but a dark yellow. Note the shading on his shoulders and rear "skirts".
This dark yellow is showing classic "angel wings" (white shading) over the shoulders. Most yellows have this so it is not rare. If you look at the fox red puppy, he also is showing "angel wings".
This picture shows you the difference in yellow shades. The dog on the left is a light cream. The dog on the right is a dark yellow. (they are related, but not mother-son)
This photo shows the contrast between the yellow shades.
Photo courtesy of Little River & Penara Labradors
Some yellows get darker as they age so that light puppy might turn into a darker adult. The following pictures are of the same dog.

The first one was taken when the dog was 3 weeks old. The second at 2½ years.
This is the dog at 5½ years.
Two yellow Labs will always produce yellow puppies, but there is no guarantee as to what shade.
Photo courtesy of Little River Labradors One of this girl's parents is fox red. You'd never know it to look at her since she's a beautiful light creme.
Remember too, there are various shades and shading in all these various shades and shading. Its endless.
All of these shades are correct as per the standard. Any of these dogs would be correct for color either in the show ring or as beloved pets. However, color or a shade of that color should be secondary to temperament/health when selecting a dog.
Also a black and tan lab???
Yep a disqualifying color but it is possible
The breeder that is breeding this has not stopped these lines for the simple fact that she is breeding her dogs for guide dogs and a disqualifying color doesn't matter.

Answer:
 Here is my fox red(yellow) that you all know Sampson:
And my previous black lab Morgan:

Answer:
 never heard of the black and tan, thats interesting!! Great profile agility!

Answer:
 :rofl: And yes Dax it is said that lab owners must have ADD in order to understand their ADD dogs.
If I start now, then in a few weeks someone else will be ready;)

Answer:
 thats good info you got there. Levi also has those angel wings we love them they add some "dimension" to his coat.

Answer:
 :woot: :applaud: :pupdance:
yeah! it the labbie's turn!