Color/type and temperament?

sillysally

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#41
This actually is something that comes up all the time on my lab board. The general consensus seems to be that most owners who have had multiple labs of many colors tend to not see any sort of consistent difference based on color except for the fact that because there tend to be more BYB chocolates, there does tend to be a kernel of truth in that theory.

My own completely unprovable theory is that you tend to see more reputable breeders leaning towards the yellows and blacks (although there are good breeders doing chocolates, don't get me wrong) therefore if you see tons and tons of chocolates in your area chances are higher than the other two colors that they are BYB.
 
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#42
Those mosaic labs are adorable! I'd never heard of the odd colored ones.

I think Sally's explanation makes the most sense. More back yard bred chocolates means more with bad temperaments.

As far as the red hair thing (in people), I do remember hearing something about that too. If I remember right, red hair was supposedly linked with having a low pain threshold. You weak redheads! :p
 

Doberluv

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#44
My chocolate Lab had a fantastic temperament, was sane, calm, tolerant and sweet. Her father, a rich, dark chocolate was Canadian and American champion, was stocky and muscular and her mother, also a chocolate, but a little lighter was a field trial champ and wasn't as good looking as her father, but also very sweet. She was more exuberant and drivey, but I wouldn't call her crazy. Her father was more laid back, from what I could tell. Anyhow, Bonnie was a wonderful family dog, trustworthy with the kids and never hyper, not even as a puppy. I knew, when I got her that she was going to be a wonderful, easy dog to live with.
 
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#45
My friend has a family dog . And i like to go meet new dogs , so i went to meet there chocolate lap , But very dark coloured . It was honestly, one of the smartest dogs i've seen . They had it so well trained just to - sit , stay , come , speak , crawl . AMAZING i thought . Especially because it's only 9 months old. ( they have no dog experience )
 

Doberluv

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#46
I don't know about the Labs everyone talks about...as being crazy lunatics....must be some kind of crummy temperamented Labs, but that's not the way they're suppose to be...all spun out and insane. They should be level headed and yes, easy to train, smart, willing and stable. Hyper, crazy, impossible to get focus from them? NO. Exuberant, enthusiastic? Yes....up to a point. So, it must be something with modern day breeding that is ruining the breed, just like they're ruining GSDs so much these days.
 

sillysally

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#48
My chocolate Lab had a fantastic temperament, was sane, calm, tolerant and sweet. Her father, a rich, dark chocolate was Canadian and American champion, was stocky and muscular and her mother, also a chocolate, but a little lighter was a field trial champ and wasn't as good looking as her father, but also very sweet. She was more exuberant and drivey, but I wouldn't call her crazy. Her father was more laid back, from what I could tell. Anyhow, Bonnie was a wonderful family dog, trustworthy with the kids and never hyper, not even as a puppy. I knew, when I got her that she was going to be a wonderful, easy dog to live with.
Jack has what I would consider a good temperament as well--he could use more of an off button, but honestly, that's my only complaint. BUT, he also came from someone who cared about the temperament of the dogs he bred, as it seems that your girl's breeder did.

I think that when you get into those that are breeding just for the $$$$$, which happens a lot in labs, you unfortunately see issues like that. Honestly, I don't think that the "crazy chocolate lab" is as common as people think, but just as in other breeds when colors get popular with the general public and people smell $$, watch out. There is someone in our neighborhood who wants to breed their female chocolate with Jack (although I've told them twice he's altered). The last time I saw him I had Jack and he had his female--the female sniffed Jack then tried to eat his face:eek:. Yep, I totally want to breed to that.....

However, I would get another lab from a good breeder of any color in a heartbeat....
 

Doberluv

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#49
I think Labs, when they're like they're suppose to be are wonderful dogs. My Dad had a friend with a chocolate that he hunted with. That dog was spoiled rotten and loved on like crazy. She was fantastically trained (absolutely no e-collar)and not at all hyper, but enthusiastic to go hunting. At home, she'd lounge around on the couch and was just a great family dog.

