Facts About Silver &
Charcoal Labradors
Silver & Charcoal Labradors catch A LOT of attention!!  They are considered to be very unusual,
extremely beautiful, and very rare in color.  These Labradors have raised a lot of controversy among
breeders of Labradors and other breeds.  While I am not a genetic specialist, nor do I know a lot about
genetics, this is what I have learned about 'how' you get a Lab to turn out Silver or Charcoal.  

When a Labrador who is Silver-factored is bred with another Silver-factored Labrador, Silver puppies
can be produced in the litter.  To put it in the simplest of terms, it's a 'gene thing'.  I do not understand
genetics nor do I really want to.  What I do know is that the genetic make-up of both parents is what
determines what the puppies will turn out like and provides the possibilities for the different colors.  It
works the same in animals as it does in humans.  Our genetic make-up is what makes us who we are
and what we look like.    

There is much negative talk going on about the Silver (Gray) Labrador, but be assured that these dogs
are as pure to the breed as the more common Black, Chocolate, and Yellow Labradors.  They are
classified by AKC as a diluted Chocolate.  Charcoal pups are classified as Black and have been called
"Smoky Black" by some breeders who produced Charcoal unknowingly.  

Labrador Breeders have been accused of cross-breeding Chocolate Labradors with the Weimaraner
breed to achieve the Silver color which is completely untrue.  Non-Silver breeders have been known
to say that this color comes from interbreeding which is also untrue.  For example, when we first
started our kennel, we started with a Silver-factored Black (Jack) and a Silver-factored Chocolate
(Reesee, whom we no longer own).  Together, they produced Silver, Charcoal, Silver-factored Black,
and Silver-factored Chocolate.  We did not even have a Silver or Charcoal Lab in our kennel, much
less a Weimaraner, yet produced both the Silver and Charcoal colors due to their genetic make-up.  

Silver Labs have been 'advertised' since the 1950's in the western U.S., and have also appeared in
other countries (especially the United Kingdom) before making their appearance in the U.S.  

The first U.S. Kennel found to be breeding and producing Silver Labradors was investigated
thoroughly by the AKC.  The AKC verified that the bloodlines of the Silver Labradors were in fact a
pure Labrador Retriever, and the breeder in question had no links to any other breed of dogs
(specifically the Weimaraner) in his kennel.

While I do breed my Labs for the Silver and Charcoal colors, I am more concerned with the
temperament, build, health history, and quality of the breed.  This comes into play way before the coat
color.  This breed is not called "America's #1 Breed" for no reason, and to breed only for a color is
ethically wrong as a responsible breeder.   Just as some breeders and owners of Labradors love the
Black, Chocolate, or Yellow colors of the Labrador, I fell in love with the Silver color and since
producing the Charcoal color, have fallen for it just as much.  They are beautiful colors as you can see
by looking at my dogs....not meaning to brag.  *grin*
Q>  Are Silver or Charcoal Labradors like other Labradors in behavioral traits?
A>  Aside from their coat color, there is no difference in temperament, hunting abilities, health or other attributes between Silver
Labradors vs any other coat color in a Labrador.  

Q>  How are Silver or Charcoal Labradors registered with AKC?  
A>  Until 1987, AKC issued registration papers which listed Silver as a Labrador's registered color on both AKC registrations certificates
and AKC color charts.  AKC has since changed the Silver color to "A Shade Of Chocolate", "Diluted Chocolate", and this is still the
established policy of AKC.  The same is true for Charcoal Labradors, being considered a "Smoky Black", and therefore being registered
as a Black Labrador.

Q>  Why are some breeders claiming there is no such thing as a Silver or Charcoal Labrador?
A>  Breeders of Black and Yellow Labradors saw their market share fall through the floor when Chocolate Labradors became popular in
the Labrador marketplace.  These same breeders opposed the recognition of Chocolate Labradors by AKC for decades.  These same
breeders claim their resentment is based on breeding ethics.  Aside from the presence of a genetic combination which produces Silver
and Charcoal coats, these Labradors have the same genetic makeup as non-Silver Labradors.  Some of these ethical breeders have
openly admitted to killing Silver puppies to protect the breed standards.  In reality, the puppies they kill have the same genetic makeup
as the Blacks, Yellows, and Chocolates they allow to survive.

Q>  How long have Silver Labradors been around?
A>  Some K-9 geneticists speculate the Gray chromosome is in all K-9 species descendant from wolves.  Labradors were originally the
product of several breeds of hunting dogs, contain a large percentage of Newfoundland breeding in their genetic background, and the
production of Gray Newfoundland pups is not uncommon in the Newfoundland breed.  Literature on Labradors mentions the occasional
Gray puppy since people first began writing about Labradors.  The problem was there was never a large enough gene pool of other
Grays to replicate the color.  With the growth of Chocolate Labradors over recent years, the Labrador's gene pool now allows the
replication of Silver.

Q>  What is the future of Silver Labradors?
A>  There is no doubt the increase in popularity and demand for Silver Labradors is applying significant financial pressure to breeders
of Black and Yellow Labradors, but there is also little doubt AKC will eventually have to concede to the growing public pressure to make
Silver a recognized color for Labradors in America.  Unfortunately, until that time, the Anti-Silver Labrador community will be able to
confuse the public with negative remarks and wrongful accusations regarding the most sought after color of Labradors in the World.

Q>  What is a Charcoal Labrador?
A>  Charcoal Labradors are a very interesting aspect of the "Great Silver Labrador Debate".  Genetically speaking, Charcoal Labradors
are Silver-factored Yellow Labradors.  In appearance, Charcoal Labradors look like Silver-factored Black Labradors, and for many
decades Charcoal Labradors were commonly referred to as "Smoky Blacks" by breeders.  Charcoal Labradors can occur randomly in
any Labrador/Labrador breeding.  They can also be intentionally produced by breeding a Yellow Labrador with a Silver Labrador.  
Similarly, if a Charcoal Labrador is bred to another Charcoal Labrador, their litter will contain approximately 1/4 Silver Labradors, and
3/4 other colored Labradors.  Some Charcoal/Charcoal breedings have even produced litters containing all four colors.  Others have
produced 100% Charcoal litters.  The existence of Charcoal Labradors is a genetic aspect of Silver Labradors which proves the Silver
genetics have been in Labrador lines for many decades, if not centuries.  If you research old books about Labrador Retrievers,  you
come across authors who refer to "Labrador puppies being born Gray, and then turning Black as adults."  This is exactly what happens
when a Charcoal Labrador pup is born.  For the first few days the Charcoal puppies look dark Gray, then turning "Smoky Black" as
adults.  Clearly, these old books and their authors were referring to what is now called Charcoal Labradors.  Had any of these authors
taken the time to breed a Smoky Black to another Smoky Black, the "Great Silver Labrador Debate" would today not be plagued with
the breeders who maintain the Silver genes have only recently been  introduced into the Labrador Retriever lines by "Unscrupulous
breeders".
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