Differences between Yellow and Black labs?
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There may be some truth to it, actually.
Black is dominant and much more common. If someone wants to breed a yellow or chocolate litter they have to go breed 2 non -black dogs. This usually means that color was the reason for the match and not conformation, temperament, or working ability. In other words a byb lab..
Black is dominant and much more common. If someone wants to breed a yellow or chocolate litter they have to go breed 2 non -black dogs. This usually means that color was the reason for the match and not conformation, temperament, or working ability. In other words a byb lab..
I've had 2 yellow labs and 1 black lab " granddogs " ..... it probably was the breeding , but the yellow labs were less aggressive . As to chocolate , I've heard that too , but I know one owner whose chocolate was a perfect lab and her heart dog . I guess at this point I'd go by what color hair you want on your clothes and couches etc !
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i'm not sure, but now that i think about it, the yellow labs i've known have been more mellow...but it's likely a coincidence, as i know more black labs and they're younger than the yellows i know...the yellows have been owned by dog people, too.
i've only known three chocolate labs in my life, and two of them were working dogs, brilliantly behaved, and one was a total sweetheart.
i don't think it's particularly true about temperment differences.
i've only known three chocolate labs in my life, and two of them were working dogs, brilliantly behaved, and one was a total sweetheart.
i don't think it's particularly true about temperment differences.
This will sound awful, but my father was talking to an English breeder, and for some reason labs, specificially chocolates came up, and appearently, in some circles, if a chocolate happens to be born, they are put down immediately, because they are 'crazy' . . . I would take that to mean more hyper and unfocused. This was years ago, and the breeder in question bred for field work . . . but . . . well, that's what I know on the topic. I've heard that silver poodles are supposed to be flaky . .. there are alot of those breed/color myths . . . I suspect they have some truth in them, but only because the original lines bred to get that color had a temperment issue . . . I doubt its the COLOR that does it. So, I would suspect that there are plenty of just fine chocolate labs out there, whatever this guy thought. But if you had a line where there were lots of chocolates, bred only to chocolates, for a long time, then the 'craziness' might come out.
As for all breeding for color being byb, that might be a bit much. Yellow and Chocolate are legitimate lab colors, and assuming conformation and temperment are good, I see no reason not to breed a yellow to a yellow rather than a black . . . after all, if we didn't do that, all dogs would end up one of the dominant colors, except for occasionally throws (black is dominant, so two black dogs bed together, or a black and yellow, can produce a yellow, because they can carry yellow). I don't know about you, but a world of black, brindle and merle dogs would get pretty old (those being the genes I know to dominant for color, I'm sure there are few more). Breeding purely for color, like breeding purely for certain conformation traits (as opposed to good solid basic build, with the breed traits tacked on) it of course, very unwise.
As for all breeding for color being byb, that might be a bit much. Yellow and Chocolate are legitimate lab colors, and assuming conformation and temperment are good, I see no reason not to breed a yellow to a yellow rather than a black . . . after all, if we didn't do that, all dogs would end up one of the dominant colors, except for occasionally throws (black is dominant, so two black dogs bed together, or a black and yellow, can produce a yellow, because they can carry yellow). I don't know about you, but a world of black, brindle and merle dogs would get pretty old (those being the genes I know to dominant for color, I'm sure there are few more). Breeding purely for color, like breeding purely for certain conformation traits (as opposed to good solid basic build, with the breed traits tacked on) it of course, very unwise.
Two yellow labs will only have yellows.
But depending on genetics a yellow/black, black/black, black/choc, yellow/choc, etc has the possibility to produce all three colors.
Choc/Choc I believe can only produce Choc and yellow.
Here is a great genetic chart for those interested...
http://www.blueknightlabs.com/color/coatcolor.html
I think excitability and temprament have alot to do with the way the dog was raised and what lines they came from... hunting vs show or pet. Not coat color.
In my experience my choc lab is calmer, and my yellow is more energetic and more hard headed. The yellow is from strong hunting lines. The choc was "rescued" from a backyard breeder at 12 weeks old.
But depending on genetics a yellow/black, black/black, black/choc, yellow/choc, etc has the possibility to produce all three colors.
Choc/Choc I believe can only produce Choc and yellow.
Here is a great genetic chart for those interested...
http://www.blueknightlabs.com/color/coatcolor.html
I think excitability and temprament have alot to do with the way the dog was raised and what lines they came from... hunting vs show or pet. Not coat color.
In my experience my choc lab is calmer, and my yellow is more energetic and more hard headed. The yellow is from strong hunting lines. The choc was "rescued" from a backyard breeder at 12 weeks old.
In my personal experience, the chocolates are by far my least favorite of the three colors. They do have a different mental state (straight up crazy) to them and it's not something I would want to own. Of course, there are many dogs out there that disprove this, but the majority of my experienes with chocolates has not been positive. Yellows seem slightly more mellow, though more hard-headed and singly-focused on something, whether it's a ball or humping the daylights out of someone. Blacks run the gamut from mellow to Superball, but being the dominent color, it's expected to have a wider selection.
