Hi, Sandra, lab mother to Star here. Way back I posted a thread on "English Labs???" People seemed to be referring to a certain look of lab as the "English" lab. After much research, speaking with vets and breeders, etc. they all agreed. A lab, is a lab, is a lab. There is no such thing as an English lab. It is a currently trendy, sort of elitist reference to the now more preferrable (at least in show) short, boxy, big headed physique. The English were primarily responsible for bringing back to England from Newfoundland, and vigoursly pursuing, the perpetuation of this prized retriever. As you may know, the AKC is famous for, throught the decades, actually changing their own "standard" for certain breeds. What is now referred to commonly as the English type (shorter, broad and boxy) more represents the current accepted standard for confirmation and "show." The taller, leaner looking labs are seen primarily in the field trials; hunting. As for the Chesepeake Lab; no such breed exists. A Chesepeake Bay is a retriever, but definitely not a lab. A breed unto itself! Labs, do, though range in color from almost white (some like to call them "silver" labs to all shades of cream, yellow and gold to "chocolate" and black. I think your labbie just hit the gene pool that spit out a very uniquely beautiful shade of light brown. Without getting into the genetic science of it all, as yellow labs generally have brown eyes, and "chocolates" often have yellow or golden eyes, the cause of this straddling of the coat color line may also have been the reason for the bi color eyes. I am so curioius to see a pic. of your baby! No matter what color, he sounds beautiful! My lab Star says Hi! and labbie butt wiggles to all the labs at your house. (P.S. Star is what I like to call my midget lab! Such a wee one! ) I've pasted a copy of the "standard" for coat coloring from the AKC web site. I also checked out the Chesepeake. They seem to be taller than the standard for labs, the coat is curly, the eyes yellow or golden. Hope this helps! And welcome

Color

The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling. Black--Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow--Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate--Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification.

[ September 26, 2001: Message edited by: tatsxxx11 ]