The Different Labrador Retriever Colors

Labrador Retrievers are not classified according to color in their breed standard, but only certain colors are accepted. Thanks to continued breeding throughout the centuries, some variations have developed even if they are not official in many organizations. They are:

• Black Labrador Retriever
• Chocolate Labrador Retriever
• Yellow Labrador Retriever
• Dudley Labrador Retriever
• White Labrador Retriever

We will explain the different coat colors and their variations in the sections below. However, if you want to know more about how this breed is classified, take a look at our article on the different types of Labrador Retriever.

Although Labrador Retrievers are now one of the world's most popular dog breeds, they are not one of the oldest breeds in the world. According to the International Cynological Federation (FCI), there are documents recording their first appearance as early as 1800. However, it was not until 1903 that the first kennel club (The Kennel Club of Britain) officially recognized the breed.

According to the original breed standards, the preferred color of Labrador Retriever was black. This meant that the now popular chocolate and yellow Labrador Retrievers were not considered as pure and many breeders did not encourage them. However, the FCI now accepts different shades of brown, mainly chocolate and liver. The color is solid over the whole body.

For chocolate Labrador Retrievers to be born, both parents must carry the genes of this coloration. While adopting a chocolate Lab shouldn't provide significantly different problems than other colors, they are known to have less genetic diversity than other colors of Labrador Retriever. This may mean they have a slightly shorter life expectancy or are more prone to hereditary diseases common to Labrador Retrievers.

In the Labrador Retriever, there are four different genes which affect coat coloration. They are:

• Genotype B: is in charge of transmitting the color black. It can act as a dominant gene with respect to the chocolate color or as a recessive gene with respect to the yellow color. Recessive means that it does not manifest itself in that specimen, but it can do so in their offspring.
• Genotype b: this is an allele that transmits the chocolate color and acts as recessively with yellow and black.
• Genotype E: this does not transmit color of the fur, but it does allow to override the dominance of yellow. Therefore, this is an epistatic allele.
• Genotype e: is a hypostatic allele that, contrary to the previous one, allows the dominance of yellow.

Chocolate Labrador Retrievers occur when one of these genetic combinations happens:

• EE bb: corresponds to pure chocolate.
• Ee bb: corresponds to chocolate which, in turn, is the carrier of yellow and black.

These combinations do not indicate the shade of chocolate/liver, they simply show whether it is an example of pure chocolate. This will also transmit it to any offspring they may have if so. They may also be a carrier of other colors, even if they have brown hair. The same will happen with the following colors.

As we have previously commented, the black color was the first color of Labrador Retriever to be recognized. Breeders were looking exclusively for black specimens to continue the linage. Many unscrupulous breeders discarded yellow, brown or other shades of Labs, or simply never used them for breeding. It is possible that black is not even the color of Labrador Retriever you think of when their name i mentioned.

Similar to chocolate Labs, black Labrador Retrievers need to have a solid body color to be officially accepted. Black, however, does not affected any variations in its hue and is the only Lab color not to do so. There can be a small white spot on their chest area.

Black color occurs when one of these genetic combinations happens:

• EE BB: pure black Labrador Retriever.
• EE Bb: the dog is a carrier of the chocolate genotype.
• Ee BB: the dog is a carrier of the yellow genotype.
• Ee Bb: the dog is a carrier of both yellow and chocolate.

As we are seeing in both this and the previous case, a Labrador Retriever with a coat of one color can be a carrier of another. This is why Labrador litters of different colors can be born.

As we stated in the introduction, there are some coat colors of Labrador Retrievers which are not officially accepted by breed standard organizations. Although not considered official Labradors, they may have the same morphology and other characteristics of the breed except their coloration is different.

The gray or silver coat colors of some Labrador Retrievers derives from the breeding of other Labs with a gray colored dog breed such as the Weimaraner or American Staffordshire Terrier. However, their features and temperament will likely be affected by this mix. Silver Labrador Retrievers are specimens which have the features of a Lab with silver coloration, likely meaning the mix of other breeds is minimal.

Image: 1zoom.me

Unlike black Labs, the yellow labrador can present different shades, all of which are accepted by the official standard. The spectrum of yellow Labs ranges from an almost white light cream to a reddish golden color. In general, yellow Labrador Retrievers tend to have black mucosa on their nose, lips and eyelids. However, this will depend on the genetic variation and they may be brown or pink.

For yellow Labradors, or any of their variants, one of the following genetic combinations needs to appear. These genetic combinations, however, do not represent the exact shade of yellow Lab. They only let us know whether they are pure yellow or carriers of other colors:

• ee BB: pure yellow with black pigmentation in mucosa and paw pads.
• ee bb: carrier of chocolate genotype without black pigmentation in mucosa and pads.
• ee Bb: carrier of black and chocolate with black pigmentation in mucosa and pads.

You can find Labrador Retrievers with solid body colors, but there are various shades. A white spot or larger patch on their front is also relatively common.

The Dudley is not a Labrador of a different color from those described above as the different colors of the labrador Retriever. They are actually a type of yellow Labrador which lacks pigmentation in the mucosa such as the eyes and nose. Specifically, they are a Labrador Retriever with a genetic combination of ee bb. They are a yellow Lab with mucosa and paw pads which can be pink or brown, but not black.

The white labrador is not accepted by the official breed standard. While light cream Labradors are accepted, they should not be confused with white Labrador Retrievers. These dogs are usually albino types. In these cases, there are two variations:

• Partially albino Labrador Retriever: slight pigmentation may appear on the nose, eyelids or skin.
• Pure albino Labrador Retriever: their whole body lacks pigmentation.

The lack of pigmentation in albino dogs causes the mucosa and skin to appear with a light pink tone. The eyes are usually very clear blue or reddish. These specimens are born with a greater sensitivity to sunlight, so we need to be careful not to expose them to sunburn.

Albino Labs are also more prone to certain diseases such as deafness and a suppressed immune system. For these reasons, they require special care and more frequent veterinary checkups. To know some more general information about Labrador Retrievers, check out our video below:

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