Say No To Silver Labs

[CagneyDog]

There is no actual way to find out which facts are correct. I've read many websites that have said this stuff (.sarah, pm me if you want me to provide you with the websites I looked at. I'll have to get them to you tomorrow though, it's too late tonight.) and I've seen several that contradict this stuff. I have no idea if I'm right (sorry if I gave that impression in my post), and I don't think any of you know for certain that you are right.

I'm not really sure what side I stand on when it comes to silver labs. Part of me thinks that breeders shouldn't be breeding silver labs but then I'm thinking that this is what happened with MANY breeds. (People crossed bred and introduced foriegn genes) Lots of people think that the silver Lab will be a reconized AKC color with in the next few years, anyways.

[.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!

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

I'm not really sure what side I stand on when it comes to silver labs. Part of me thinks that breeders shouldn't be breeding silver labs but then I'm thinking that this is what happened with MANY breeds. (People crossed bred and introduced foriegn genes) Lots of people think that the silver Lab will be a reconized AKC color with in the next few years, anyways.

usually, people who don't care about a breed uses these kind of excuses. the fact that some breeds have been in the same situation doesn't mean this is right.

on the other hand, the AKC can't decide which breed caracteristics they'll recogniza or not. this can only be done by the parent club of the breed.

[Crazy-Cat-Lover]

Silver Valley (Breeder)

-and-

Silver Labrador Information

Quote from website...

"Breeders of black and yellow Labs saw their market share fall through the floor when chocolates became popular in the Lab marketplace. These same breeders opposed recognition of chocolates by AKC for decades. Opposition breeders claim their resentment is based on breeding ethics. However, their breeding ethics extend only as far as their pocketbooks. Aside from the presence of a genetic combination which produces Silver coats, Silver Labs have the same genetic makeup as non-Silver Labs. Some of these ethical breeders freely admit killing Silver puppies to protect the breed standards. In reality, the Silver puppies they kill have the same genetic make-up as the blacks, yellows, and chocolates they allow to survive. The only ethic these breeders are protecting is the ethical investment they have in their black and yellow bloodlines."

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

Silver Valley (Breeder)

-and-

Silver Labrador Information

Quote from website...

"Breeders of black and yellow Labs saw their market share fall through the floor when chocolates became popular in the Lab marketplace. These same breeders opposed recognition of chocolates by AKC for decades. Opposition breeders claim their resentment is based on breeding ethics. However, their breeding ethics extend only as far as their pocketbooks. Aside from the presence of a genetic combination which produces Silver coats, Silver Labs have the same genetic makeup as non-Silver Labs. Some of these ethical breeders freely admit killing Silver puppies to protect the breed standards. In reality, the Silver puppies they kill have the same genetic make-up as the blacks, yellows, and chocolates they allow to survive. The only ethic these breeders are protecting is the ethical investment they have in their black and yellow bloodlines."

****Fact: This statement is so silly. First of all, breeders dedicated to the Labrador Retriever don't breed dogs according to any "market". Secondly, ethical breeders don't breed just to make money so this contradictory. Mismarked puppies do occur in Labs and have done so for decades, this is well documented. Reputable breeders simply sell these puppies as pets. So to say that "ethical" breeders have covered up the Silvers by killing them to protect their black and yellow investments is ridiculous, especially since Silver breeders say that their color comes from chocolates. If it is from the chocolates, then what and how would they be protecting blacks and yellows that supposedly don't carry the gene for Silver in the first place?

[IRescue452]

Torner, I'm not judging you, but I find it hard to take the opinions of a breeder I know nothing about. Just recently a Dane breeder told me that dogs don't raid gardens, but its a very common occurrence sent into dog advice columns I give answers for. This highly reputable breeder lost all support from me. They also gave a few other false "facts". Do you know how many breeders out there know nothing about dogs? Especially labs. I see so many bad labs that are AKC bred from "reputable" breeders, they even show up in shows. They have sickle tails that go way past the hocks and pointy muzzles and no lung capacity to go retrieving birds in water. I'd rather see you attack these breeders and the backyard silver breeders than the dogs themselves. Maybe someday the silver lab will be bred by good breeders and be an accepted colour. I wouldn't care to stop that from happening. What I would care to stop is the breeders who do this for profit and don't care to preserve the lab standard and type while trying out the colour.

