Shalouand Kennel Presents

Silver or Not - What are Silver and/or charcoal Labs?

That is a good question. The Silver Lab debate is an ongoing and a very touchy subject in the lab breeding world.

At Shalouand Kennel, we will provide you with the facts and leave the decision up to you in choosing what is right for you. We, however, assure you that we have done our research and have posted the information according to the research and experience that we have obtained. We will not take part in any Silver Lab debate. We do respect the opinions of our friends (respected breeders and owners) who are greatly opposed to the Silver lab.

Many breeders will discourage you from buying a Silver lab! Why? Probably because their market is bottoming out with the introduction of silver and they cannot produce it for their clients.

Silver labs differ in no other way than the fact that they carry two genes (one from each parent) that causes their coat to have a silver (greyed or dilution) effect. There are no differences than any other lab in any other way. Infact, they will still be a great companion, hunter, therapeutic and search and rescue dog as all other labs are. The color factor has no effect on their personality.

However, due to the disharmony in the breeding world, a silver lab is considered a great fault in the show ring and currently both the AKC and CKC will not register them as silver but rather as chocolate. As the chocolate and the yellow lab first began with dissatisfaction in the breeding world, so has the silver lab.

Many opposed breeders of the commonly colored labs have started rumors in the breeding world that Silver labs are actually weimaraner/lab mixes. In truth, Silver labs do have extensive pedigrees that not only proof their background but they can be backed up with any DNA testing available. Infact dedicated Silver Breeders are committed to improving bloodlines in the Silver as reputable breeders do in all colors. We work with a number of Silver breeders that are committed to integrating champion show and hunter bloodlines in their stock.

The silver lab is a greyed chocolate lab and the charcoal is much the same effect with the black labs. All of the above apply to the charcoal as well. The effect results by the same gene and can be carried by your dog even if it does not have a silver or charcoal coat. It surfaces when each parent passes the gene onto the pup.

They are in demand and sparsely produced. You may pay a pretty dime for one. At Shalouand Kennels, we offer an affordable price for our silver lab pups while still offering healthy puppies with extensive champion bloodlines breed into their backgrounds. To view our pricing guide, please visit here.

More information on the Silver Lab can be found at these informational websites:

• The "Truth" about Silver Labradors - two full pages of information and pictures of the silver lab
• The Controversy over the Silver lab - Interesting information about DNA testing of the Silver lab
• German Shepard Forum with - Silver lab discussion on it.