Labrador colours, a guess anyone? Discussions

Um yes - as per my words - "any breeder who doesn't do the minimum tests for their breed" -

minimum means the lowest - if the lowest is 'none' then so be it - I am aware that some breeds don't have tests stipulated by the KC - however, there are some breeders in some of those breeds that disagree and do actually perform a number of health tests on their breed - predominantly around hips and patella certification - because those breeds are seemingly exhibiting problems - interestingly - some of those where hips are concerned are not even medium sized breeds

ETA - whether the breeder does every health test under the sun for their breed, or none if there aren't any required - the same rules apply when selecting a breeder - a lot of common sense goes a long way - sadly, something that often seems to fly out of the window when people are faced with cute little puppies

Yeah, I was kinda thinking out loud, I agree with what you have said.

Thats true enough, you should see the "rare" choc Lab Im boarding at present.:-(

Rare, chock lab, are they being serious.

Tell them blue's even rarer, its about 30 seconds either side I believe lol.

Or is it 30 secs in total, I can never remember.

Theese chocolates dark enough for you Dawn?

They look fine on those pictures. Cant really see their eye colour or pigment though. I do like "Clover" of yours, beautiful expression.

Sadly many still think they are rare. She has eyes that would function as a torch in the dark, ears like handle bars, about as much bone as a Whippet and is very tiny. Loved though, the main thing I suppose, but it still angers me.

Lol - the demon dog she was my first 'show' dog

The pigmentation on all the chocs is good, although the eye colour on the top girl is lighter than I would like

i love the 4th picture smiling away

hehe - we call him our 'gruffalo' - he's fab - such a laid back easy going boy (he needs to be living with 5 entire bitches bless him )

Looking through the pedigree of your choc male, "Moz" I see he goes back through Arthur and Peggy's breeding on both sides. "Jason" was lovely, I was there when he was born, really nice natured, easy going dog, sire of the record holder "Hugo" too. "Music Maker" or Prince as he was called was also born while I was there, an all black litter by Master Mariner to "Kerry" a yellow bitch. Arthur and Peggy kept "Mike" and "Molly Mo" but later David Craig had her and made her up, friends of Arthur and Peggy had "Prince" their first show dog who they made up too. Mike stayed and I showed him at Crufts, that was the first time I had showed at Crufts too. He later went to America, where he gained several titles. Ann Britton also had a black bitch from that litter, I think she called her "Bramble" it was a very very successful litter.

He's a fab boy - he's taking a long time to mature as did my yellow girl - but that isn't unusual for those lines and he seems to be 'getting there' now - hopefully also the sire of my next litter.

Interestingly - ALL my dogs go back to the same lines (including my pet bred oldie) - all back through a number of the Bradking dogs and Ardmargha Mad Hatter

Mad Hatter was nice, only saw him once I think. Hugo was a cracking dog, I never saw him in the ring, showing terriers and all then and working elsewhere, the only time I saw him was when Arthur called me to ask for help in taking him to the Vets, he was PTS later that day.:-( Even then, he wagged his tail and greeted me. It devastated Arthur and Peggy.

Jet our first dog was very small, though not what I'd call racey in any way.

Storm's got light eyes, but don't think they're quite that bad, could be wrong though. The hair on his tail is quite long, don't think that's breed standard, and he's a short ass .

Nyle, I think looks like a crossbreed, bless him lol.

My dad's lab Shadow, has got a very narrow head imo, and is quite hiper, will see if I've got a pic of him. He's solid black btw.

I can understand why it angers you though, and I'm the first to admit that Jet, Shadow and Storm did not come from what I'd now consider to be a good breeder. But we all live and learn, it wasn't until after I got Storm at around 16 that I learned about that.

Apart from the non health testing, Storm's breeders were spot on in everything else, though that doesn't change the fact that they should be doing them.

Storm's dam had apparently competed in field trials, and won at least one from what I can remember. She was a dark choc, his sire is a dark choc, when we visited them a couple of years ago, they'd had another litter, all bar one were dark chocs. Don't have any pics though I'm afraid.

Shadow and Jet came from pure working lines, solid black parents and all siblings were also solid black, just incase you were wondering.

Nyle, couldn't tell you, though there must've been some chocolate somewhere, for him to develop this tinge he's getting. His parents were at least health tested.

Anyway, think I've bored you enough talking about my badly bred non-conformists lol.

Surprisingly not - the chocolate undercoat on blacks is a sign of a good coat and not an indication that they carry chocolate (of course he may well do - but the chocolate undercoat is a red herring ;-) )

All 'good' breeders would do the test relevant to their breed, or at least test for known problems within the breed required to do so or not. Other wise its simple their not good breeders (in my eyes).

I havent had much to do with working dogs so couldnt comment on their tempermants or anything else for that matter, but 'most' show dogs I have ever meet have had fab tempermants, and would of course have to have to be able to cope with big days out with hundreds of dogs and people.

There are so many bad pedigree breeders out there we all know that, but their are also some fab ones - and they dont get enough credit for the work their doing. which to me is such a shame. I would always reccommend decent breeders to intrested pup buyers, if it means one less sale for a puppy farm/back yard breeder then my 5 mins would have been worth it.

Do breeders who don't health test come under back yard breeders or puppy farmers?

Or what?

rune

Irresponsible Twats imo is what they come under

Irresponsible selfish breeders.

That's interesting thanks.

He was solid black when I got him, now he's got a chocolate face, it's certainly amused a few people, going from the comments I get when out with him.

I posted a pic a couple pages back, but here's another one, the tinge doesn't show up that well in pics. He's also got a calflick/zipper, whatever you wish to call it.

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This could well be true----interesting reply under the circs!

rune