[kdryan]

Please forgive the ignorance of this question, but I know absolutely nothing about dog breeding, and have always been curious about this...

I have on occasion seen Labs that were either white or so light yellow, that they appeared white. Personally I have always thought that they were beautiful dogs and would love to have one. But it's my understanding that this is undesirable for some reason and have even heard stories of breeders putting puppies down for being white.

Why on earth would people not want this? They're simply gorgeous dogs and there's no way you'll convince me that the color of a dog's coat is in any way detrimental to the breed. Certainly not more that inbreeding them to the point where hip problems are a way of life...

Kevin

 

[Snowflake]

Those labs are officially yellow, but you're right....they are beautiful. Any breeder that would have a puppy put down because of the color of it's coat is not a breeder. It's a puppy mill! There are no words to describe how despicable that is.

I have no idea if the coat is undesirable for whatever reason. Maybe the show people can answer that for you. I know a dog has to adhere to strict standards to win in the shows. But I also know any breeder with even a slight reputation will not put a puppy down because it was born with a coat that can't be shown.

 

[theoconbrio]

Hi & welcome to the forum.

Here's a good page on shades within yellow put together by one of our own esteemed members: http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/yellows.html For more detail on coat color genetics, see http://www.labbies.com/genetics2.htm

The more experienced folks can comment on the desirability of very light cream coloring, but I have seen pretty light-colored dogs at shows. Certainly no reputable breeder would put a puppy down for something so trivial as coat color.

 

[kdryan]

Well I may have been wrong about the putting the down part, but I'm pretty sure I remember reading that. They're still gorgeous dogs though...

 

[Snowflake]

Our first Lab, Annie, was a "white" lab. White all over, except for her ears and a little light yellow spot down her back.

 

[Hunter]

I have a Yellow Lab that is pure white with just a speckle of yellow at the tip of his tail. Came from a litter of 13, Hunter and his brother were born white while the others were darker. I always figured he would turn more yellow as he got older, he never did. Both parents were dark yellow.

Hunter - 7 years old in this pic

One of my favorite pics, Hunter at about 3 months old with the old man Garth

 

[Canyon Labradors]

I am not sure where you heard that, but there is absolutely no truth that the light shades of yellow are undesireable. Unless you were reading up on old-time labrador history, and before the 1950's when yellows got really popular, it was still common practice to cull the unwanted puppies. That included the chocolate ones and sometimes the yellows. The reason being that the ORIGINAL lab was black.

 

[joflake]

I've never heard this in reference to labs, but, many years ago I heard about putting down white pups from Great Dane or Boxer litters, because a lot of them are born deaf or blind or both. I think they thought it was a genetic disorder and put the pups down. I don't know if this is still done or not, as I've seen many pictures of white boxers.

 

[labby]

Dalmatian breeders used to put down patch puppies at birth. (puppies not born all white). They've only stopped doing it within the past 20 years or so.

 

[MidwestGirl]

HI and welcome.

I love them all!!!!

 

[kdryan]

See why I think they're beautiful? I love this pic...

This is one time that I'm glad to find out I'm wrong about something. It's just one of those bits of info that's been in the back of my head for years and if I'm mistaken, I'll happily let go of it.

Kevin

 

[XSARA]

i don't know much about the white coats, but i know my sister breed her first litter of pups, the ***** was dark yellow and the dog was black and out of 9 pups 3 were black 6 were yellow one of which was white. I ended up with the white one who we thought would have got darker. One thing though are whiter pups more due to health problems as my sister said she may be more prone to ear infections ect, so far i have had no problems and she is 7 months. Their is one problem with white dogs though and that is keeping them clean lol
casper

tired after all the hard work of getting dirty

 

[rottnlab dad]

One of my favorite pics, Hunter at about 3 months old with the old man Garth

What a wonderful pic! I can definitely see why it's a favorite.
.

 

[Samson]

A Colour comparison for you with my almost white Lab love Jasper with his soul mate Dylan both launching into an eat me contest !

 

[Baloo317]

They still put down the ridgebacks that are born without a ridge a lot of the time.

Which is so backwards to me, because the ridge is caused by a (very mild) form of spina bifida, so essentially they're "culling" the healthier dogs.

But I digress... I really like the white color, as then it wouldn't be as obvious when they start to age. Not that I don't think gray faces are adorable, but I'll probably cry when I first notice gray on either of my guys.

Not that that's a reason to pick a dog, LOL!

 

[myfavoritedog]

I like the really light yellows that are pretty much white in color. Even though I am partial to the black coat, I think they are all pretty special!

 

[NM Lab Lover]

Abbey is a very light yellow with just a little "color" on her. Her coloring and sweet face are what draw people to her most. Coco is the little clown and the more "willful" of the two. I can't imagine anyone wanting to put down a lab pup just because of the color. Ignorant people are everywhere I guess.

This is Abbey and Coco at 8 weeks and Abbey around 23 weeks. She has not darkened much either.

Pick your new little lab pup because he or she is right for you and your family and not because of a color - you will all be happier in the end.

 

[kdryan]

We did....

See below.

 

[Luvmydog2much]

One thing though are whiter pups more due to health problems as my sister said she may be more prone to ear infections ect, so far i have had no problems and she is 7 months.
[/IMG]

There is absolutely no truth to this. Your puppy has the same genes for good health as the parents had if that's what they were bred for.

I had a 'white' one too, he did indeed get darker with age.

The only thing wrong with white labs are the breeders who market them as rare or more worthwhile. They are just light yellow labradors.

I have several Ridgeback breeder friends and I can say that the ridgeless puppies can still exhibit a dermoid sinus, also that they rarely cull any puppies anylonger, but puppies born with dermoid sinus are routinely euthanized, ridge or no ridge.

 

[Baloo317]

I have several Ridgeback breeder friends and I can say that the ridgeless puppies can still exhibit a dermoid sinus, also that they rarely cull any puppies anylonger, but puppies born with dermoid sinus are routinely euthanized, ridge or no ridge.

I think it's common practice (culling ridgeless puppies) still in the UK more than here in NA. I watched a documentary where a ridgeback breeder was lamenting the fact that vets kept giving her heck for wanting to euthanize her (perfectly healthy) ridgeless puppies. Her attitude was "How dare they tell me not to cull the ridgeless ones! What's a ridgeback without the ridge?"