Purebred Silver Labradors - the facts

There are many people who hate Dilute Labradors. They spread lies and bash these purebred animals.

The Council of Purebred Labradors (CPLR) would like to inform the public of facts about Dilute Labradors.

These are not personal opinions or biased accusations, these are solid facts with evidence.

Although the controversy over “Silver” Labradors has now existed for several decades, the fires have recently been stoked due to one of our Labs winning High In Trial in Obedience at the Potomac Labrador Specialty. A wonderful accomplishment for any AKC Labrador! The renewed attacks against our Labrador Retrievers from this event, including from our own Parent Club (Labrador Retriever Club, aka LRC) through their opinion statement on “silver labradors,” have been both prejudiced and vehement. We have obtained reports that some LRC members are attempting to pressure the LRC Board into having the AKC limit or impede registration of our purebred Labradors. In that the LRC is unwilling to include us directly in this discussion, which specifically affects our Labradors, we are initiating a direct dialog with the AKC.

Our intent to ensure that any decision is based in facts and science, and not club politics and biased pressuring. As owners of AKC Labrador Retrievers, we have long stood by the AKC and the findings of the investigations into dilute gene Labradors from the 1980s, wherein it was determined that there was no reason to question the purity of our Labs. As there was no question all those decades ago, there can only be even less question now. We continue to hope and believe that the AKC will stand by us in the defense of our Purebred-Pedigreed Labrador Retrievers, and we look forward to the opportunity to contribute to this lovely breed.

The AKC’s statements:
"The foundation for the AKC registry is based on parentage and not color."

"We [AKC] should register all Lab pups coming from purebred AKC registered Labs."

In 1987 an investigation was done on the purity of Silver Labradors. This is what AKC stated “After a review of pictures, the file and history of this issue which goes back to 1987, we feel the most appropriate color for registration is Chocolate. We will entertain complaints of impure breedings on an individual basis, but complaints should be based on more than color. In 1987 we conducted an inquiry into the breeding of the litters that contained the dogs that were registered as silver and one of our representatives was sent to observe several of the dogs that had been registered as silver. Color photographs of these dogs were forwarded to the office of the American Kennel Club where the staff of the AKC and the representatives of the Labrador Retriever Club of America examined them. Both parties were satisfied that there was no reason to doubt that the dogs were purebred Labrador Retrievers, however both parties felt that the dogs were incorrectly registered as silver. Since the breed standard describes chocolate as ranging in shade from Sedge to chocolate, it was felt that the dogs could more accurately be described as chocolate than as silver.

Accusations of intentional crossbreeding to introduce the MLPH gene from another breed are unfounded and categorically false. The Council encourages all breeders of MLPH gene Labradors to participate in the Breed Purity DNA testing program to publicly demonstrate breed purity.

Please visit www.labradorcoucil.com for the most complete and up to date information and petition. Please read and let us know what you think.