All about What makes a silver Labrador Retriever? Complete guide
A silver lab with shiny blue eyes is the perfect embodiment of beauty, but what makes a silver lab Retriever so charming ? Let’s debunk all about this mysterious dog breed!
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Table of Contents
Written By: Ethan Anderson
Team My Dog Cravings
Disclaimer By The Author:
I am not a veterinarian doctor; I am just a pet parent responsible for more serious issues regarding your dog's health. It would help to visit a doctor and thoroughly research before choosing any food product.
As a proud parent of a Silver Lab canine, I am inspired by the beauty and health of this dog breed. The smoky blue eyes in puppyhood turn yellowish in 7-8 months with shiny, thin silver fur. The silver lab retriever is a masterpiece of nature. Do you know What makes a silver Labrador Retriever? If not, this is the gene pool combination in Labrador Retriever breeds that turns into perfection of beauty in the form of the silver labs.
These canines are so rare and, therefore, the main point of attention for dog lovers. The Silver labs is so loving and has a well-developed mind to combat challenges better than other canines of the same breed. Let’s discover all about the genetics, traits, habits, and health concerns of gray labs dogs.
Unifying Silver Labrador Retriever Characteristics
The silver lab pal is more advanced and genetically modified in body form and traits. The full-grown silver lab has charming beauty with a gray coat and excellent muscles build up as compared to the chocolate lab breed. Let’s go through the quick features of the silver breed.
Feature | Description |
Weight | The weight of the silver lab is between 55-80 pounds. |
Lifespan | This breed lives longer,10-14 years on average. |
Body growth | The perfect body and muscle growth, therefore, need exercise to maintain weight. |
Beauty | They have blue eyes and shiny, dense fur with a broad skull texture. |
Size | They usually have medium to large size. |
Inheritance and genetic recombination of silver Labrador Retriever
After genetic testing, the Weimaraner theory was applied to the silver lab breed. According to this theory, the dilute gene “dd” is responsible for the silver coat color of this breed. When the Weimaraner dog crossbreeds with the Labrador, the genetic combination is attained, which leads to a silver lab mix.
How do genes produce silver labs?
The dilute gene has two alleles: d (recessive gene), which provides lighter color, and D (dominant gene), which provides brighter color. So, when a chocolate lab dog carries the (dd) gene and crosses with a Weimaraner, the offspring produce a shiny and stunning silver coat and blue eyes. So, the silver lab has both recessive alleles of the coat color gene, which is called a gene mutation.
What are important Breeding practices For the Silver breed?
Some major breeding practices must be followed to protect the silver dog breed from further mutation and genetic disorders.
- The number one ethical breeding is to take special care of silver breed dogs that will mate and produce offspring.
- At the same time, the breeder’s reputation has to be checked through genetic testing to determine whether the breeder is better for crossing over or not.
- Further health screening tests of the breeder are necessary to identify any genetic defect or disease within the parents.
- Remember, a responsible breeder with perfect health can produce the best breed.
Important information:
- The male silver lab is 80 pounds and has a 24.5-inch tall body.
- The female silver lab has a 70-pound weight and a 23.5-inch tall body.
Recognition and Controversy related to the unique Silver Lab breed
Astonishingly, the American Kennel Club (AKC) does not recognize a silver labrador retriever as a true lab breed according to dog breed standards. The AKC justifies that the yellow, black, and chocolate lab retrievers are true breeds, but the silver breed is mutant.
However, as the silver breed is a very active variant of the chocolate lab breed, it should be accepted as a true breed by AKC and Lab Retriever clubs worldwide. Dog enthusiasts will participate well in eliminating this silver color controversy from American silver labradors.
Types of Lab Retriever
There are the following types of lab breeds.
- American Labrador
- English Labrador
- Chocolate Labrador
- Yellow Labrador
- Black Labrador
Health concerns that Silver Lab Retriever goes through
The Labrador is considered the champion and second-largest breed of dog in the USA. Unfortunately, labs retriever faces some health concerns that are common in all labs breed dogs, either silver or chocolate, which are listed below:
Disease | Description |
Elbow Dysplasia | About 21% of silver labs suffer from this stressful disease, which causes abnormal growth of the elbow joint. |
Hip Dysplasia | Unfortunately, 31% of American silver labrador Suffer from hip dysplasia, in which femur bone edges produce friction in the hip bone socket, which is very painful. |
Exercise-induced collapse | The EIC occurs when the unconditional twisting of joints and bones occurs during physical activity. |
Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) | This is the most common disease in silver labs. It leads to hair thinning and dilution of fur color from specific points of the body. |
Obesity | About 60% of lab-breed dogs suffer from obesity due to their uncontrolled eating habit. Additionally, due to obesity, Silver Lab suffers from diabetes and cardiac issues as well. |
Important steps for Care and Maintenance of Silver lab
Silver labrador retriever dog Care is very important so that your dog can develop mentally strong and optimally.
- The first responsibility of a pet parent is to ensure a perfect diet and nutrition balance for the canine. So always give your dog healthy food to help him grow better.
- Also, take special care of your dog’s grooming needs. Trim your dog’s nails once a week or pay special attention to his dental health.
- As the silver dog breed tends to gain weight very quickly, try to meet your dog’s exercise requirements so that they do not gain weight and avoid obesity.
To further socialize your dog, focus on all the training tips that can keep pal well-maintained and healthy.
Conclusions:
Silver labrador dogs are indeed a masterpiece of nature because of their Behavioural Traits like friendly nature, intelligence, highly energetic, loyal persona, friendly behavior, and beauty that they have genetically. But protecting your dog and taking care of his food is definitely the responsibility of a pet parent. Moreover, of course, soon, this silver labs breed will be recognized as a pure breed by AKC, and they will be allowed to perform in all circuses and competitions. Visit our website to learn more about dog breeds and training tips.
References
Research By: Brian Mitchell
Team My Dog Cravings
