Do breeders try to produce pups with coats for climate ? For showing ? Or does it just happen because of the climate where the pups are born.. Let's say a Lab breeder in Florida vs one in Canada ?

I am asking this because where I live I have never seen anyone having to put a man made coat on their Labs. (New England Coastal area.) I see plenty of duck hunters use the Neoprene Vests because the dogs stay wet all day.

And if a Florida bred lab will eventually grow in thick coat the next season if he relocates to colder climate.?

Coat was something I wanted to improve in my last breeding. Piper has a correct coat, in that she has both top and undercoat, but I wanted a little more so I went with lines known to throw it...so far so good.

Climate is one factor in coat, but a larger factor is genetics. I know of a couple breeders in warmer climates whos dogs carry wonderful, correct coat. Would they grow more in a cold climate? Possibly, but it's correct where it is.

I think we've figured out that you have a huge problem with people putting clothing on their dogs, but that's exactly it...your problem ;) The dogs probably don't need it, but it certainly doesn't hurt them.

Coat was something I wanted to improve in my last breeding. Piper has a correct coat, in that she has both top and undercoat, but I wanted a little more so I went with lines known to throw it...so far so good.

Climate is one factor in coat, but a larger factor is genetics. I know of a couple breeders in warmer climates whos dogs carry wonderful, correct coat. Would they grow more in a cold climate? Possibly, but it's correct where it is.

I think we've figured out that you have a huge problem with people putting clothing on their dogs, but that's exactly it...your problem ;) The dogs probably don't need it, but it certainly doesn't hurt them.

I always try to learn from my mistakes.. That being said.. I am just trying to learn.... I was wrong in the other post...
Thank you for responding.

My boys would swim all winter in the cold New England waters if I let them. My boy on the right has the full, correct coat and he's been swimming with ice forming on his chest. My boy on the left does not have the coat and I've only seen him effected by the weather once- It was a cold, wet dreary pheasant hunt and he was cold. I bought him one of those vests- But he's so upset to have it on, I've only used it a couple of times.

I see a lot of correct, thick coats here in southern California, but most of the dogs I have seen are not in full coat during the intense heat of the summer. I've heard many breeders mention that, in fact, when deciding whether or not to attend some of the big specialty shows such as the Potomac, in April, where they are often talking about competing against the people whose dogs still have "east coast winter" coats (this is right during a prime period for "blowing coat" in southern California).

As mentioned above, though, coat appears to be very much a genetic thing...certain lines have a ton of coat, whether correct or not (as in too much, too long, almost like a golden retriever). PLUS, they have now isolated the "fluffy" gene in labradors which makes them more "golden-like" (and is obviously genetic).

I didn't see the jacket/clothing comments, but there are also some pet-bred labs I know who have virtually NO coat (like a greyhound) even during the winter, and like greyhounds (or any of the other slick-coated sighthounds), people often do put coats on them when they're in cold weather to prevent them from shivering too much.

I have a couple of those "Florida" labs. Hogan has a correct coat but not a very dense one. In the summer he is a real baldy. Now I have his sister (littermate) for the summer and her coat is much thicker. She blew her coat over the last couple of months but ordinarily she looks like a polar bear! I much prefer a dense coat versus and open coat which I see a lot of at the shows. I think coat can be overdone like a lot of other traits.

By the way, when we were in NY in February it was freezing and I put a coat on Hogan :) I think he appreciated it!!!

Angus came from Las Vegas to Alberta Canada and he had to wear a Jacket his first winter because his coat was so thin but it has gradually become thicker. He still shivers on really cold days so we will get out his coat. Hudson has a MUCH thicker coat then Angus does and he was born in Ontario Canada.