Silver & Charcaoal Labradors have been a hot topic for years. While AKC recognizes Silver Labradors as Chocolates, and Charcoals as black, many out there are under the FALSE impression that Silver Labradors get their color from being bred with a Weimaraner. This wives tale began back in the 1980’s, where the claim was that a kennel in Minnesota cross bred a Weimarenaer with a Chocolate Labrador- and got the silver color, which began both silver and charcoal labradors. THIS IS 100% FALSE! Silver Labs first surfaced back in the 1950's, and were featured in Gun Dog magazine. Labradors were not recognized as a breed by the AKC until 1917, and were recognized in England in 1903.  These dogs were predominately black, as the public preferred black back then. The black gene "B' is dominant over the recessive gene "b".   Chocolates began to become more visible in the 1930's. Yellows also began to surface.

AKC has done full panel DNA testing on Silver Labs, only to conclude that they are pure bred Labradors, with a recessive dd gene, and not a DD gene, which would give the dog a chocolate color.  A Weimaraner, along with other dog breeds, have the dd gene which is responsible for the diluted chocolate color, giving the dog a silver look. Many dog breeds carry this recessive gene, and if both parents carry at least ONE d copy, non dilute Labradors- meaning chocolates and blacks, can have offspring which are dilute color, as being silver or charcoal. Labradors can be "carriers" of the d gene- in other words- they can have a D Locus that is Dd.  If two dogs with Dd were mated- some of the offspring would be chocolate or black, and others would be silver or charcoal.

Recessive genes in both animals and humans can be dormant for years, skipping generations, then suddenly surface. Another FALSE rumor that is spread is that silver and charcoal labradors are more susceptible to genetic disease. Once again. FALSE! Genetic disease comes from one thing, and one thing only- the genetic health of the animal. If two dogs that are genetically clean are mated, the offspring will also be genetically clean, period.

It is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE to purchase pups from breeders who have had full panel DNA testing done on their breeding dogs. Emabark is the ONLY company that currently offers FULL Panel DNA testing.  If a breeder claims their breeding dogs are tested through Embark, but cannot or will not provide copies of the reports, stay clear of these breeders! One last note- make sure the breeder can provide Embark DNA tests on the parents of the puppy you are interested in.