Silver Labrador: Facts, Controversy, Care Guide, History

You must be well aware of the chocolate, yellow, or black Labrador, but there’s a lot of curiosity around the gorgeous silver coat and the mystery behind them. Silver Labrador retrievers are as amazing as any other breed, with their temperament as beautiful as their color.Unfortunately, there’s a lot of suspicion and controversy behind their coat color, but that doesn’t make people love them any less.

Today, we’ll dive into the facts and get to know the silver retrievers better. We hope we have helped you decide if they are the right dogs for you.

Breed Overview Of Silver Labrador

History

The origin of labradors can be traced back to the 19th century, Newfoundland, Canada and are named after the province known as Labrador. They were originally bred as hunting dogs and worked with hunters to retrieve game birds, fishes, or other aquatic life from the water. They still make one of the best colleagues for a fisherman.

They are from a line of black dogs known as the St. johns dog. There are two theories: the silver retrievers are purebred, and the other is a mix of labradors and Weimaraner. Many don’t believe that silver lab dogs are purebred as the color suddenly appeared in the 1950s.

The American kennel club does not recognize silver retrievers as a standard color. They are just like the other labrador retrievers, with the only difference being their coat color and their blue eyes.

What Makes Silver Labrador Retrievers?

Silver lab retrievers are known to be bred from the chocolate color labradors. These labradors sometimes pass on the dilute gene to their offspring. On expression (when the dilute gene gives color to the offspring’s fur), it appears greyish or silver due to dilution or watering down of the chocolate color of the fur.

The dilution gene is recessive. Hence it is only expressed if the puppy acquires it from both parents (rare). Thus, silver retrievers are less in number compared to the standard yellow, chocolate, and black labs. 

Due to the recessive nature of the gene, many people considered the silver color flawed and thought that it made the dog more prone to health concerns. THAT IS A MISBELIEF, which is widespread.

Adult silver labs show many resemblances to the Weimaraner dog, a separate breed. This led to a controversial belief that the silver retrievers are just a Weimaraner cross rather than purebred labrador retrievers.

Due to all these confusions, conspiracies, and misunderstandings. Although, recently, the AKC recognized them as a chocolate lab derivative, and the breed has since been gaining popularity. Silver lab dogs are also eligible for some AKC events as of recently.

Appearance

They are similar to any other coloured labs, except for their coat colour. Their coat is greyish-blue or silver, it can be dark or light depending on the coat colours of their parents. 

They have brown noses, and their eyes are light blue at birth; as the puppies grow older, the eyes start changing colour, and most adult silver labs show light yellow eyes. They have larger ears when compared to the traditional lab, and their muzzles are thinner and longer.

Males are usually larger than females with 22 to 25 inches, weighing 65 to 80 pounds. Females are smaller and stand ta;l at 21 to 24 inches, weighing around 60 to 70 pounds. 

They have otter-like tails, and their neck is strong with a proportionate body. 

They are good swimmers and use their thick, long tails to steer themselves in the water.

Temperament

Silver Labrador retrievers are intelligent dogs eager to please their owners; this makes them easy to train. They are among the most obedient dogs and best suited for families. They make a true and loyal companion.

Silver lab dogs are social, so they are equally loyal and affectionate to all family members and get along with everyone. If Silver labrador puppies are socialized from a young age, they get along with other animals and children of all ages.

Silver labs’ social and affectionate nature makes them prone to separation anxiety. They aren’t the right choice for you if there’s no one home for more than a few hours and your dog will have to stay alone. This can lead to anxiety, resulting in excessive barking and destruction.

Silver labs are known for their friendly, outgoing, and active personalities. These traits have made them one of the most popular breeds for ages.

Care

1. Exercise: labradors are a working breed of dogs originally used to retrieve game birds. They have a high energy level that needs to be dispensed correctly to keep them happy and healthy.

Silver labradors need at least an hour of exercise daily in the form of walks, play, or a swim. Most labs are natural swimmers and love the activity. If their energy isn’t burned out in the right way with enough mental and physical stimulation, they may get bored and destructive.

They make excellent jogging or swimming partners. They love to be trained if done correctly using rewarding and positive reinforcement. This also proves to be mentally stimulating.

They are one of the most intelligent dogs and thus used for rescue operations, as service dogs, working dogs, guide dogs, therapy dogs, and drug detection dogs.

2. Grooming: they have a short double coat to keep them warm in colder climates. They shed their double coat seasonally, requiring more frequent brushing to eliminate the loose hairs. Let’s see grooming tips.

Besides the shedding season (spring and fall), they shed moderately and need to be brushed a couple of times per week. They require bathing every 4 to 6 weeks or only when they get dirty and smelly.

Their nails need to be trimmed often by a professional. Make sure you clean their eyes and ears regularly and brush their teeth daily.

3. Feeding: they are a large breed of dog, so they require a good and large meal to stay satisfied and healthy but make sure you do not overfeed them as they are prone to obesity. Obese dogs face more health issues, and hence, it must be prevented.

Most commercial dog foods come with a feeding chart, which should be thoroughly followed. If you decide to give your silver retriever home-cooked meals, please ask your vet to help you formulate the right and balanced diet for your pup.

Silver Lab Puppies

Silver labrador retriever puppies are alert, friendly, and highly energetic dogs. As they grow older, they become calmer. These bouncy silver lab puppies need a positive channel to let their energy out in training and exercise to avoid developing negative habits.

Silver labrador retriever puppies make great family pets as their food drive makes them easily trainable.

Silver Lab Price

Silver Labrador puppies may vary in cost depending on their location, genetics, breeding cost, and many more. Silver lab prices usually range from 800$ to 1500$.

Your silver lab price may be higher if they are well-bred, but that’s worth it, as well-bred dogs are prone to lesser health concerns. Although, we always recommend considering adoption before you decide on buying a dog, as many dogs in shelters need homes.

Common Health Concerns 

Labradors stay healthy with the right amount of exercise and feeding, but like every other breed, they too are prone to genetic health concerns. They are as follows:

1. Hip and elbow dysplasia
2. Colour dilution alopecia
3. Exercise-induced collapse

Final Thoughts

A labrador is a family dog who’ll love you with all its life, and no colour can change that. Labradors are happy-go-lucky beings who love being goofy and clingy to their humans, and they stay their true selves irrespective of their yellow, brown, black, or silver coats.

Silver labs are just different in colour; everything else is just like any other labrador. They’ll come into your life and make their mark by filling it with love, laughter, and joy.

Continue reading :

• Catahoula Leopard Dog Breed Facts, Characteristics
• Red Fox Lab: An In-Depth Guide to Fox Red Labradors