The Silver Labrador Retriever is a medium-sized, long-bodied dog with a large head and expressive eyes. This dog was first bred in Newfoundland from local fishermen’s working dogs. He is known for his intelligence, friendly personality, high energy level, silverish color, and trainability.
In this post, we will look at the 50 facts about silver labrador retrievers.
35 Facts About Silver Labrador Retriever
1. The silver labrador retriever has a silver coat because of the silver gene which is carried by many breeds of dogs including the yellow Labrador retriever and chocolate labrador retriever. A silver lab with two copies of this recessive silver gene will be solid silver, while one copy gives a dog mostly white but with some patches of color, giving it a “ghost” appearance.
2. Dogs with one silver gene are always heterozygous for black and tan (a trait not related to the silver gene). They do not carry any copies of other dilution genes (e.g., liver) that might turn their noses or toes brown if those alleles were also present in a homozygous state; nor do they carry silver.
3. Dogs with two copies of the silver gene (homozygous for silver), can produce offspring in any combination of black-and-tan, silver, and black-and-tan, or all silver. The number of solid silver versus ghost/party pups is genetically determined by the parents; there are no dominant silver alleles that “shut off” color like in merle dogs.
4. Thus it is difficult to predict from appearance alone what color puppies a silver Labrador will produce when bred to a yellow Labrador. Yellow Labradors are not more likely than silver Labs to carry genes for other dilution colors (such as chocolate) nor to carry genes that can turn a dog’s nose or toes brown.
5. Many silver labrador retriever puppies are born solid silver at birth, but as they grow older and their coats begin to change color their coats lighten over several months from a silver-gray color through various shades of blonde, yellow, and gold until finally settling at the base color of whatever pigment is present (usually black or liver). This is called “color breaking” or “color coming in”, and it can be difficult to predict when this will happen because it depends on environmental factors that cannot be easily controlled, such as temperature.
6. Some silver Labs gain very little additional color throughout their lives; others go through an initial period of slow darkening (or silvering) after about six months that continues for 18-24 months, after which they slowly lighten to the point that they are usually a few shades lighter than yellow Labs; and still others silver quickly but silver slowly or even stop silvering altogether.
7. The silver labrador retriever is thought to have been first bred for use as a “scent dog” for hunters of waterfowl during the 19th century in Newfoundland. This unique dog became known as the Labrador Retriever because it was subsequently kept by local fishermen and used with great success in retrieving shot game at sea from boats without damaging the valuable peltries. Indeed most silver labrador retrievers love water so much that their preferred method of cooling off is to jump into ponds or lakes, making them especially popular among duck hunters.
8. Although silver Labs can be black or liver, they are most often yellow, probably because of the dominance of the non-silver gene (for which there is no official symbol) at the K locus that affects pigmentation in dogs. The silver coloration results from a mismatch between melanocytes and their receptors on keratinocytes (found in the skin and hair). Melanin production occurs normally but its deposition is inhibited by tyrosinase, an enzyme whose activity requires copper as a cofactor. Since silver Labrador retrievers have only one copy of the silver allele (with two copies they would be solid silver), the single functional allele effectively “turns down” tyrosinase activity so that less pigment is deposited, resulting in silver hair.
9. The silver gene can be so dominant that it can hide the expression of other genes entirely. For example, a silver Labrador bred to a dog with ticking will often produce pups with no ticking, as long as the silver Lab has at least one copy of the silver allele and is not homozygous for another dilution gene such as liver or blue (dilution is a recessive trait). In fact, if silver Labs are bred together, they may occasionally produce some offspring without any pigment whatsoever, who appear pinkish-buff or even white because of their skin color and nose leather (but not tongue or paw pads) lack melanin pigmentation. Such dogs have been called “ghost” or”‘parti silver” for their piebald coloration.
10. Silver Lab puppies can have dark eyelids that make the silver of their eyes appear even brighter than those of other Labs, and occasionally a silver dog will have white fur on its chest or toes—traits that are not uncommon among other types of silver dogs but which tend to be more common in silver Labs, perhaps because both traits result from incomplete migration of melanoblasts (cells that manufacture pigment). Another silver Labrador characteristic is lack of nerve pigmentation, resulting in pink pads on their feet. All these characteristics combine to give silver labs a very striking appearance, adding additional weight to the popular association between this type of labrador retriever and the mythological canine known as “Silver ” or “Argentum.”
11. The silver labrador retriever’s silver coloring is considered to be a dilution gene, like liver, blue and black. Dilutions cause the individual hairs of the dog to appear lighter than usual but do not affect the color of other parts of the body such as nose leather (from which dogs derive most of their color) and paw pads. In silver Labs both colors and patterns are diluted in many different ways, making it possible for there to be silver labs with different silvering patterns from one another.
