STOPPRESS – Labradors can now be DNA tested for the ‘dilute’ gene. Purebred Labradors SHOULD NOT carry the ‘dilute’ gene. Read coat colour summary from “Animal Network’ for more info.
The Labrador Club Inc is dedicated to the health and welfare of the Labrador Retriever breed while conserving the original breed function – that of a “working retriever.” A purebred dog offers to his owner the likelihood that he will be a specific size, shape, color and temperament. The predictability of a breed comes from selection for traits that are desirable and away from traits that are undesirable.
The only recognised colours for Labrador Retrievers are black, yellow and chocolate – and chocolate is brown – like chocolate or liver. Labradors of other colours do not conform to the Standard Description of the Labrador Retriever Breed.
The Breed Standard which is universally accepted describes what is a Labrador. Breeding dogs that do not conform to this Standard is a move towards creating a new breed. We do not want to see ‘silver labs’, ‘charcoal labs’, ‘black and white labs’, ‘merle labs’, ‘roan labs’, ‘blue labs’ etc and the Club does not approve or condone the sale of such dogs as Labradors.