Hi - I just recently joined this forum and we've had 5 dogs in the past 10 years; 4 of which we've fostered and adopted out. We work with a nearby Lab Rescue center. They have a cute male "yellow" Lab that we've had over to our house for a few days. Typical Lab behavior for a younger male. All the features of a Lab but one strange thing. He looks to be half-way in between a yellow and a chocolate. I've learned that his color is referred to as "Fox Red." The owner of the rescue tells me he is a purebred yellow but sometimes they come in different shades. Yes, I know that the AKC only recognizes the 3 main colors: yellow, chocolate, and black. But in the past 6 months, since I"ve started looking for a dog for myself, I've found (on-line silver, white and Fox Red. The last one is the color of the dog at the Rescue center in whom we are interested. Going on-line, I've found a breeder who actually sells "Fox Red" labs and she tried to explain the genetics to me. Something about 2 yellow labs mating who were each offspring of a chocolate parent, but not related. So, knowing that I may risk the wrath of purists, I'm still going to put it out there: Can this be a true 100% Labrador Retriever? I know, if we like the dog, what does it matter...but I really like 100% Labs!
Fox Red is simply a darker shade of yellow, and will be registered as yellow. Just as white is also registered as yellow and every shade of cream to yellow in between. They have the same colour genes. Silver is more controversial and related to diluted genes. You’ll find articles that explain this further and in greater detail on the forum. My dog’s mother is a more typical cream yellow, his father is black the puppies were a mixture of black and yellow. Of the 4 yellow pups one was lighter like her mum, the others are a darker a darker fox red yellow. He is registered as yellow on his kennel club certificate.
Yes, Fox Red is recognized by the AKC as the darkest shade of yellow. It is registered as yellow and that is fine according to the rules. However, in purebred Labs neither white nor silver are recognized as allowed colours. White may be a term used to describe a very light yellow. Even good, reputable breeders may use the term as that is what the public may know, but hopefully they explain this to you. These will be registered as yellow. Silver is a dilute of chocolate. As charcoal is a dilute of black and champagne is a dilute of yellow. You say you are aware of the AKC position on silver so I'll just say that, IF you want to be sure of getting not just a pure bred, but a 100% well bred, Labrador Retriever you must go to a reputable breeder. I believe there are tips on this site on how to determine this. Unless a dog ended up in rescue with it's papers there is no way for you to be assured of it's breeding. It can happen, my own rescue ESS had her papers. A rescue dog, regardless of lineage, is just as deserving of a good home as any well bred, pure bred dog. I bought a well bred, pure bred dog because I wanted certain behaviours and performance out of the dog which was more likely to happen if the dog was well/pure bred. Plus, Labradors are still, I think, the most popular breed in the U.S. and Canada for something like 20 years. Unfortunately this might mean they are also the most poorly bred by BYB and that might be the case with a rescue dog. Sorry to say. If it is important to be as sure as you can of certain behaviours and traits, be as sure as you can of good health in some areas and be positive the dog will not have some health issues that genetic testing can proof against then go for a well bred pure bred.
Some exellent fox-red labs, I think This boy live in Ukraine (owner Alexey Gromov) CARAMEL BOY OD HIMALAJSKEHO CEDRU
"Fox Red" Labs are really yellow Labs, some people in UK will pay over the odds for a 'Fox Red". There is a danger here that they are now being bred just for colour. I think it is a lovely colour but will still refer to it as a Yellow Labrador
Our Honey's a Fox Red, hard to take a picture but this is nearest what she looks like in real life. A few people have commented on how nice her colour is!.
Without seeing the papers, there's no way of knowing for sure.. And if you like the dog's color and temperament - well that's pretty much the perfect package isn't it?
Lucius was advertised as "fox red" he looks more golden to me but has some red points on his face, ears, tip of his tail and back, fading into cream on his belly and paws. His registration certificate says yellow.
