Silver lab

[Happy Gilmore]

The thing that would worry me about a silver lab, is how they got the silver color.  Not that it isn't purebread, but that it was bred for color not bred for health or hunting.

The silver is a dilute of Chocolate gene. There are also Chesapeakes which can be a similar color called "ash".

Problem is the dogs are bred for color. Nobody can argue a silver lab breeder intentionally choses the dog based on coat color. A responsible breeder choses to breed animals which improve upon the stock which they currently breed. They research the pedigree and try to chose a pair which will improve the weaknesses of the other. When Silver lab breeders breed a pair of dogs, they just want them to come out silver. This results in poor structure, genetic issues and a lesser dog contributing to the gene pool.

Bottom line, all they care about is charging more money for the circus side show animal of the breed.

[AspenBud]

When buying a hunting dog color should be dead last in the criteria for selection.

Seriously, that's the thing you look at when you've found a good litter and can't decide on which pup to choose. It should in no way play a role in your choice of breeder or breeding.

[Skyvalhunter]

Don't totally agree. A person might be selecting a color for centimental value. I.E. thay had that color when they were young. It's the owners choce as to what he prefers. Of coarse other factors come into play along with the color but you can't and shouldn't throw out color.

[AspenBud]

Don't totally agree. A person might be selecting a color for centimental value. I.E. thay had that color when they were young. It's the owners choce as to what he prefers. Of coarse other factors come into play along with the color but you can't and shouldn't throw out color.

I hear what you're saying but choosing based on color only throws out potentially superior litters within a breed.

If performance in the field is what you want, you'll be happier if you shove color to the bottom of the deck.

But you are right, it is an owner's choice.

[Happy Gilmore]

Sentimental value is fine for shopping. Not fine for breeding animals.

Just being matter of fact- If you find a Silver Lab breeding that has the standard lab health clearances let me know. Also, something to prove the dogs have been bred for more than a color. Field titles and/or high level obedience titles through the pedigree which "proof" the pedigree. Unfortunately, you won't find any because silver lab is a novelty item to make a breeder more money where money isn't due.

I'm just being very matter of fact. This doesn't mean a dog you own or your friends dog isn't a good dog. I love all dogs. I really do. I do NOT love all breeders and the lies they tell to sell. Folks who do the most marketing with web pages and false claims usually have the worst dogs. The more someone writes on their webpage about how great their breeding program is usually means it's not that good.

If you see a website that says something like, "We breed the best dogs in Washington" I'd run like hell because they don't.

[WRL]

The pedigrees on Silver Labs are pretty sucky. Nothing really behind almost all of them because they have been bred for color.

Few have ANY health clearances.

If you HAVE to go silver, try these guys. At least they are attempting to do it right.

http://silverdollarlabs.com/index.htm

WRL

[et1702]

Silver is a chocolate. You will be highly unlikely to find one with what I would consider an acceptable pedigree. Not to say it can't or won't be a decent dog but, would you buy a 1991 Geo Metro for the same price as a 2014 Camry because of the color?

I agree.  Way too expensive.  Plus, the few of them I've encountered are dumb as a stump too.  My wife runs a boarding facility.  Granted, not many of her clients are hunting dogs.  But, she has a couple that come to our place and they aren't very bright (but, that might be the owner's fault too).

ET

[PointNLab]

You'll pay a premium for a color if that's what you want. I'd pay the premium for a better pedigree and health  clearances

[hunterrcc]

http://www.circleblabs.com/

Good Breeder know them personally.  They have all colors of Silvers.  They are in Yelm.  If you google search: Silver Labs WA they are the first that comes up.  Hope this helps.

[Happy Gilmore]

http://www.circleblabs.com/

Good Breeder know them personally.  They have all colors of Silvers.  They are in Yelm.  If you google search: Silver Labs WA they are the first that comes up.  Hope this helps.

Its funny they advertise a stud as coming from "Amazing Show Lines" yet, there isn't a show champion on his three generation pedigree? I looked at the website of some of the kennel names in three generations back and they had something like two "International Champions" in the entire pedigree. International Champion is a huge joke in the dog world. Basically, the dog stands in front of a judge, the judge looks at the dog and decides if it meets the breed standard. It does not win or have to accumulate points. Just one judges (interpretation is vague) of the standard.