12. Because silver Labrador retrievers have only one copy of an allele (with two copies they would be solid silver), the use of selective breeding can create a range of other dilute colors and patterns on silver dogs. One popular variation is the “blue silver”, which ranges in hue from silver-grey to blue-silver, depending on how much of a silver dog’s pigmentation remains and what color its nose leather becomes (usually black). It can take as little as one generation of selective breeding to create different colors in silver Labs; breeders looking for silver females tend to mate the best sire and dam available, knowing that they’ll have some silver pups even if they don’t specifically select them in advance.
13. Other variations found in silver labs include reds (which are born with solid pink noses but grow melanin on their skin and hair during their first year), brindles, fawns (a silver dog with some black points, like a silver labrador retriever version of a “tan point” Siamese), and silver-tipped dogs (whose noses turn black as they mature).
14. silver Labs are lovely in any color or pattern. If you meet one, it’s easiest to tell what color it is by looking at its nose leather; if the color on its nose matches that of most other parts of its body then it’s probably silver rather than liver or blue.
15. Today breeders are working to create silver labs through selective breeding using breeds such as Australian shepherds, Border collies, German shorthairs, and huskies. Likewise, breeders have also worked towards creating exotic colors like reds silver labs, and solid silver Labs.
16. If you’re interested in owning a silver labrador retriever, it’s important to realize that they are just as energetic, intelligent, and friendly as other types of Labrador retrievers. Silver Labs may require more grooming than your average Lab, however, because most coats will turn white when exposed to sunlight for long periods of time: this makes them more visible at night but also requires regular whitening or bleaching to keep the color consistent with the rest of their coat (especially if they have lighter eyebrows or eyelids). It is also possible that over time a silver Lab’s nose may darken to black; this can be avoided by keeping these dogs indoors the first year to prevent sun exposure.
17. Silver Labs are not albinos: while they have a white coat and pink skin, that doesn’t mean there’s no pigment in their hair or eyes (it just means that the pigment is very pale). They also don’t typically lack eyebrows or eyelids; if they did lose those parts of their face then they’d be classified as albino. Different types of Labradors have different genetic traits, but all Labrador retrievers include the gene for melanin production somewhere within their DNA. It’s possible for a silver labrador retriever to inherit genes from two parents with dilute alleles which could result in it being born an albino yellow.
18. Silver Labs are often born with a darker mask than the rest of their coat, which begins to fade once they’re about six months old. Their noses may also turn black at this point as well because they start producing more melanin: male silver Labs can produce gray or black nose leather during adulthood as well, but it’s not common for them to have blue-black noses like some older Lab males do (this is due in part to genetics and in part to sun exposure).
19. Like all Labrador retrievers, silver Labs are very close with their families and make great family pets. They love attention from children and can be protective without being aggressive towards people outside of their immediate family. They are playful, intelligent, and easily trained, but they also require at least a couple of hours of exercise each day.
20. silver Labs like all other Labrador retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia (which can be helped by good breeding practices), eye conditions such as cataracts, and PRA (they may also develop lens locations or glaucoma as they age). They don’t typically have ear infections or skin allergies unless their owners neglect taking them out in the sun for too long and don’t give them access to clean water to keep their coats healthy.
21. While dogs with this coat color are not prone to sunburns like some light-colored dogs can be, they do sometimes suffer from heat exhaustion if they’re left out in warm temperatures for too long without access to shade and plenty of cool water.
22. silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs are generally considered healthier than most other types of Labradors, but they can develop the same types of illnesses that their counterparts do as time goes on: as a result, it’s important to take them to the veterinarian regularly so that any problems can be caught early on before they become serious or life-threatening. It’s also important not to overfeed silver labs because extra weight put on at this point will only add more pressure on internal organs which could cause future health issues once the dog reaches old age.
23. If you decide to adopt a silver labrador retriever you should understand that they were bred to retrieve items like silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver fishing hooks and dead animals, so it shouldn’t surprise you if your Lab comes back inside completely covered in mud or with a mouse hanging out of their mouth. It’s also possible for these dogs to become distracted while swimming: they may start chasing after fish in the water if there are any within sight.
24. Silver Labs have been known by many names over the years including blue, colorado, chum, gray, harlequin (because many have white patches on their chest and/or feet which are said to be reminiscent of a jester). The AKC officially recognized them as chocolate labs until 2014 when they were split into two different colors: silver and yellow.
25. Unlike silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs, genetically pure silver silver silver silver Labs are extremely rare. They’re so rare in fact that there are only about ten to fifteen of them in the entire country! Their rarity makes them susceptible to diseases like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), canine hip dysplasia (CHD), and osteochondritis dissection sis (OCD) because they don’t have any genetic diversity when it comes to breeding with other dogs: this means that if something is wrong with one of these few purebred silver Labs it could easily spread through all of them and disappear from the gene pool forever: be sure to do your research before acquiring a silver labrador retriever if you’re hoping to help preserve this breed.
26. silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs are extremely intelligent: they can learn their basic commands in as little as six weeks and like all other members of the terrier group (which includes Pit Bulls and Jack Russells) silver silver silver silver labs have a very high work drive which will keep them happily occupied for hours at a time if there’s a ball or toy you want throwing or retrieved.
27. Silver Labs love water: not only do they have webbed feet, but they also don’t seem to feel pain from it like humans do! However, because of their thick coat and webbed feet keeping one clean can be difficult so try your best to keep them out of puddles with rocks or sticks in them.
28. silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs are generally well-behaved family dogs, but it’s important that you work on training and socialization from the very beginning so that they don’t become too protective of their things at a later point in time: if possible try to expose your silver labrador retriever puppy to as many different people (especially children) and animals as you can before they reach sexual maturity so that they’re comfortable around both types when the time comes! Never leave your silver silver silver silver Lab alone with unsupervised young children because even though most breeds are considered good with kids this breed is known for being more energetic than others which may cause an accident to occur.
29. silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs are extremely friendly dogs which make them poor watchdogs: because they just want to play with anyone and everyone they meet, it’s best if you teach yours not to greet every stranger that walks up to the door by barking at them. Make sure that your dog doesn’t believe all strangers should be greeted this way either and be careful if you’re out walking together in a neighborhood where there may be children because Labradors have been known to accidentally knock them over when they try jumping on them.
30 . To help protect your silver labs hips and joints from wear-and-tear you can give him or her joint supplements for dogs as early as seven months old but no later than one year. silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs also suffer from a condition called canine hip dysplasia (CHD) where the hip is not properly formed which causes them to develop arthritis early on in life: CHD can be treated with supplements for dogs as well, but surgery may be required to correct it in some cases.
31 . As pups, yellow labs puppies are known for being exceptionally clumsy and falling down quite often because of their large heads and uncoordinated legs: they’ll eventually grow into these traits as adults though so don’t worry too much! It’s easy to tell when one is going to fall because they will begin taking very short steps and pulling their front paws back just before planting them. If you notice your silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Lab puppy doing this you can help them by holding a few tiny treats just out of reach so that they will take steps towards in order to get it.
32 . Silver Labs are often among the first retriever breeds used for therapy work: they love people more than most other dog breeds and have a calming effect on others even when going through treatment at the vet! If your silver labrador retriever has been checked out by a vet and is healthy enough to participate, sign them up for obedience classes or search for local humane society events such as visiting nursing homes.
33 . Due to their thick double coats, silver labs puppies cannot be bathed too often: doing so might lead to irritation which can eventually cause the silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labrador’s skin to become too dry and flaky which can lead to more serious health issues. bathe your silver labrador retriever puppy once or twice a month as a maximum, but be sure to check their ears and paws for signs of infection if you do so.
34. silver silver silver Labs love being with people so much that they’ve been known to follow children inside after school in order to keep them company when they arrive home from school! Make sure that your dog doesn’t become jealous: give them plenty of time and attention at home without giving other pets such as cats or other dogs special treatment over him or her – this will ensure they don’t feel left out when you go to work or out with friends. silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs also have a habit of keeping their families attached to them at all times which can be seen in the way they always look back towards where you are standing (even when on a walk) before taking even one step away from you: just as long as you spend plenty of time with them, this behavior should not become an issue.
35 . Although it’s considered normal for Labrador retrievers and other breeds like them to drool when stimulated by certain things, if your silver Lab begins drooling excessively over nothing that could be a sign of something much more serious such as facial paralysis or it may indicate that he or she has developed dog diabetes: make sure consult your veterinarian as soon as possible to confirm whether or not it’s a serious problem. silver silver silver silver silver silver silver silver Labs are known for their thick lips which can cause issues with them if they get chapped: be sure to put petroleum jelly on the inside of their lips a few times each month to keep them from cracking and prevent infections.
Conclusion:
What is the most popular color for a labrador? Silver. That’s right, out of all the different colors that labs can come in (black, yellow, brown) silver seems to be just about everyone’s favorite – and we don’t blame them! With their striking white coats and bright eyes, these dogs are hard not to love. It should also make sense that because they’re so stunningly beautiful on top of being sweet-tempered family dogs with an excellent disposition towards kids and other pets; it would only stand to reason why people might want one as their new pet. So if you find yourself looking at this article thinking “I want a lab!” or “How much do silver labs cost?” then take some time browsing
Sources: Animal Genetics Silver Labs