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

IRescue452,

i do think the dogs themselves are not to blame, but the breeders. i'm not attacking the dogs, but the people who breed them and those who buy them just to get the last dog trend.
i reaaaallly don't think reputable breeders and the parent club of the breed will accept this color, due to all the doubts there are about this dogs being purebred labs.
i do agree there are several breeders that claim to be "reputable" and "professional" just because they own AKC registered dogs and step into the ring to show them. that's when your knowledge about the breed comes in handy, to be able to tell apart a lier from a real reputable breeder.
by the way, now that i showed you my dogs, what do you think? lol.

[dab_20]

well if no one ever bought them, what would happen to them? not saying you should, because if they can't be shown then they are byb puppies. its better to buy from a shelter. just like irescue said, you shoulden't not get a dog because the color doesn't fit the breed standered.

well, the thing is, i try and make a point, and what i try to say just comes out wrong. lol... but yah, i guess i agree with you.

[.sarah]

I guess my opinion is this: As of now we don't know if the color occurs naturally or if they are crossed with Weim. Most certainly look to have Weim in them, but that doesn't necessarily make them a Weim mix. I mean, paint Nova silver and she could pass as a Weim mix at the shelter! But until we know the origin of the color, I don't think it should be bred for. I couldn't call a silver Lab breeder responsible since the facts are not known yet. I just wouldn't buy an unaccepted color unless if it occured naturally, and the breeders weren't breeding strictly for it and sold it as a pet on a spay/neuter contract. Like merle Danes occur naturally in harlequin breedings, but they are not standard. There is nothing wrong with these pups. But I have yet to see a Chocolate Lab just produce a silver pup if they are not from a silver lineage themselves. When that happens, I'll believe it occurs naturally

[IRescue452]

I think they can be purebred, as well as black and tan labs and other mismarks. As long as they are purebred and fit the standard I still won't understand not accepting them. And you won't understand me. I am into working dogs. Working dogs were once bred purely for type, concern for colour wasn't important. Colour alone doesn't affect the dog.
Actually I wanted to know information about your breeding operation. (put any breeder in front of me and the first thing I want to know is everything about them) Pictures of some dogs tells me nothing about a breeder. You could be the best breeder in the world or the worst for all I know from pictures. I wish you'd have posted some stacked photos of your dogs. They look good but a bit overweight for the type. The last photo looks like there is something wrong with the dog's back legs, but its probably the way it is standing.

[boxersrule]

I always have said no to Silver Labs, and always will.

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

Actually I wanted to know information about your breeding operation. (put any breeder in front of me and the first thing I want to know is everything about them) Pictures of some dogs tells me nothing about a breeder. You could be the best breeder in the world or the worst for all I know from pictures. I wish you'd have posted some stacked photos of your dogs. They look good but a bit overweight for the type. The last photo looks like there is something wrong with the dog's back legs, but its probably the way it is standing.

I'm not trying to make you believe i'm the best breeder in the world, but that i'm good at what i do and know what i'm talking about because i love doing it and live for ti.

ACTUALLY THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OVERWEIGHT AND ROBUST/SOLID CONSTITUTION.

about the type..the american blood lines (show quality) are just like the ones shown in my pictures. here's a link to some of america's most famous and reputable breeders. take a look and see what i'm talking about.

www.dickendall.com
http://www.tabathalabs.com/pagestuds.htm
http://www.windfalllabs.com/boys.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~beulahland/tom.htm
http://www.belquest.com/coffee.html
http://www.minefalls.com/Windfalls%20Pipeline.htm

about the last photo, the hind legs look different because of the way the dog is standing. this dog is free of hip and elbow dysplasia "HD A" (which means Excelent), certified by the mexican kennel club. he is mex/am/intnl/latam/great mex ch/BISS

[TORNER RETRIEVERS]

I always have said no to Silver Labs, and always will.

THAT'S THE SPIRIT!

[Jessika]

I've heard of them before actually and after some reading on another forum discovered that "silver labs" genetically can't even exist!

"Silver Labs" are another scheme just like "breeders" who breed designer breeds such as Labradoodles and Puggles, etc.

[IRescue452]

Oh I know the solid type, I thought it was the English type, Amercan is the taller more racy type I thought. I like the stocky type best but they do look like they could stand to lose a few pounds imo. I believe you are a good breeder, I was just curious about what you are into with breeding and showing. Like I said, anytime I come across a breeder I don't know I like to find out about them. Just my own curiosity and love of dogs.