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Thread: Is this a Lab?

  1. #1
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    Is this a Lab?

    I'm buying a Silver Lab puppy from a breeder and they are registered with the AKC. Someone told me that it's easy to get registered with the AKC and just because they're registered doesn't mean that they're pure bred.
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    Last edited by Stihl'sDad; 03-03-2016 at 07:38 PM. Reason: clarification

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    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    The topic of silver labs can get a bit heated around here. I'll post a link to a thread about silver labs from the Fire Hydrant section. The Labrador Club does not recognize silver as a true color of purebred labs, only black, chocolate or yellow. Silvers sometimes get registered through the AKC as chocolates, I believe.

    Information About Silver Labrador Retrievers
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

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    Senior Dog Abulafia's Avatar
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    I'll bite.

    "Silver Labs" are Lab / Weimaraner mixes with some very specific health problems. Many people like the look. I don't, especially, but that is neither here nor there—some people think my Lab looks like a Rottweiler.

    Since you are buying a pup of this mix, you clearly like the look, and I don't think anyone should tell you want to like the looks of, dog-wise. I would recommend only that you make very sure of the health clearances—the specific health clearances, not "They're healthy! Never had a problem!" of the parents and grandparents.
    Hidden Content Hokule'a ("Hoku") / b. 06.08.15

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    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Hot topic here. AKC does not register silvers, they register chocolates and that may be how the pup gets registered. It's the same with white labs. There are very light yellows but no white; that's another sales gimmick that some try to sell their dogs. AKC recognizes black, yellow and chocolate only.

    When silvers started showing up for sale it was a sales gimmick, something unique, and a cross breed. The cross is between a lab and a weimaraner. It's like the fad of having a labradoodle, cross between a lab and a poodle, and many other mixes.

    Have you seen the parents? Putting this out there just so you know what you are getting into.

    To be registered by the AKC the parents have to be pure bred, thus the pup is pure bred. I'm not sure how many generations that has to go back; others know better than I. Of course, that does not mean that because they are pure bred that they are of good health, all clearances done, etc. The AKC does have a registration for mixes through their Canine Partners Program and these dogs can participate in events like obedience, agility and rally but not conformation.
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    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Beyond the silver Labs thing, yes, it's easy to get a dog registered. They should be purebred. Even if they are purebred it means nothing of quality. You could have the ugliest, unhealthiest dog around and as long as it's a purebred you can register it.

    Silver Labs are registered as chocolate because there is no such thing as the color silver for a Labrador. There is much debate whether or not silver Labs are truly purebred. Lots of information out there; I would suggest you do your homework before purchasing this, or any puppy, frankly.

  8. #6
    Best Friend Retriever hunter's Avatar
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    Beautiful dog. If it were me I wouldn't care if it were a purebred or not. He looks different from other labs and I think that would be perk. I don't think it really matters unless you are planning on showing him when he is older.

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    Senior Dog dxboon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stihl'sDad View Post
    I'm buying a Silver Lab puppy from a breeder and they are registered with the AKC. Someone told me that it's easy to get registered with the AKC and just because they're registered doesn't mean that they're pure bred.
    AKC registration is only as good and as trustworthy as the person filling out the forms. You could breed two dogs together and send in forms listing two other dogs as the parents of the litter. Having an AKC registered dog is not in any way an indicator of quality.

    All the legitimate governing bodies for the Labrador Retriever breed worldwide (in the US that's the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.) -- these are the groups that define what physical/personality traits comprise the breed, do NOT support the registration of "silver" or any other designer colors such as "champagne" or "charcoal" as Labrador Retrievers. Dilute coat colors (like "silver") are not native to this breed, and as such may come attached to other non-standard temperament and health issues. If you haven't already, you might want to read more about "silver" dogs. Color dilution alopecia is common in many dilute dogs of various breeds/mixes. This person has a "silver Lab" that has CDA and has started a Facebook support group about it: https://www.facebook.com/ColorDilutionAlopecia/.

    Here's what breed clubs for Labs around the world have to say on the topic:

    The AKC Parent Club of the Labrador Retriever - position on Silvers

    SILVER coat color in LABRADORS—Official Statement
    There is no genetic basis for the silver gene in Labradors. The silver color is a disqualification under the Standard for the breed. The LRC does not recognize, accept or condone the sale or advertising of any Labrador as a silver Labrador. The Club opposes the practice of registering silver as chocolate. Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.: Is opposed to cross-breeding of dogs and is particularly opposed to the deliberate crossing of Labrador Retrievers with any other breed. These crossbreeds are a deliberate attempt to mislead the public with the idea that there is an advantage to these designer dogs. The crossbred dogs are prone to all of the genetic disease of both breeds and offer none of the advantages that owning a purebred dog has to offer.


    The Labrador Retriever Club of Canada position on Silver:
    "Silvers are not a breed standard recognized color for the Labrador Retriever"

    The National Labrador Retriever Council of Australia Position on Silver.

    The New Zealand Kennel Club: Position on Silver.

    Before you buy any puppy you should verify that the parents have had all the necessary health clearances done. Look up the parents' names on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) website. Breeders often claim they have final hip/elbow/eye, etc. clearances on their dogs, but when you check their dogs' names or their registration numbers on OFA you get no records, or you are led to health records for completely different animals. Before you buy is when you need to question these kinds of things.

    IMO the kind of breeder who creates the best pets for people is someone who cares about preserving the physical/temperament traits of the breed as outlined in the breed standard, does all the recommended health testing to rule out genetic disorders and stack the deck in their puppy buyers' favor, competes in legitimate venues with their dogs to get independent assessment of their quality, belongs to a reputable breed club for their breed and/or has mentoring from someone who is active in their breed as a competitor/judge/longtime breeder, and doesn't purposely create dogs that have disqualifying faults per the breed standard.

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    Run while you can.

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    Senior Dog Labradorks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hunter View Post
    Beautiful dog. If it were me I wouldn't care if it were a purebred or not. He looks different from other labs and I think that would be perk. I don't think it really matters unless you are planning on showing him when he is older.
    This makes me want to cry. It does matter. It matters so much. And this is everything that is so wrong... Sigh...

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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    Run while you can.
    LOL... Barry!

 



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