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.
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