Which Labrador Color?

The three different colors of Labrador are often associated with different roles.

The yellow Labrador has become associated with seeing-eye dogs, the black Labrador with hunting and retrieving work and the chocolate Labrador with pet homes and the show ring.

But of course these are just broad generalisations and in reality,  Labradors of each color have embraced all the many roles at which these amazing dogs excel.

Labrador Color Inheritance

While there are only three main Labrador colors, there are a range of different shades of color too. Some of them, like the Silver Labrador are rather controversial.

To find out much more about where these Labrador colors came from, and how they inherited their lovely coats, head over to our in-depth article on Labrador color inheritance.

Thinking of buying a Labrador?

Some people have a strong preference for a particular color,  others don’t mind and if you fall into the latter group you will at least have more choice of Labrador breeders to put on your shortlist when setting about choosing the right dog.

I’ve owned all three colors of Lab and I’ll give you a summary of each color together with links to more information about them. But it’s important to consider the type of Labrador you are buying, especially if you have a particular role in mind, such as a hunting companion.

So we’ll talk about the two main types of Labrador below, and why some colors are more likely to be one type, than other colors.

Yellow Labradors

Yellow Labradors are well known for a variety of roles, but perhaps best of all for being Service Dogs. One of the big advantages of owning a yellow lab is that they are very easy to photograph under most lighting conditions.

We all love photographing our dogs. But if you are a big photography fan, a yellow Lab might be a bonus for you, and I’ll be the first to own up that this factor influences my decisions on color.

Although popular for highly trained roles, and of course very photogenic and therefore frequently used on charities literature, the yellow Labrador can still make a magnificant pet, or hunting companion, and be popular in the show ring too.

You can find out more about the wonderful Yellow Labrador in this article. One particular shade of yellow has become increasingly popular in recent years, and that’s the Fox Red Lab.

Fox Red Labradors

Fox Red Labradors are officially a section of the much more common Yellow Labradors.

In the UK these dogs tend to be more likely to come from working lines, and have a more reddish hue to their coats. This is due to genes that modify the yellow pigment. They are still classed however on Kennel Club documentation as yellow Labradors.

I’ve owned several Fox Red Labs and one thing I have noticed is that they tend to go grey at quite a young age. Another factor I have found more likely to be associated with the dark red coat is a certain sensitivity and even tendency to reactivity. This may be associated with too much focus on breeding for color and not enough on breeding for temperament.

You quite often find people refering to mid-toned yellow Labs as Golden Labs. This is a term which seems to make some Labrador enthusiasts quite annoyed. So be ready to be corrected if its a term you use! You also occasionally hear the term Fawn Labrador.

All these dogs are yellow Labs and will registered with the AKC as yellow Labradors

Interested in Training A Hunting Companion?

I mentioned that Fox Red Labs are often from working lines. And the opposite applies to Chocolate Labradors. It is worth bearing in mind that in the UK Chocolate Labradors have only recently been achieving awards in the field.

So if you are hoping to compete with your hunting companion,  you may have a lot more choice if you are willing to pick a black or yellow dog.

Bear in mind also,  that if you like to shoot from a hide or blind,  it is much harder to conceal a pale yellow dog from the sharp eyes of approaching wildfowl. This is one of the factors that make Black Labs still the prefered choice for many hunters.

Black Labradors

Black Labradors have long been favoured as hunting companions, but also make wonderful pets, and again temperament is not so much a feature of the dog’s coat color, but rather of the type of Labrador (English Vs American) that your puppy’s parents descend from.

One drawback of the black coat color is that unless you are an expert, Black Labs can be very difficult to photograph. Especially against a light background.

Black is the most common color of Labrador, due to the way in which their genes are inherited. Checkout our coat color genetics article for a nice clear explanation with diagrams.

Perhaps for this reason, they are a little overlooked when it comes to people’s top picks for the best Labrador color, but they are still really remarkable dogs.

You can find out more about our wonderful black Labradors in this article.

Chocolate Labradors

Chocolate Labradors make great family pets, as well as playing a role in the Show Ring. Because many Chocolate Labs are from show lines, they are often chunkier and heavier in build than their Black Lab cousins.

In America, chocolate Labradors are now quite firmly established in hunting lines. However, it is worth bearing in mind that in the UK, Chocolate Labradors have only recently been achieving success in the field competition. Black and yellow Labradors still taking more awards at least in Field Trial circuits.

In our extensive article on Chocolate Labradors we will let you know all about the chocolate Labrador. Where they come from, their pet suitability and much more.

Show or field labrador

Whatever your color preference it is worth bearing in mind that Labradors have become divided into two quite distinct types,  show,  and field.  Finding a suitable dog will probably depend more on choosing the right type, than on choosing the right color.

With some colors you will have more choice in one type rather than the other.   And with some types you will have more choice in one color than the others.  

To find out more about the differences between show and working bred Labradors, check out this article comparing the Bench and Field varieties of Labrador here. It’s really important that you are clear on these differences before bringing a Labrador puppy into your life, as they can have a big impact on your life.

Silver Labradors

Silver Labradors are a fairly new trend in Labrador breeding. This amazing color inspires a lot of comments from Labrador fans, both positive and negative.

The Silver Lab is actually a dilute version of the Chocolate Lab. The color varation from chocolate is caused by a diluting gene, but how this got into the breed is the source of some controversy.

In our extensive article on Silver Labradors we take a look at where they come from and how to buy a healthy silver Labrador Retriever puppy.

Which Is The Best Labrador Color?

Some people have a strong preference for a particular color, but others are quite happy with either.

If you are not fussy about color, you will have more choice of Labrador breeders to put on your shortlist when setting about choosing the right dog.

Although you might love one particular color to look at, do think carefully about your prorities when it comes to picking a puppy.

Perhaps what really matters is your Labradors breeding: his parents temperaments, roles and health.

Rescue Labradors

When picking your new Labrador, you might be looking for an adult rather than a puppy. When rehoming from rescue centers you won’t in all likelihood have a choice of color, but you will be getting the opportunity to give a lovely Labrador a better life. What could be nicer!

Your Labrador

Don’t forget to tell us which is your favorite color and why in the comments below!