ouch! Tattooing such a sensitive area must be awful for the poor dogs. That ought to be deemed abuse. It brings tears to my eyes even thinking about it.
Hehe @Yvonne, that was a giant nose shot! I always assumed that some yellows had a black nose and some a pink nose and that was it. Never realised that there were colour changing labs..
My understanding is that a pink nose - that has happened with age - on a yellow Lab is completely normal, it's even mentioned in some of the breed standards that it's normal and not to be considered fault. Charlie came with a chocolate nose, and his nose has remained chocolate, apart from when it's stained a suspicious colour because he's been sticking it places it shouldn't really be....
A yellow Lab born with a pink or pale brown nose is a dudley. A dudley will also have same colour eye rims. It's a fault and they cannot be shown in conformation but otherwise they are perfectly good dogs and can compete in performance sports. At least in Canada they can. I have read heated debates on whether a dudley lacks any pigmentation at all in the nose and it's pink or if the pale brown is also considered dudley but either way they are not allowed in conformation but fit their owner's hearts just fine. Sometimes the yellow Labs with pale brown noses are called chocolates wearing yellow pijamas. For conformation the nose must start out black, on a yellow, but can fade and still be shown.
Dexter has a lovely black nose in the Summer and then a lovely pinky brown mottley one in the Winter! He accessorises according to the Season! I was chatting to my vet about it and she mentioned this in connection with it apparently providing an element of sun protection to dogs that live in hot, sunny climates.....She said she hadn't read any clinical evidence or reports about it though x
Thanks drjs@5 for the Photobucket info. Fiona had sent me (months ago) all info on Imgur and I had used that before but totally forgot how!! As you can see from photo of Cooper "lounging" by the sliding door, I finally figured it out!! I just looooove seeing photos of our doggies......labs are such handsome/pretty dogs....sort of regal and cuddly at the same time. My Cooper has filled my life in these last two years to a point I could never have hoped for. He is my pal, partner, companion....so affectionate. He also can be a royal pain, mind you, but aren't we all at times????? ha, ha!!!
I am new to the Labrador forum, but much appreciate all the information I am finding. I was worried because my girl Sunny's nose turned to light brown this winner. She is a light yellow and had a very black nose her first winter, this being her second winter. I was so worried I changed her food, her dishes, and bought hypoallergenic detergent to wash her bed. Now do I have to worry about sun burn this summer? Does any one use a protective product on the light colored nose?
