

This theory suggests that the original breeders did this for financial or other gain and is a little unethical. The most likely theory is that the pure breed Labrador was crossed with a breed that carries the dilute gene such as the Weimaraner. This includes a spontaneous mutation, a hidden gene in the breed, or that the original diluted Labradors were cross breeds. There are a number of theories on how the dilute gene was introduced into the Labrador Retriever breed. Other dilute color variations that exist in the Labrador breed are charcoal which is a diluted version of the Black Labrador, and champagne which is a diluted version of the Yellow Labrador. The dilute gene is common in many dog breeds, but has only began to appear more recently in Labradors.

However, in the USA they are usually registered as Chocolate Labradors.ĭogs that carry the specific gene that results in a lighter variation of the standard color are referred to as “Dilute”. This is mainly because in many countries they can not be registered as purebreds by the local kennel association. Silver Labradors are rare in many countries, but in the United States, they have become far more common. In some very rare cases, Silver Labradors can have permanent blue eyes or greenish eyes. As puppies, Silver Labradors have blue eyes like all puppies, but they usually change to brown within a few months. Do Silver Labradors have blue eyesĪ newer variation of Labrador Retriever coat colors is the Silver Labrador.

You can find a dog DNA kit here on amazon. If the blue-eyed Labrador in question belongs to you, a dog DNA test will determine if there are any other breeds in the mix. Even if you are under the assumption that both the parents were Labrador, there may be DNA from another breed somewhere in the bloodlines. Labrador traits tend to dominant when mixed with other breeds such as Collies or Huskies. A possible exception is the Silver Labrador. The normal eye color for a Labrador is brown for a Yellow or Black Lab or hazel or brown for a Chocolate Labrador. For a Labrador Retriever to have blue eyes, it is an indication of poor genetics or they are not a purebred Labrador.
