If you’ve decided that the best dog for your family is a Labrador, you’ve now got to settle on a colour! You have probably heard of Black and Chocolate Labs, but what about Yellow, Silver, Red, and White Labradors? In this guide, we’ll cover the main Labrador shades and explore which ones are currently recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council.
The three primary colours are black, yellow, and chocolate, each with its own distinct appeal.
Black Labradors are sleek and classic, while yellow Labradors range from pale cream to a rich gold. Chocolate Labradors offer a warm, deep hue that stands out beautifully. Each colour can have subtle variations and shades, adding to the breed’s diversity.
The main colours you’ll come across are:
Black has long been the predominant coat colour of Labradors and was once the only acceptable colour of the breed. Labradors were historically used for hunting and retrieving, and an inconspicuous black coat was preferred for both of these jobs.
A Black Labrador will most commonly have a solid coat, but some pups may be mottled with white spots. One thing that is guaranteed is that all Black Labs coats will give off a reflective shine and have a distinct sleekness.
Chocolate Labradors are slightly behind Black and Yellow Labradors in terms of birthrate, making them slightly harder to find but all the more desirable. A Chocolate Lab can serve as a family pet, but they’ve also gained a name for themselves in show rings.
This coat colour comes in a broad range of shades, from light chocolate to dark mahogany. Whichever shade a Chocolate Labrador comes in, they will generally feature a solid coat, but some have been known to feature red streaks.
The Yellow Labrador may be the second most prominent Lab colour, but it’s the most photogenic! Their striking yellow hues look particularly good through a camera lens, which is why they are regularly picked for TV commercials and movies, including Marley & Me. This Yellow Labrador coat is accentuated by the pup’s dark eyes and black nose.
Like most other Lab colours, Yellow Labs come in a range of different shades, which include lemon yellow, tan, and cream.
Silver Labs stand out more than any other Labrador Retriever colour, which is not only due to them being the rarest. The coat colour of these pups is defined by a dilute genotype, which completely overrides any trace of yellow, chocolate, or black. Silver Labradors are so striking that they often get mistaken for other breeds, including Labmaraners and Weimaraners.
The coat of a Silver Labrador could be described as iridescent in the sunlight, which sees them flickering from silver-blue or grey to pure silver.
Often referred to as Fox Red Labradors (and affectionately known as Ruby Labs), Red Labs are almost genetically identical to Yellow Labs. Their coat is a mix of deep yellow and brown, which gives them a distinctly red hue. Not only are Red Labs often mistaken for Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Vizslas, but they also regularly get compared to foxes!
Red Labs are one of the rarer breeds of Labrador Retrievers, and you may struggle to find them in Australia. Still, they remain highly desirable. Their popularity is partially due to Clifford the Big Red Dog, whose title character was inspired by a Fox Red Labrador.
White Labradors are also derived from Yellow Labs, except they’re the opposite of Fox Red Labs, being the lightest form of the dog breed available. A lot of White Labs will appear yellow when indoors but look completely snow-white when in the sunshine.
Like a Yellow Lab, White Labradors commonly feature dark noses and eyes. They also sometimes feature brown paws and ears.
The Australian National Kennel Council only recognises the three main colours of Labradors: yellow, chocolate, and black.
All variations of Labrador are thought to share the same personality. However, some owners have noticed subtle differences between the main colours. For example, Chocolate Labs have been said to be more energetic and noisy, while a black Lab is said to be calmer. However, there has been no research to back this information up.
So, whichever you choose, you can expect a standard Labrador Retriever personality.
At around five months of age, a Labrador Puppy will shed its initial puppy coat and grow into its adult coat. Regardless of colour, this adult coat will invariably be thicker and longer.
While the Australian National Kennel Council only recognises Yellow, Chocolate, and Black Labs, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find rarer colours of Labradors in Australia. While a Yellow Lab will be perfect for your home, if you’re looking for a truly unique dog, keep your eye out for Silver, Red, and White Labs.
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