Say No To Silver Labs

[IRescue452]

Torner are you a breeder? I'd like to see some of your dogs if you are. I don't like to be a judge of any breeder if I can't see what they have to offer.

[Karen]

Hi, welcome to Pet Talk. Most people around here are against any breeding of dogs just for the sake of breeding , or for "pretty" without concern for health, and are more concerned with rescuing the millions of dogs, mixed and purebreds, that end up in shelters every day.

I will point out, in the case of Labradoodles, these dogs were originally bred for a purpose - to get the non-shedding coats of the poodle with the more suitable personality, and heavier, more stable build of the Lab for guide-dog work for people with dog allergies.

But no dogs should be bred for just "hey, look, I made a new trend!"

There are thousands of perfectly good, deserving-of-homes dogs that get put to sleep every year because of a lack of homes for them, and because of irresponsible people.

[lv4dogs]

Irescue, I understand where you are coming from & I would agree with you totally if this world wasn't so overpopulated with homeless animals.
Seeing as there a lot of homeless animals I personally don't agree with breeding for ANYTHING that is not of breed standard.

Sure you get the occasional one even when you do breed responsibly & correctly, I have no problem with that, but breedeing just for that color or the like, I don't agree with that.

[Suki Wingy]

Irescue, I understand where you are coming from & I would agree with you totally if this world wasn't so overpopulated with homeless animals.
Seeing as there a lot of homeless animals I personally don't agree with breeding for ANYTHING that is not of breed standard.

EXACTLY!! Same thing if a dal breeder gets a lemon dog in their liver breeding they alter it and sell it as a pet. In my mind that is the only way to deal with the not accepted colors

[IRescue452]

But why can't you show the lemon dog? If you ask me its stupid to only accept a few colours. I understand not accepting pigments that are linked to health problems, but there's no link between lemon and blindness or deafness.

[Suki Wingy]

I honestly think it is based strictly on tradition. Conformation is a sport rooted deep in traditions, it is very hard to get them to change. It is better to sell it as a pet/performance/Juniors dog.

[lv4dogs]

But why can't you show the lemon dog? If you ask me its stupid to only accept a few colours. I understand not accepting pigments that are linked to health problems, but there's no link between lemon and blindness or deafness.

Oh I know what you mean. If theres a color with no known heath defects you should be able to show them.
Most of those colors are recognized colors of the breed, just not recognized by the kennel clubs.

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

Torner are you a breeder? I'd like to see some of your dogs if you are. I don't like to be a judge of any breeder if I can't see what they have to offer.

I DON'T SEE WHY NOT. BUT ALSO, I DON'T SEE WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE TO "JUDGE" ME AS A BREEDER...IT'S FINE I GUESS, IF THAT'LL MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTED ON THE BREED.

[.sarah]

Ugh, Silver Labs is one of my pet peeves, because people are less inclined to listen because they say that it's "just another color" -- and they don't always believe you when you explain why it's not. In most of the "Silver Labs" I have seen, they have looked more like Weims. They seem to have pointy noses and a more sleek build than any Lab should. I think in some ways this is worse than a "Doodle dog" because they are passing them off as purebreds, and people become so misinformed and then don't want to believe the truth.

IRescue, this is not a color that is genetically produced by Labs. They come in three colors (black, yellow, chocolate) and only three colors. Sometimes mis-marks crop up, like brindling, white marks, tan points, etc. but even then it's usually only a patch instead of an entire brindle dog or something of the like. I have seen a few Chocolate Labs with tan points, and even so it was *very* hard to see, you almost have to see the sun reflect off of it. My two girls are both examples of "unaccepted" pigment that is naturally produced. They are yellows with a chocolate dog's pigment -- instead of a black nose and black skin, it is chocolate/liver. Also, Luka has a chocolate patch on her front right leg, which is a mismark.

TORNER RETRIEVERS, welcome to Pet Talk! Your Labs are beautiful! Labs are one of my two favorite breeds (my other being the Great Dane) and I own two myself. They are both in my signature. Nova (light yellow) is 10 months old and Luka (dark yellow) is almost 2 years old. Nova is from a back yard breeder. I regret buying from them but don't regret my girl. She is the best thing that has happened to me, and she is just so smart and so well-mannered. She does have hip dysplasia, though, as well as allergies. We adopted Luka in November from the humane society. They are both from hunting lines so of course don't fit the breed standard. I also have a White German Shepherd/Pit Bull mix named Mandy, and she is 8 years old.

[Suki Wingy]

I like your dog! Nice Stock That is why I prefer show bred over field bred

[.sarah]

I like your dog! Nice Stock That is why I prefer show bred over field bred

Why? ... Because of the way they look? Sorry I don't understand

[Suki Wingy]

I just like the chunky and stockyness in labs, that is what I grew up seeing, so I guess that is why I like them more. I never liked the personality ofthe labs too much, but I like the look of the stocky ones better.

[.sarah]

I just like the chunky and stockyness in labs, that is what I grew up seeing, so I guess that is why I like them more. I never liked the personality ofthe labs too much, but I like the look of the stocky ones better.

Ah, okay. I'm the opposite. In addition to personality and drive, I prefer the look of field Labs. To each his own.

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

TORNER RETRIEVERS, welcome to Pet Talk! Your Labs are beautiful! Labs are one of my two favorite breeds (my other being the Great Dane) and I own two myself. They are both in my signature. Nova (light yellow) is 10 months old and Luka (dark yellow) is almost 2 years old. Nova is from a back yard breeder. I regret buying from them but don't regret my girl. She is the best thing that has happened to me, and she is just so smart and so well-mannered. She does have hip dysplasia, though, as well as allergies. We adopted Luka in November from the humane society. They are both from hunting lines so of course don't fit the breed standard. I also have a White German Shepherd/Pit Bull mix named Mandy, and she is 8 years old.

THANKS FOR THE WELCOMING SARAH. I'M GLAD YOU LIKED MY DOGS. I ALSO HAVE A GIRL BOUGHT FROM A BACKYARD BREEDER. SHE IS THE FIRST LAB I PURCHASED AND SHE MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BREED. NOW I LOVE SHOWING AND BREEDING BETTER DOGS.

BY THE WAY, YOUR GIRLS ARE LOVELY.

[.sarah]

THANKS FOR THE WELCOMING SARAH. I'M GLAD YOU LIKED MY DOGS. I ALSO HAVE A GIRL BOUGHT FROM A BACKYARD BREEDER. SHE IS THE FIRST LAB I PURCHASED AND SHE MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BREED. NOW I LOVE SHOWING AND BREEDING BETTER DOGS.

BY THE WAY, YOUR GIRLS ARE LOVELY.

Thank you Nova has definetly made me fall in love with the breed. I used to want to breed dogs, but I'm more into rescuing now. You just can't beat the feeling of saving a life!