Are there grey labs

Not only does he serve his master, but he is loyal to everyone in the pack and will happily snuggle up with anyone in the room. Additionally, if socialized from a young age, he is also fond of small children and other animals. However, this sociability does have a slight downside, in that he is known to suffer from separation anxiety.

His temperament is one of the main reasons he is the most popular dog breed and has been for over 23 years! Being a working dog, the Silver Labrador is a high-energy dog. Silver Labs need around 60 minutes of exercise each day.

This does not mean, however, that an hour walk per day will be adequate. As with any Labrador, they require intense exercise to burn up extra energy. Silver Labradors will need fast-paced and interactive activities.

Training your lab to walk or run with a harness is recommended, as they make excellent jogging partners. Other activities they enjoy include playing fetch, taking part in agility courses, and interactive games. The Silver Labrador is one of the most intelligent canines on the planet. This is one of the main reasons why Labradors are commonly used in working fields. When you combine their intelligence with their love to please their master, they will forever spend every minute trying to impress you with their skills.

This is as long as you are consistent with their training. Make sure you have plenty of toys to keep your pup entertained. The Silver Labrador is a generally healthy dog, and he lives, on average, between 10 and 12 years. So, if you are thinking about welcoming a Silver Labrador into your life, then you need to be aware of the following health issues:.

This is a common health issue in later life for most dog breeds. An abnormal formation causes it in the hip and elbow joints, and symptoms can eventually include joint pain and crippling arthritis. The pup can suffer a loss of muscular control following a period of excessive exercise.

You can do nothing to prevent this except lookout for symptoms such as collapsing and being unable to move or dragging their limbs behind them while running. In very rare cases, the dog can die immediately, but most cases last up to 25 minutes. This is found in dogs that have the color dilution gene, dd, as described above.

It is caused by a bacterial infection in the hair follicles and causes dry skin and hair loss. It shows itself between 6 months and three years, and antibiotics can help manage it. Generally, the Silver Labrador will eat around 3 cups of food , and it should be a large breed formula made for Labs.

He will also eat anything and everything else that he can get his paws on! It is imperative to monitor his food and treat consumption with any Labrador to avoid obesity and other weight-related health issues. Give him treats in moderation and try not to feed him high-calorie or human foods such as cheese. To keep the Silver Labrador warm against the cold elements, he has a double coat. His undercoat is thick, dense, and water and ice resistant.

This enables them to stay in the water for so long without getting ill, and his outer coat is short and coarse. Labradors are moderate to heavy shedders. Inbreeding likely would have been required to perpetuate the silver color many generations ago, but there are now seven distinct bloodlines of Silver Labs, so breeding mothers to sons and fathers to daughters is no longer necessary and would be avoided by reputable breeders.

Silver Labs are frequently more expensive than other purebred Labs. If you desperately want a Silver Lab, you will likely have to pay extra. There are many breeders who are only interested in money rather than the health and longevity of their dogs. You must do a lot of research to find a reputable breeder. All breeds of Labs are well known for being intelligent and well-behaved pets, with some well-structured dog training and a healthy puppy schedule you will be surprised by how calm and well-mannered this breed can be with a small effort on your part.

Now you know the truth about Silver Labs! Their grooming requirements are quite simple. They need brushing twice a week to keep their coat healthy. These dogs are best suited to an individual or family that has a fenced back yard and plenty of time to spend playing, exercising and cuddling them. Labs need all the usual care such as regular nail clipping, worming and flea treatments.

They also will need their teeth cleaned regularly. This can be done with a finger tooth brush or with dental chews which have been shown to be just as good.

Labs also love to swim which can make them prone to ear infections, so be sure to keep their ears clean. Labradors are high energy dogs which means they will need around an hour of walking a day, preferably in two sessions. Having a fenced backyard will also be a big benefit, as it means they will have space to play outside all the time. These dogs would not do well in an apartment. They are very intelligent so training them with recall should be easy.

This means that you can walk them off leash. This is perfect for Labradors as they love to run and explore new places. They will enjoy any type of exercise you want to do with them. Silver Labs shed a fair amount all year round thanks to their double coat. This is especially true in Spring and Fall the shedding seasons. This means they will need regular brushing at least twice a week to maintain a healthy coat, possibly more during the shedding seasons. Investing in a good quality shedding brush and vacuum cleaner will definitely be needed with these dogs.

It will benefit your dog to be professionally groomed occasionally as well. This keeps their skin healthy and reduces shedding. There are no specific coat cuts for Labradors, but it is generally kept short all over.

Labradors are medium size dogs so they will need to be fed around one and a quarter cups of high-quality, dry food twice a day. Ideally, you should also avoid foods that contain dyes, rendered fats and corn or wheat gluten.

Silver Labs will suffer from the same health issues experienced by other Labs. These are hip and elbow dysplasia and eye problems. If you are getting a puppy from a breeder you should always ask for their hip and elbow scores.

Also, due to their unusual coat, can be prone to a specific type of alopecia called color dilution alopecia. This is not fatal, but it does mean their fur may fall out in patches when they are young. They could also have reoccurring infections in their hair follicles. Whenever you are buying a puppy, the most important thing you can do is look for a reputable breeder. This is someone who breeds responsibly and has a history of healthy, well documented puppies.

There are breeders who have Silver Lab puppies that are fully health checked. You may, however, be put on a waiting list as this bred is growing in popularity. When you meet the puppies, be sure that you can interact with the parents or at least the mother.

This will help you see what temperament and personality the puppies may have inherited. As the Silver Lab is certified by the American Kennel Club, be sure to ask for documentation from the breeder.

Remember, they will be listed as Chocolate Labs. A good breeder will ask you lots of questions about your home life to get a good idea of where their puppies will be going. Be sure to ask lots of questions yourself as the breeder will be a great source of information regarding the individual puppies and their overall care. They are quite a rare breed, and because of this they are quite expensive. Be sure not to be buy cheaper puppies as you are likely supporting bad breeding or puppy mills.

Last year, more than 32, Labrador puppies were registered with the Kennel Club; in the US that figure was over…. Scientific research is a marvellous thing. So how does the colour of a chocolate Labrador happen? A variety of different Labrador matings, including black to black,…. The Labrador breed was first recognised back in and since then hundreds of thousands of Labradors have been bred.