White spots on my Black Lab

[Pilfro]

The white markings you mention have no bearing on it being a pure breed dog. Its very common, obviously without papers you cant be 100% sure. But the spots of its markings actually point to it being a pure breed. Granted these dogs wont win any best in show, but then most labs today are not show dogs for other reasons.

To analyze the reason why some black Labs have only a few, not-easily-seen, white hairs on their chests while others have small white spots, it is best to first picture that all Labs are white--the condition of having no melanin production. The gene loci for color control both the color of the pigment as well as the distribution of melanocytes throughout the body of the Lab. Therefore, in a black Lab, although color is determined by alleles at the B locus, alleles at the A and E loci determine even distribution of the color over the entire surface of the coat. Labs that carry an allele other than "A^s" at the A locus, have a greater likelihood of expressing more white hairs than those Labs that do carry "A^s". Therefore, although all Labs should be homozygous for the S allele at the S gene locus, some may still express white hairs on the chest, bottom of the feet and under the arms and groin areas.

[Moby and Barley's Mom]

He is totally adorable! My black lab puppy, well, has some white around his genital area - which is odd - and one white hair on his back. Who knows? (I bought my dog on CL as well - and I don't necessarily care that he is anything but healthy.)

[teej89]

Yeah don't worry about that, my lab pup is 100% lab, I have his pedigree going back 5 generations so his great great great grandparents and their all labs but he has a little white under his paws and 4 (yes 4 i just counted them lol) white hairs on his chest

Tell the receptionist to mind her own business.

[FOWLQUEEN]

I've gotten that a ton with my boy....when he was going up everyone asked if he was a mix and he can't be pure because of his chest star and he has two bolo spots on his paws. Gage is AKC DNA verified. Just because he not be normal look doesn't automatically make him a mix

[Maxx&Emma]

My last Lab had a small white spot on his chest. Maxx has probably 10 white hairs on his groin area. It is not uncommon, as others have said, don't pay any attention to what people have to say. It is really not worth your time.

[Charlotte K.]

The white markings are in the history of the breed, all the way back to the St John's Water Dogs of Canada. A noted show dog threw not only Bolo pads but also some white feet within the last 20 years. You cannot easily see the markings in the yellows. You breed white factored Labs to others with white factor, and you get an additive effect over the generations. Enjoy your pup!