You mean that female was trying to fight with him? Is that what you mean by eating his face? People are crazy. I've been asked about Jose` by people wanting one "just like him." LOL. He is the worst example of a Chihuahua you can find. But it's his uniqueness, color and his adorable puppy face and temperament that is so cute and appealing, I think. But he's fixed too.
 

lizzybeth727

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#50
I don't know about the Labs everyone talks about...as being crazy lunatics....must be some kind of crummy temperamented Labs, but that's not the way they're suppose to be...all spun out and insane. They should be level headed and yes, easy to train, smart, willing and stable. Hyper, crazy, impossible to get focus from them? NO. Exuberant, enthusiastic? Yes....up to a point.
I know, I sometimes forget what a lot of labs are like out in the "real world" because the only ones I have experience with are my service dogs.... which aren't insane, obviously. :) Some of my favorite dogs in the world were labs, I'd adopt them in a heartbeat if I could. 'Course I could be biased, my very first dog to live with was a lab. :)
 

Doberluv

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#51
Yeah, it sounds so strange and foreign to me to hear of all these Labs that are so hyper. That's just weird. My 2nd dog, as a kid, one of the puppies from our mama dog was half Lab. The neighbors had a big, black lab who got hold of our little Beagle mix. Back then, you weren't a felon if your dog had puppies. LOL. Anyhow, he was a fantastic dog and my first training prospect when I was about 10 or 12. He went everywhere with my horse and me. So Lizzybeth, no wonder you're biased. You work with lots of good ones, I presume and having one for your first dog does tend to bring back lots of good memories.
 

Bailey08

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#54
I wonder what'll happen (if anything) to the lab mythology after "Marley and Me." More crazy yellow labs from BYBs?
 

mrose_s

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#55
I dunno how much truth is in it but its not surprising.
Like the stereotypes about chestnut horses, ginger or white cats and red headed people right?
 

JoeLacy

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#56
I heard the same thing about Border Collies. White bodies with red markings and white bodies with black markings are more laid back. This came from a BC rescue person of 35 years. Jax of course is white with red.

This week I got an email from the rescue and it said this.

"I have two more coming in that are white with the spotting, one red, like Jax and the other black spots. Both have calm demeanors like Jax. "

I really don't know if this is color thing is true or not, but what I can can is Jax is very calm. YMMV
 

smkie

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#57
Well if you compare Bronki Mary's son who was white with spots to Victor who is white with spots there couldn't be two more different dogs from two different ends of the spectrum.

AS to labs I think I am the only one that hates marley and Me. I found it a horrid book and movie, a disrespect to all the good labs I have known, and to Mary too. The book was an untrained dog with clueless people. Has nothing to do with the breed and eveyrthing to do with their lack of sense.
 

dogsarebetter

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#58
Labs like Marley, and owners like that is basically ALL I have been around with labs.
I have yet to meet one that wasnt like Marley or worse.
 

smkie

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#59
,Mary was the epitome of the labs in my life. SHe had pointer in her but her heart was all lab. Wish you could have met her. IF i were younger and in better financial standings a lab is what i want. I love Victor and Pepper, but i miss the clear calm strength i drew from Mary and the other labs I have had in my life. YOu just have to work with them from the get go. Be fair, understanding and consistant. THE people like Marley and me think it happens by itself with age. Kind of like thinking you can put a book under your pillow and ace the test. THe movie literally ticked me off. IF Hyia wasn't sitting beside me in the theater I would have walked out.
 

Dekka

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#60
I heard the same thing about Border Collies. White bodies with red markings and white bodies with black markings are more laid back. This came from a BC rescue person of 35 years. Jax of course is white with red.

This week I got an email from the rescue and it said this.

"I have two more coming in that are white with the spotting, one red, like Jax and the other black spots. Both have calm demeanors like Jax. "

I really don't know if this is color thing is true or not, but what I can can is Jax is very calm. YMMV
See and all the long time BC people I know joke that the reds are the craziest. Just goes to show its all on the experience with individual dogs and not actually based in reality. Sport is among the craziest drivest BC I have ever met and he's a tri.. but i have met so many low drive tris too...

Smkie>>I never saw Marley and Me as I knew it would **** me off just from hearting about it.
 

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