These are the kinds of statements on dog breeder websites that would make me run.

[hunterrcc]

http://www.circleblabs.com/

Good Breeder know them personally.  They have all colors of Silvers.  They are in Yelm.  If you google search: Silver Labs WA they are the first that comes up.  Hope this helps.

Its funny they advertise a stud as coming from "Amazing Show Lines" yet, there isn't a show champion on his three generation pedigree? I looked at the website of some of the kennel names in three generations back and they had something like two "International Champions" in the entire pedigree. International Champion is a huge joke in the dog world. Basically, the dog stands in front of a judge, the judge looks at the dog and decides if it meets the breed standard. It does not win or have to accumulate points. Just one judges (interpretation is vague) of the standard.

These are the kinds of statements on dog breeder websites that would make me run.

Well I had a dog from them and my parents dog that hunted better then any dog I have owned but she go hit by a car a few years back so now I have a pointing lab from Tri Labs.  Just thought that I would let you know about them.  I know that they have a ton of happy customers and that they really have a lot of Silvers.  As for generation pedigrees I don't care for Silvers.  And I know that they do have a few dogs that they were getting titles for this last summer so I am not sure about what you looked up.  Just saying that they have a good rep with me and a lot of folks on her facebook page.  She sells out litters fast and for top dollar so they must be doing something right.  As for pedigrees all the hunt tests are a joke if you ask me because I know a lot of dogs that could not hunt real wild birds worth a shiit that were grand masters champions.  My two cents on it. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Hunt tests are a joke however, they do prove that a dog has an ability to reach a minimum skill set.

I did see it mentioned that one dog has some "grand master" passes. I'd "hope" a lab breeder knows that there is no such thing as a grand master pass and one probably really shouldn't advertise something which isn't correct. Some people will hear the term and think it is a very valuable asset to have a dog which is from another that has grand master passes. I'm not trying to put down any one breeder from another. I simply try to unravel information for people who don't understand what it all means. Unfortunately, many breeders don't even know what they are saying and talking about. They make it sound good to impress folks buying dogs who don't know any better or haven't done any research.

There was a person that linked a website here a while back which had a written guarantee. In reading it, there was no possible way an owner could be have a health guarantee because the testing couldn't be done on the hips that early, they wanted to guarantee another genetic issue wouldn't occur by using the incorrect test method which would never show the issue being guaranteed etc. I think I pointed out those issues two or three times over the course of two years as the website popped up asking about it. The website must have seen my comments because they corrected the issues. Main problem still stands, I looked at their pedigree names on the OFFA website and the dogs and their grandsires haven't even been tested for what the website guarantees won't HAPPEN!!!!!

People don't need to be fooled into anything. I'm just trying to educated folks on the stuff you see which is not accurate on webpages and give a potential buyer the tools needed to weed through advertising. If your going to pay good money for a pup, I don't want anyone burned. It makes every responsible dog breeder look bad.

[WRL]

Hunt tests are only a joke if you don't run them.

I have yet to hear anyone who has titled a dog at the Master level that HTs are a "joke".

Most GOOD Master dogs could do well in the Q at a minimum.  I have run HTs one weekend and run a FT the next.
 I know of several people who after titling their dogs at the Master level in HTs jumping up to FTs and doing very very well in them. Several of them achieving their FC and AFC titles. And as far as "hunt test titled dogs that couldn't hunt" well hunting is a different GAME them competition. The reverse could also be said about a lot of hunting dogs not making good competitors. But I can tell you, that if you hunt AND compete you are going to end up with the best possible HUNTING dog EVER.

Now, as to the Grand Master title....yep there sure IS a title for that. It is an APLA title though. It is NOT a UKC or AKC title.

So to see what is required for those titles you'd have to go their website (APLA's).

WRL

[Happy Gilmore]

Grand Master Silver Pointing Lab- They'd sell really fast and for way more money than just a plain old black one.

[jackson7]

One of my friends is a long time duck hunter [50 years] has 2. They are great duck dogs and do well in the thick stuff for upland. Personally, I am of the belief that color doesn't matter. It is  more about spending the time to train basic commands and then getting the dog out early and often,  exposing them to different types of terrain.