Variations of color Labradors

Labrador Retriever is a very friendly breed of dogs, for many years serving faithfully to man. The exact origin of the species is still unknown. During the service of a man, the breed has undergone many changes related to its appearance. To date, there are several options colors these animals.

The first representatives of this breed had only a black color, for which they received the current name. Labrador is a semiprecious stone of a dark shade which is extracted on the North American continent. In the 19th century, the exclusively black color of the described breed was recognized at the official level. By the end of the century, experts were able to breed individuals of brown and fawn. Currently, the colors recognized by the breed standard are as follows:

• the black - Pets with this color have a similar color to the eyelids, lips and nose;
• chocolate - animals of this shade have pigmentation of brown color;
• pale yellow - individuals differ in light wool (the shade can vary from close to white to red), while their lips and nose are black.

When breeding Labradors can not guess what color the puppies will be. The color of the parents does not matter. In order to at least tentatively predict the color of puppies, specialists should examine in detail their pedigree, but even such a serious approach is not a guarantee of 100% success.

This beautiful color more than 100 years ago aroused the interest of Europeans. Dark Labrador is more likely the rule than the exception. Such color is recognized as dominant, therefore, if there is a gene that is responsible for black color, then the dog will be only with a dark coat color. These animals look spectacular. On their glossy wool there is not a single spot, except for a tiny spot on the chest of a snow-white shade, which is not always visible in this species.

This is the rarest color of the breed described, therefore a puppy with a given shade of wool cover is much more expensive than the rest. Among all colors similar to chocolate, are considered valid:

• light chocolate;
• hepatic;
• bitter chocolate.

These puppies should be monotonous wool. Color requirements exclude the presence of spots of other colors (with the exception of light spots on the chest - it is considered acceptable). When buying such a pet you need to be very careful. Irresponsible razvodchiki will try to cash in on the ignorance of the buyer.

For a very long time, the beige color of puppies was considered a marriage. This color was included in the standard only in 1924. Nowadays, the situation has changed a lot: the colors have become quite popular, and many breeders are trying to get this particular color. In this form, individuals of such colors are allowed:

• golden brown;
• cream;
• almost red;
• sandy (light);
• gray.

It is worth noting that The snow-white labrador is unknown to geneticists. Fawn pups may have a light color, as close as possible to white, but it is not pure white.In the case when the fawn dog will be next to the black one, only on a dark background will it appear white (but only appear). The color of the eyes of this color is brown, and the pigmentation of the muzzle is dark.

The number of colors Labrador is not limited to 3 options. The rest are simply not included in the standard, dogs will not be able to compete for first place at exhibitions. However, many dog ​​breeders are looking for non-standard animals. For these purposes, suitable non-trivial colors.

• Dudley - this is usually a fawn labrador with no pigmentation of the nose and around the eyes. The eyes of such animals are even green. But this option is not valid for the standard.
• Silver. Silver individuals bred due to the enormous work of breeders. Color is not recognized as a standard, although among ordinary dog ​​breeders is in demand, because the pets have a beautiful gray wool. According to the laws of the market, demand creates supply, so many breeders offer to purchase the original silver color for a lot of money.
• Blue eyed - they are very hard to find, but many want to buy a dog with just such a feature.
• Pale yellow with chocolate pigmentation.
• Spotted - black and white puppies of this color look very beautiful. Dogs that have spots on their bodies and paws are also not allowed by the breed standards, this makes them unpopular among dog breeders who want to buy a pet for further participation in various exhibitions and competitions. But this unusual coloring today is interesting to many breeders, therefore, puppies of this type disassemble quickly.

Many people wonder whether the color affects the character and behavior of the dog. After all, black Labradors look very impressive (with such it is better not to joke), and light ones look like plush toys. The first impression is deceptive, and the color absolutely does not affect anything.

These dogs are good companions and lifeguards. Many use them as a hunting option. And they are also seamlessly trainable. A dog of any color will be cheerful, agile, loyal to his master.

It should be noted that The labrador of red color burns out strongly in the sun, but, given the activity of these animals, it is not possible to keep them constantly in the shade. For this reason, the color of the animal in summer may be uneven. In winter, of course, he will return to normal. Therefore, it’s not worth worrying about.

When choosing a puppy you need to be guided not only by good advice, but also by common sense, taking into account certain details:

• why and how you will keep a particular dog;
• consider how active she is;
• assess your capabilities: can you give her the right amount of time;
• how much space will be reserved for its space.

The big dog needs a lot of space and also needs to decide whether you take a puppy for further breeding or as a friend. Having studied all the nuances of this breed and having made a firm decision about buying such a dog for ourselves, we begin the search for a breeder. It can be both a professional club and a private breeder. Then you need to ask about the presence of puppies, if there are few of them, you need to be extremely attentive, because first and foremost they are dismantling the strongest and most active.

The puppy must be at least 1,5 months old. He should be given all vaccinations. During the inspection of the individual you want to pay attention to some of the features:

• coloring standard;
• full color of the mucous membrane of the nose and lips;
• baby should be active and friendly;
• show no fear and attacks of aggression;
• must be proportional, move confidently;
• special attention should be paid to the correct bite.

Useful tips.

• If you start a dog, then you should consider that at times it may not show the most good behavior. The reason for this is that the pets of this color often have problems with vision and hearing.
• Labradors of any color are great lovers of bath procedures. Bathe your pet in a timely manner, play with it in the water.
• All fawn (yellow) Labradors can be disqualified if they do not have the characteristic pigmentation of the skin around the eyes, nose and gums that contrast with the general color, the iris has a different tint or there are spots on the hair (brown or white).

For variations on color Labradors, see below.