Ahh Zoom, I wish you could meet my Charlie. He is a loverboy. He will lay his head on your shoulder and will stay that way for as long as you rub his neck. Lol But on the other hand, if you throw a ball or shoot a gun.. he is ready to go. He really doesn't know his own strength either. But all in all he is a very mild mannered lab, loves attention.
My mom has never seen his wild side. When she walks into my house, she does the baby talk and sits down. Charlie proceeds to put his head on her shoulder and get some petting. She thinks he loves her... Lol When in reality, he will do this to anyone that wants his head on their shoulder.
Well almost anyone.
A wonderful dog! And a very quick learner too.
My mom has never seen his wild side. When she walks into my house, she does the baby talk and sits down. Charlie proceeds to put his head on her shoulder and get some petting. She thinks he loves her... Lol When in reality, he will do this to anyone that wants his head on their shoulder.
Well almost anyone.
A wonderful dog! And a very quick learner too.
I haven't had any real experience with labs, besides our black lab. Our lab is a field lab and came from a BYB who is a friend of my husband's.
Anyway she is a good dog she was extremely easy to train (housebreaking and obedience). She is hyper and excited only when it's the right time (like when she sees me reaching for her frisbee). She does have some aggression issues at times with strangers but warms up really quickly.
Anyway she is a good dog she was extremely easy to train (housebreaking and obedience). She is hyper and excited only when it's the right time (like when she sees me reaching for her frisbee). She does have some aggression issues at times with strangers but warms up really quickly.
The only true difference is color. But, we used to always joke in my clinic days that the yellows were the laid back calm ones, the blacks were the smart ones and the most active and the chocolates were well...the dumb, crazy ones, lol!
I believe it all comes down to the breeding and training in the end.
I believe it all comes down to the breeding and training in the end.
H
Just the color. There are 3 colors in Labs (black, yellow and chocolate) and the only difference between the 3 of them is the color. Same standards, same breed, same conformation, temperment and health.
Yellows are prone to more skin problems and they can get sunburned easier. Other than that....nada, zilch, zero, nothing is different.
H
Temperment has to do with breeding, training and ownership as well. I know a black female that is very chilled out and calm but loves to be with you and lick you all the time...another is a chocolate male that is the most loving dog you'd ever meet yet he is more playful than the female (2 years between age makes a difference as well) sometimes. Also a black male that is very hyper, plays great with the chocolate and loves to be near you but doesn't have to be on you or love on you to express his feelings.
So I don't think color has a darn thing to do with temperment. It's a matter of parents genenetics and raising.
Also, chocolates were bred in the early days but the color wasn't registered until early 1900's because breeders didn't "like the color" and only wanted yellow or black.
So I don't think color has a darn thing to do with temperment. It's a matter of parents genenetics and raising.
Also, chocolates were bred in the early days but the color wasn't registered until early 1900's because breeders didn't "like the color" and only wanted yellow or black.
I am definitely not a Lab expert... but I have friends with an AWESOME Chocolate Labby girl named Tango. She is super sweet, obedient, well mannered, and an amazing working dog as well. She's from 100% field lines, weighs about 60 lbs, and is basically the only Lab in the whole universe that my stuck-up Border Collie is friends with, which says a LOT.
It might be my experiences with her, but I prefer Chocolates, in general. Our neighbor has a very cool Chocolate named Romeo. Plus, most of the Chocolates I've met are field type and well-bred, which is my favorite kind of Lab.
If I could say anything to generalize colors... Yellows seem more mellow, and Blacks tend to be more high-strung and are the only color that I have noticed aggression in. Just in my experience.
It might be my experiences with her, but I prefer Chocolates, in general. Our neighbor has a very cool Chocolate named Romeo. Plus, most of the Chocolates I've met are field type and well-bred, which is my favorite kind of Lab.
If I could say anything to generalize colors... Yellows seem more mellow, and Blacks tend to be more high-strung and are the only color that I have noticed aggression in. Just in my experience.
Color is just that - color. Nothing more, nothing less.
What DOES make the difference is breeding. Chocolate is the "hot" color for this breed right now and therefore it is the choice of back yard breeders. The result is that the vast number of chocolate Labs are pet bred as they are bred for nothing but color. There are some reputable breeders (of both field and show strains) who are trying to improve the quality of chocolates but they are the unfortunately the minority. Blacks and yellows are prefered in the show ring and just blacks are prefered for working in the field.
What DOES make the difference is breeding. Chocolate is the "hot" color for this breed right now and therefore it is the choice of back yard breeders. The result is that the vast number of chocolate Labs are pet bred as they are bred for nothing but color. There are some reputable breeders (of both field and show strains) who are trying to improve the quality of chocolates but they are the unfortunately the minority. Blacks and yellows are prefered in the show ring and just blacks are prefered for working in the field.