Silver Lab?
- Thread starter LauraLeigh
- Start date
Some silver labs may be Weim crosses.
But it's also possible the dilution gene has been in the Labrador genome since the beginning. Newfoundlands are found in dilute shades, and so are Chessies. Both of these breeds are in the history of the Labrador Retriever. Considering how long it took for yellow and then chocolate labs to be accepted as "real" Labradors, I find it quite plausible that the gene has always been there, but rarely allowed to surface.
Additionally, many of the "explanations" of silver Labradors read like the author does not understand how recessive genes work. That silver Labradors are chocolate Labradors is a little ridiculous. You might as well say that chocolate labs are black labs.
I doubt it is a recent mutation. I would not expect a new mutation to crop up that manifests and inherits in the exact same way as a previously existing mutation.
http://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/what-is-a-silver-labrador/
http://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/ash-chesapeake-bay-retrievers/ (see comments)
But it's also possible the dilution gene has been in the Labrador genome since the beginning. Newfoundlands are found in dilute shades, and so are Chessies. Both of these breeds are in the history of the Labrador Retriever. Considering how long it took for yellow and then chocolate labs to be accepted as "real" Labradors, I find it quite plausible that the gene has always been there, but rarely allowed to surface.
Additionally, many of the "explanations" of silver Labradors read like the author does not understand how recessive genes work. That silver Labradors are chocolate Labradors is a little ridiculous. You might as well say that chocolate labs are black labs.
I doubt it is a recent mutation. I would not expect a new mutation to crop up that manifests and inherits in the exact same way as a previously existing mutation.
http://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/what-is-a-silver-labrador/
http://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/ash-chesapeake-bay-retrievers/ (see comments)