We put down our yellow lab a little over two years ago and looking to get another one soon. I found a breeder that has white puppies available and that got me to thinking. Plus I've called a few breeders and they don't have any or any on the way.

Dog will be a family dog and I'll train (or get trained) for duck hunting. Definitely want a female. Doesn't need to be world champion retriever. Want good hunting bloodlines. Doesn't need to be registered and Not going to show.

I know white is a variation of yellow.

Any of y'all have experience with whites? How about compared to yellows?

Ive never bought into the theories that color dictates personality and ability in labs. Based on my own observations, I say get whatever color you want (except silver... ;/)...

The only caution I will give on light yellows, is watch for dudley's (lack of pigment on nose and around eyes). They make fine hunting dogs, but can be prone to skin issues.

I dunno, but every chocolate lab I've seen has been bsc. Always very sweet but bsc nonetheless

Our yellow is "white". She is a great dog but has food allergies that the black labs don't seem to have. Get a black they seem to have less issues.

If I was going to have a hunting dog that's a retriever idk that I'd want it to be white. Seems counterintuitive if you're going to be decked out in camo if your dog is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

Black Labs Matter

You're either breeding for looks or behaviors, typically not both. You may get a great dog, but the odds are not as good as if you had bought a dog for ability. Also, when breeding for color people are often not selecting out issues like food allergies or skin problems like mentioned above.

I'd definitely do my homework if I were looking for a boutique color variation of yellow like white or fox red.

Those white labs with pink eyes and noses are too ugly to hunt with.

White labs seem to have much more allergy issues, especially skin allergies.

HSEAG13 said:

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I dunno, but every chocolate lab I've seen has been bsc. Always very sweet but bsc nonetheless

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Same

Labs come in three colors. I doubt the color gene has anything to to with hunting or any other ability.

I have a white lab, he does seem to have skin issues as he scratches a bit. I do give him extra vitamins and oils to keep him healthy as he is my working dog. I try not to wash him with soap unless he is just really a mess since I think it dries him out more. He can be tough to hide during a hunt and I hate putting a vest on him when it is not cold. My boy picked him out of a huge litter of chocolates since he was the only white dog, and was not part of the litter but the breeders puppy. She wanted him to have him. He ended up being a great dog.

What's the story on the silver ones? I ask because I am aware of a breeder who recently got a premium for some silver labs. All I know is that they look cool.

Do you like weimariners? Because that's how you get a silver lab.

I'm also pretty sure you can't register a lab as silver. They only recognize the big 3. It's a designer breed and like people have said, people don't breed them for the right reasons. They do it for a color.

Rufnek said:

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What's the story on the silver ones? I ask because I am aware of a breeder who recently got a premium for some silver labs. All I know is that they look cool.

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It's a mutt

We have an 8 month old "white" (yellow) lab. His dad was actually a black lab and mom was that white color. White wasn't my first color choice for a hunting dog as he sticks out a little more, but wife wanted that color and I wanted a lab for hunting. Similar needs to what you described.

Did a ton of research into breeders to avoid issues and get one that still had hunting lines and found one breeder in all of CO that had those qualities so then had to wait for a litter. No personality or other issues any different from any other lab. Stubborn as hell and lots of work, but wouldn't trade him for the world. Picture below of him at 5-6months on his first duck retrieve.

Edit: I give up attempting to post a picture from my phone

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/3p45fqM

Real lunch pail type retrievers. Dog trainers on the field.

Like some have said, there are only three true colors of labs: Black, yellow, and chocolate.

I don't know that any one is better than the others as far as performance, but my vet told me there are far fewer health problems with black labs than with the other colors. YMMV.

https://www.wibw.com/content/news/Study-A-Labrador-retrievers-color-may-indicate-life-span-health-issues-498357301.html

Chesapeake bay retriever?

I said it as a joke... While I understand the argument that "silver labs" are cross breeds, I couldn't care less what dog someone else gets for themselves. I knew it would get mentioned in this thread so figured I would be first...

Ive never had a chocolate lab, but I've had yellow and I've had black. Both performed as well in the field as they'd been trained. Biggest difference was that the black absorbs more heat due to its color, which can be a good thing for it in a cold duck blind. But when dove hunting in the September Texas heat, you have to keep the darker ones more hydrated.

BMF_AG95 said:

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We put down our yellow lab a little over two years ago and looking to get another one soon. I found a breeder that has white puppies available and that got me to thinking. Plus I've called a few breeders and they don't have any or any on the way.

Dog will be a family dog and I'll train (or get trained) for duck hunting. Definitely want a female. Doesn't need to be world champion retriever. Want good hunting bloodlines. Doesn't need to be registered and Not going to show.

I know white is a variation of yellow.

Any of y'all have experience with whites? How about compared to yellows?

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Color has nothing whatsoever to do with ability, performance, trainability or anything else other than "how does it look".

If you want good hunting bloodlines, it DOES need to be registered. Registered means that the parents have participated in field trials or hunt tests - which uses an independent & knowledgeable person to judge the ability of the dog's hunting prowess (not just the owner, who will always say "my dog is great").

Rufnek said:

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What's the story on the silver ones? I ask because I am aware of a breeder who recently got a premium for some silver labs. All I know is that they look cool.

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"Silver" is a non-existent color for Labs that was created by non-reputable breeders trying to create a premium market. Most of the pedigree of "silver" labs is not even purebred.

People who advertise "silver" should be black-balled.

I have had black, yellow, and chocolate labs. The black and yellow were both field labs (AKA "American Labs") and were okay hunters, but super hyper. My current chocolate lab is a show lab (AKA "English Lab") and he is a great hunter, but peters out pretty quick in the heat. He has the best disposition of any canine I have ever owned, super docile and well-behaved.

I'm glad to hear we aren't the only one with an English chocolate that doesn't do well AT ALL with heat. We got him in May and it was pretty obvious really fast he doesn't like the heat. He is also very docile and borderline lazy for a lab puppy and def not BSC. Our black lab seems to fine in the heat.

BlueSmoke said:

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Chesapeake bay retriever?

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I have had labs and golden retrievers and the cbr is best. Hardheaded and summer can be hard, but by far the smartest dog I have had.