Chocolate v. Yellow v. Black Labs

Dakotah

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#1
Is there a difference betwen there personalities based on their coat color? I know that this question is WAY out there.
But this question has always pondered in my head and I thought I should ask it. I have only been around Black Labs and they are very friendly!

My very first dog was a Black Lab, Turner, and he had to be PTS (this was about 7 years ago) before he was 6 months old cause he had a hereditary mange disease and then he got an infection in his intensine (sp?) and they started bleeding and sadly, we caught that part to late. :( :( :(
But I have not had a Black Lab since Turner was PTS until my dad and I rescued our 7+ year old Lab, Jet about 6 months ago.

Anyways if anyone can answer my question and/or tell me about their Labs.

Thanks :D
 

noludoru

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#2
No.

Coat color is just how they look. It's like asking me if blonds, redheads, and brunettes all have certain personality similarities. Their personality is determined by their formative months/years and their genetics, not what color they are.
 

Dakotah

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#3
ok thanks.

Well now that my question is answered lets talk about Labs. This can be the Lab thread.
So all about Labs!!!
 

pitbullpony

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#4
I have actually heard from lab people that hunt with theirs that they pick on colour.
Blonde - softer temp/softer mouth
Black - rougher/rowdy/goofy
Liver/choc - rugged/medium mouth

I imagine it matters more what the first dog they got was like and then they went from there.
 

RD

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#5
I've noticed temp differences between colors, but I actually think it's probably due to bad breeders selecting only for a certain color and not temperament, than the color actually INFLUENCING temperament.

I find that the yellow labs are softer and more laid-back than the black ones, who tend to be bulls in a china shop their whole lives (at least the ones I've known). I can't comment much on the chocolates because the only chocolates I've known have been very unpredictable in behavior. Haven't met a good chocolate working or show dog yet.
 

BostonBanker

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#6
I find that the yellow labs are softer and more laid-back than the black ones, who tend to be bulls in a china shop their whole lives (at least the ones I've known). I can't comment much on the chocolates because the only chocolates I've known have been very unpredictable in behavior. Haven't met a good chocolate working or show dog yet.
While my rational mind knows that color doesn't affect temperment, that's basically what I see around here. I don't know if it's because chocolate was all the rage for a while, but every human aggressive lab I've known was chocolate. The only two labs I've ever met that I think I would have enjoyed owning were both yellow.
 

Zoom

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#7
My experiences have been pretty close to RD's. The blacks are intense, the yellows are hyper/rowdy and the chocolates are just insane. Again, possibly due to poor breeding practices, but still...these are the trends I've noticed. There are people on here with exceptions to these "rules" (my black is very much a bull in a china shop though! LOL!) but overall, the above is what you're likely to run into.

I'm not really a Lab person either, so I'm slightly biased in the negative. Virgo's "special", otherwise I would have tried a lot harder to find her another home. But after 2+ years of working in a boarding resort and dealing with umpteen million labs, this is what I've found to be true.
 

bubbatd

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#8
From the few I've had personal contact with I'd go Yellow/ black/Chocolate . Depends on the breeding though .
 

Dakotah

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#9
oh wow.

I am asking about Labs and their temperments based on color because like i said i've only been around black labs. But also the man I got my horse, Allie, from raises good temperment and quality Labs and his female had puppies about 6-7 weeks ago and there is like 6 yellows and 4 chocolates. I love the color of the Chocos but I might conside a Yellow IF my dad decides to get one.
 

Dakotah

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#11
I would personally go with Yellow.
I probably will to.
IF we end up getting a puppy i'm going to get a female. but i NEED names!
This is the most excited (most excited? haha I dont think thats right), i've ever been about getting a puppy. I've only actually had 3 puppies in my life but a few fostor/rescue rehoming dogs/older pups. The sad part is that i dont know if i'm getting a puppy or not but I'm pretty sure that my dad will fall for the little Lab puppies since we have Jet and my dad LOVES Jet and would probably want a Lab puppy, but he don't know is that the puppy will be mine haha :D

So female and male (just in case they don't have anymore female puppies) puppy names.

Thanks :D
 

Dakotah

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#13
What about that Aussie you were looking at?
Glad you asked about that.
I was looking at 2 rescues and the first one i was looking at had 3 dogs I liked, all 3 adopted. The 2nd one i was looking had 2 dogs and one was adopted and the other is undergoing treatment for getting sick and is in a permanet fostor home and is no longer adoptable.
I REALLY was hoping to get an Aussie, dont get me wrong, but I talked to my dad about getting a Lab puppy and he said that we'll see about getting one in the next week or so.
 

RD

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#14
I'd take a Yellow lab over a chocolate one, personally. I just haven't met any well-balanced chocolates and because they were so popular some time ago, they've been overbred and i think most chocolate lines have been "tainted". No offense to anyone with chocolates and I know that there are still good lines out there, but for the most part I find blacks and yellows more stable.
 

Paige

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#15
I've noticed temp differences between colors, but I actually think it's probably due to bad breeders selecting only for a certain color and not temperament, than the color actually INFLUENCING temperament.

I find that the yellow labs are softer and more laid-back than the black ones, who tend to be bulls in a china shop their whole lives (at least the ones I've known). I can't comment much on the chocolates because the only chocolates I've known have been very unpredictable in behavior. Haven't met a good chocolate working or show dog yet.
My neighbors lab is yelow and crazy. Totally bonkers. I adore the big brute. My friend has a bonkers chocolate lab, my aunt had a bonkers black lab. I don't think colour has much to do with it. All about the breeder.
 

Lilavati

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#16
There is a LONG thread about lab color and temperment around here somewhere . . . not that we can't discuss it again, but you might want to look it up.
 

SizzleDog

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#17
I have experienced the same thing as Grace. Her descriptions fit the labs out here pretty much to a "T". I've seen a difference in temperament in dobes, based on color. I've also seen a difference in Setters and Cockers, based on their color.

Why this happens I don't know... but in my experience, it does.
 

darkchild16

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#19
Sizzle you also get it alot in APBT's or any real popular or popular at one time.

The Blue APBT is usually les stable, more Razors Edge type dogs VERY VERY few are still the classic original APBT.


I have also noticed the same thing with Labs here. Most of the hunters here choose yellow over the rest anyday.
 

Baxter'smybaby

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#20
this is interesting to me--since Traveler is a very mellow, obedient girl--always has been. Now, her brother (yellow lab) was a wild man! My brother's labs--yellow male--very strong willed, yellow female--very gentle, black female--very obedient, but busy.

I have to believe that breeding and how they are raised influences the outcome regardless of color--just my 2 cents.

ETA--I don't think I will ever find a better "overall dog" than Traveler has been--she is the perfect family dog.
 

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