What are the different colours of Labrador Retrievers?

The Labrador Retriever is a very popular dog. Unless you have lived in a cave all your life, you will easily recognize this breed of dog on the street. However, there are many questions about his colours.

In this article, we will see in detail what are the different colours (official or not) of the Labrador Retriever.

The official colours of the Labrador Retriever

According to the FCI, the Labrador must be “entirely black, yellow or brown (liver-chocolate)”. Also, “the yellow goes from light cream to red (fox)”. Finally, it is also specified that “a small white patch is allowed on the chest”.

On the AKC side (American Kennel Club), the 4 accepted colours are yellow, chocolate, red and black. The following conditions must also be respected:

• “A small white spot on the chest is allowed, but not advisable.”
• “Black – Black Labradors are all black. Black with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification.”
• “Yellow – The colour of yellow may range from fox red to light cream, with variations of shading on the ears, back and lower parts of the dog.”
• “Chocolate – Chocolate colour can range from light chocolate to dark chocolate. Chocolate dogs with brindle or tan markings are disqualified.”

The black Labrador

The black Labrador gene is the most dominant, so it is the most common colour. It is also the type of Labrador that is most commonly used for hunting. Here is an example of a black Labrador:

The yellow Labrador

This is a colour that has become more and more popular over the years. Here is an example:

The chocolate Labrador

Another official Labrador colour and the rarest of the 3. The intensity of their colour can vary from one individual to another. Here is an example of a chocolate Labrador:

The red Labrador

His red coat has the colour of a fox. It belongs to the family of yellow Labradors but his colour is much more pronounced, which gives this darker and red appearance.

The unofficial colours of Labradors

As we have just seen, the major dog federations and clubs only recognize 4 Labrador colours. However, you will notice that there are other less official colours: white and silver.

The white Labrador

Like the red Labrador, the white is a version of the yellow that is much lighter but does not fit into the established standards.

The silver Labrador

This gorgeous colour is actually a lighter version of the chocolate Labrador. Here is an example:

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Now you know all about Labrador colours! If you have one, don't hesitate to tell us his colour in the comments!