White labs

[kindakinky]

I believe a dog that works is valuable no matter the color.

Just saw a so-called white lab has qualified for the MN. Is white as much of a no-no as silver?

My first puppy in 10 years is a stud fee puppy. And I chose the pup with a huge white spot (never saw that in my breeding before) who is automatically disqualified from the show ring. I've wanted a pup with a huge white spot forever. It goes back to the origins of my breed (Curly Coated Retrievers) in which some dogs were totally white. And many were black and white or liver and white. (And yellow.)

I know some people think certain dog breeds should be of a certain color and nothing else. But I'm old enough to know when yellow and chocolate labradors were considered crap as field dogs.

And I've seen the debate on silver labs here. So, what about white labs?

I just want to learn about whether white labs have some support. Goldens used to be basically golden or yellow but a more white, creamy color has been supported in the last 15-20 years or so, at least in the conformation ring.

I don't breed labs or goldens. I just like to hear dog people's opinions of different colors, especially since the field lab has gone from basic black to acceptance of yellows and chocolates.

Are there still some people old enough on here who can't believe (or will admit they can't believe) chocolate and yellow labs can be great field trial labs? And do the creamy goldens give any folks on here pause? (Or Paws?)

J. Marti

[BonMallari]

the 08 National Amateur Field champion was a yellow lab....the current high point Derby dog and on pace to break the all time derby record is a chocolate lab, so that puts your last statement pretty much to rest...and I am old enough to remember that archaic way of thinking because it was perpetuated by a bunch of old time trainers/owners who were unwilling to challenge the status quo and expand their horizons and their minds

[Rainmaker]

I don't know how white people consider white or snow or cream or whatever, it's another way of labeling and marketing just like fox red and for a while was the "it" shade. I have had very light pups from black dams and "regular" yellow dams, some stay very light, some darken as they get older. It is within the color standard, yellow ranges from cream to fox red. These particular pups are FC AFC "plain" yellow sire x black MH dam. I wouldn't call them white but they are pretty light.

[ErinsEdge]

Behind many, but not all of the yellow Labs that are termed white is CH Ridge View Frosty the Snoman JH who was BOB at Westminster and also a Best in Specialty winner. He was also ranked Number Three Labrador All-Breed in 1999 and was bred a lot. This color is acceptable by the LRC as a form of yellow. I have had light Labs from field lines but they usually have darker shading on the ears. http://www.ridgeviewlabradors.com/do...gSN=SN36298807

[Certainty]

As long as breeders aren't marketing them under terms like "rare white snowballs" That really gets me. Yellow Labs come in shades from white to fox red.
Let's face it, humans are very visual creatures and we have a tendency to describe things as we see it. As an artist, I get that more than most.
So, white is an acceptable shade of yellow and I have 2 in my current litter!

[Julie R.]

White is just an incorrectly labeled but acceptable shade of yellow. And indeed calling the shade white is only offensive to dog snobs like us ; no one seems to get anywhere near as exercized when it's called cream. Calling a light yellow Lab white is no different than calling a chocolate one brown or liver or calling a black Lab ebony. The controversy over silver Labs is nothing more than an argument/heated discussion over whether Labs have the dilution gene that turns black to charcoal and brown to silver. Given the ancestry of Labs it's quite possible they did at one point have the dilution gene but the colors expressed by the gene are something breeders have selected against for decades since the LRC states the only acceptable colors are yellow, choc. and black. Same thing with white markings....I'm not sure how the LRC words it but I don't believe small white markings on the chest or toes are an actual disqualification unless the white is sufficiently large; they just make it clear solid colored dogs are preferred.

It's also important to remember that something like a white marking that may prevent a dog from winning in the show ring is, for Labs, not a big deal since most field bred Labs would never be competitive under any circumstances in today's breed ring, regardless of color or markings.

Chesapeakes also often have white markings on the chest and/or toes and the ACC states this is acceptable but not preferred. I know a lot of old timey hunters who think a white marking is a good thing for a puppy to have since they believe those make the best hunting dogs. And apparently AKC show judges don't mind white on CBRs since many of the breed's top winning show dogs do have white on their chests.

[Sue Kiefer]

As far as "Goldens" go (colorwise).
IF they have go, love the water and are trainable ,I don't care what color they are as long as they don't have white on any areas. MY pet-peeve.
I had 1 guy tell me that the "best" Golden he ever had had a black spot on his tongue. Well whoop-dee-do.
Sue
Currently own a "White" lab. (or so she looks) out of FC/AFC "Champ".
She is 7 months and I don't see her getting ANY darker.

[dreamer2385]

dont forget "GOOD TEMPERMENT",, i don't care what shade of golden they are.. Nor would i care what color a good lab would be either!!

[Sue Kiefer]

Never had a "Golden" with "Bad Temperment". Met some bad owners along the way though.
Sue

[Landaracurl]

I've wanted a pup with a huge white spot forever. It goes back to the origins of my breed (Curly Coated Retrievers) in which some dogs were totally white. And many were black and white or liver and white. (And yellow.)


This is really interesting you say the origins of your breed Curly Coated Retrievers which some were totally white, black and white or liver and white.
Do you have pictures? I'd love to see pics of them.