I was in your shoes exactly a year ago and all my research eluded to one thing. If you get the dog from a good litter with papers, health clearances, etc. on the parents the color doesn't matter. I would suggest chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate.

 

I am by no means an expert, but the research I have done indicates that color doesn't matter nearly as much as pedigree. Blacks are the dominant gene and so there are more around, but yellows and chocolates are every bit as capable in my opinion.

 

This is just like asking what is better, brown haired people or blonde haired people. As long as the pup is from a good litter, the color doesn't matter at all.

 

This is one of my favorite dog stories from my beginnings. The first real pro I trained with was Hall of Fame trainer, D.L. Walters (not Richard Wolters). D.L. trained and handled well over 100 field champions, and personally won 2 National Opens.

One day, as we were training at his place, I asked him a pretty typical novice question. "D.L., what's the best retriever? A Black Lab...a Yellow...a Golden...?" He replied, "A good dog is a good dog. He doesn't know what color he is, or what it says on his papers. He's just a good dog. That's the dog I like." Pretty diplomatic, eh? Essentially accurate, though.

You want as much proof of concentrated performance and health quality as you can afford. If the color works out, goodie goodie! I hope that at least helps your perspective.

EvanG

 

Color is just a preferance........I would be sure to just make sure that all of the health clearances etc.. are good and go from there..

 

I prefer the Brown Dawgs personally....Peakes that is!!!

I 2nd that. :wink:

As for the color of the dog, it really doesnt matter. As others said, it's just a matter of recessive/dominant genes. Like human hair color.

 

Awesome, I really appreciate all the help guys and am also glad to hear that all of those rumors I have heard are total BS....now I am stuck between brown and yellow...guess I'll keep my eyes peeled for what is born around my area this fall...anyone know of a good breeder in VA area? Thanks again!!

 

By the way, that is a beautiful chocolate lab you have there!

 

That is a great looking lab.

 

Awesome, I really appreciate all the help guys and am also glad to hear that all of those rumors I have heard are total BS....now I am stuck between brown and yellow...guess I'll keep my eyes peeled for what is born around my area this fall...anyone know of a good breeder in VA area? Thanks again!!

Dude, you mean stuck between Chocolate and Yellow. Brown is reserved for chessies. :lol:

The Chessie color is also unique. Any color of brown , sedge, or deadgrass is acceptable. A white spot on the chest, belly, toes, or back of the foot are acceptable, but solid color is preferred. Black color or any other white markings disqualify the dog from the show ring.

:yes:

 

i have both. from the stories i've heard and my own experiences the biggest difference i can find is that the yellow one shows more dirt when the brown one still looks brown.

edit: one other consideration may be the color of your carpet. if you have light carpet, then the yellow hair won't show as much.

good luck with the search.

--seth

 

i have both. from the stories i've heard and my own experiences the biggest difference i can find is that the yellow one shows more dirt when the brown one still looks brown.

edit: one other consideration may be the color of your carpet. if you have light carpet, then the yellow hair won't show as much.

good luck with the search.

--seth

YO Seth, great humor! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

I also have both :

:banger:,,, :grooving:,,, :banana:,,, arty:,,, :shades:

 

Okay Brydog - this begs a question here; how do you hunt them both, do they compete and lastly, are they jealous of one another?

Give us some history/story about them if you don't mind.

MM

 

cool dogs you got there......

 

Okay Brydog - this begs a question here; how do you hunt them both, do they compete and lastly, are they jealous of one another?

Give us some history/story about them if you don't mind.

MM

Sure, they WANT to compete, but it's not allowed.
There was some animosity in the beginning, but teaching them to "Honor" each other has removed most of that problem.
The honoring has been taught since the Duck Season ended in December.
I heel both Dawgs and tell them to "Sit". I then throw or shoot the mark, then call out one of their names to make the retrieve. The other Dawg stays at Heel.
Neither Dawg has broke in over a month. By next season they'll be great in the blind.
Molly likes to sing along with the Goose call, so I don't think she'll be doing any Goose hunting unless I can break her of her singing .

 

I understand the honoring. We did that this year w/ my Bro and his dog. One day however Bro was getting all the shots and Jaz was getting a little antsy - I let her help Max chase a criple - it was hilarious. Two dawgs swimming round and round and a wise old drake puttin' on the moves. We laughed for 30 mins. . .

 

i went chocolate strictly because of color preference.

 

I'm shocked that all you experienced dog people have failed to consider the most important function of a dog's color. That is, most people do a very poor job of photographing black dogs. People showing off pictures of their higher contrast yellow and chocolate colored puppies, on the internet, could spell the end of the black Labrador.

I'm semi-serious about this. I mean it.

 

I was in your shoes exactly a year ago and all my research eluded to one thing. If you get the dog from a good litter with papers, health clearances, etc. on the parents the color doesn't matter. I would suggest chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate.

That pooch looks exactly like my buddie's late chocolate....Hirsch. Wife and kids insisted on his name...(Hershey). He wasn't a big fan of that and modified it for a compromise.
That dog was a treat to watch enter the water....looked like a waterpark ride going in.

 

well the black lab is the dominate gene in labs. people say that the blacks are the smartest followed by the chocs and then the yellows. personally i dont believe that is true but let people think what they want. i ave 4 yellows and i mainly do waterfowl hunting myself but i am also a pheasant guide. all my yellows point and can do blinds up to 300 yrds(the new puppy will do more). i persoanlly chose the yellow for a couple of reasons. the blacks skin is pink so they sunburn very very easily and the choc labs skin is extremly oily and in his later years he will more than likely start flaking. i also chose yellow because i shoot alot of ducks over dry fields so they kinda blend in a little more all you need to do which ever way you go is check and make sure the parents of your dogs are OFA approved in the hips eyes and elbows i wouldnt touch a dog unless both parents have a good or better rating

 

The funiest thing that I have ever heard was, "I got the yellow one because he matched the carpet". I'm sorry, but a dog hair covered carpet, is still a dog hair covered carpet, no matter what color it is! I have all three colors, in the house, with the shade varience of almost white to a fox red yellow, milk chocolate to an almost black chocolate, and of course black. We have on average, 5-6 dogs in the house and guess what. THEY ALL SHED!! We usually have a litter of "puppies" (they are really hairball dust bunnies) in every conceivable color dancing around on the wood floors (hard wood is a must with that many dogs in the house). It's a good thing that after the first initial tail beating as they come bounding through the door, they all settle down on various carpet runners, dog beds, and any blankets/quilts/throw pillows, that are accidently laying on the floor, although I do have one dog that will purposely steal any kind of blanket or throw that you have on in the winter time while watching tv. :lol:

 

This one color verses another makes me laugh :rofl: The only difference between a black , chocolate or yellow is the color of the fur. They are all the same dog under that pretty fur coat . I breed them , got all 3 colors . My one chocolate female always has all three colors in her litter. Your only reason for choosing one color over another should be your own personal preference on what color you prefer. I couldn't choose so I have all three :thumbsup:
Temperment and health have nothing to do with the color of the fur.

 

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The problems you speak of are very true when people are buying from classified ads. But buying a quality dog (what ever breed) you get what you are paying for.

Buy a quality bloodline, and color will not enter in to the finished product, and you can pick which ever color you had rather have. Buy a classified Ad pup, and black/yellow/chocolate are ALL in the high risk area. cooter