What makes chocolate labs chocolate

Where does this new and controversial coat color come in to play? The information that determines whether or not your Labrador is basically black or basically chocolate is passed on through a pair of genes.

There are three different combinations of bee genes that a Labrador can inherit from his parents one from each. It is normal for dominant genes to switch off, or over-ride, recessive genes. And that is exactly what happens here. A dog with BB genes will be black, because he has no little b gene, the one that gives us a brown coat.

But a Bb dog will be black too, because if the dominant black gene is present, it switches off the brown gene. Even though a dog inherits a little b gene, the dog will only appear brown if no black gene B is present at all. Remember that the black dominant gene always switches of the brown gene, so only the dog at the bottom will actually look brown. Generation after generation of black dogs can continue to have only black puppies if dogs with the Bb gene are only ever mated to dogs with BB genes.

Remember, the dog in the middle of our list above will look black, but pass the brown gene on to about half of all its offspring. But things are never that simple are they? Because of course some Labradors are neither black nor brown. But little ee is recessive, and if the dominant E gene is present, it switches off the masking gene. There are three possible combinations of eee gene that a dog could inherit. It could have. Only the middle of these three dogs will be yellow.

There are nine different possible combinations. The chart below lists them genotype is the genetic makeup, phenotype is the appearance of the dog. Because as you can see, the second dog down the list may look black but he could throw brown puppies, and the fourth dog down the list may look black, but he could throw yellow puppies.

Two yellow Labradors mated together will never throw brown or black puppies. All their offspring will be yellow. This is because yellow dogs do not possess the big E gene which is needed to switch off the masking effect. Two brown dogs mated together will never throw black puppies because brown dogs do not have the black gene.

But two chocolate dogs can produce yellow puppies, if each of the parents carries the little e gene — see the bottom right hand box below. The color of puppies produced by other color combinations of parents are a little more complicated.

Remember from our grid above that there are four different possible genotypes for a black Labrador. The coat color yellow is actually a different gene in Labs. The alleles for yellow are represented by E and e not B like for black coats.

The recessive e allele masks the effects of the Bb genes, but it can only do this if the dog is ee. So an ee Lab will always be yellow. The E allele nullifies the effects of the e allele, so if the dog were EE or Ee, then there is no masking of the Bb genes. So, your Labrador would be either black or brown:. It means your dog could be either bbEE or bbEe. This might be a bit confusing, but the point to note is that all chocolate Labs must be bb and cannot have ee.

Rumors have surfaced that Chocolate Labradors are not as smart as their yellow and black siblings. These same rumors claim they are more hyperactive because of inbreeding which makes them harder to train.

But these claims are completely untrue. Many online forums and threads claim that these chocolate dogs are less intelligent than other Labs. There is no scientific evidence to support the claims that chocolate Labs are less intelligent. No studies have shown that fur color affects temperament or intelligence.

When it comes to friendliness, Labrador Retrievers are not shy to show you how fun they can be. They love everyone, both humans and other animals. The chocolate Lab is no exception. This is why they are so great for families with kids. If they are barking, it is more out of excitement. They can be overstimulated or overexcited and maybe play a bit rough, but they will never show aggression towards you. These brown furballs are full of joy and energy. They just want to play with you all day and give unending cuddles and kisses.

Since they are so high-energy, they will chase a ball until they drop. While they love running around, another favorite activity of theirs is swimming because of their history as duck hunters. Your dog will be so happy if you ever take them to the beach. Chocolate Labs do however have a high prey drive. It is in their blood from black hunting Labradors. They might want to chase around small animals, but this behavior can be controlled with obedience training since these dogs are highly intelligent.

Labrador Retrievers as a breed live 10 to 12 years. In general, they are considered healthy dogs though they can suffer from medical conditions such as elbow and hip dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy. Unfortunately, this is actually true. These dogs fall on the lower side of the life expectancy range, living on average to about 10 years. The reason why is thought to be related to their breeding. Because the brown fur color is a recessive gene, the easiest way to breed chocolate Labradors quickly is to inbreed Labs with the genes.

This shrinks the gene pool because there is less diversity and can increase the likelihood of inheriting health conditions. Some health issues that are seen are hot spots and ear infections. The increased frequency of skin and ear infections that create an inflammatory response cause an immunological burden which shorten their lifespan.

The brown gene itself does not cause Chocolate Labradors to have shorter lifespans. It is the process of inbreeding that can cause them to develop medical conditions that can shorten their life. While this is bad news, the good news is they do suffer less from degenerative joint disease and dental problems than other Labs. You want a Chocolate Lab puppy because that cute brown face is too irresistible, but how much should you pay?

Puppies that are bred for the show ring tend to be the most expensive. Usually breeders who produce puppies of a specific color tend to get a bad reputation. This is because people think they are only doing so to make a profit. Most reputable breeders breed Labs of all colors because their main focus is the health and temperament of their puppies. However, there are some good breeders out there who specifically breed Chocolate. While it might be tempting to buy a cheaper Chocolate lab puppy, you have to do your research on the breeder.

This is a combination of diet and exercise. The quicker you can spot potential health problems the more potential solutions you can explore. This will ensure that you are capable of giving them everything they need to stay healthy. The Labrador Retriever is known for having a lot of energy, and the Chocolate Labrador is no exception. These dogs will love to be able to go outside and play. This will let them burn off that energy. Make sure you are giving them enough exercise per day.

If you want to have some fun, take them to the lake. They will love to dive into the water, using their powerful legs to propel them through the water. Interestingly, they can also use their tail as a rudder, helping them travel in the right direction. You will know whether or not you are meeting this energy requirement.

They might also start to bark. Like most dogs, the puppies will have the most energy. But, as they get older, their energy requirements will begin to dwindle. All dogs will need some grooming to keep them looking and feeling good.

This means both preventive and reactive maintenance. To house a Labrador Retriever there are a few things you need to do;. Labrador Retrievers, regardless of the color of their coat, have big appetites.

Because of this, there is a risk that they could become overfed. When this happens, there is the chance that they will put on more weight. This can lead to some health problems down the road. There are ways to prevent this, starting with making sure that you are feeding them a healthy diet. You can give them treats, but try to limit them to one or two.

Some Chocolate Labrador owners report that they can even go through the trash to get a few scraps, so keep an eye on them. Lastly, make sure that they are getting the right amount of exercise.

This breed was known for being excellent in the water and having short black hair. Because of their hunting skill, the breed gained popularity. As time went on, the recessive gene started to emerge, producing the chocolate colorings that we know today. Over time it started to grow more popular. Today, these are one of the most popular colors for Labrador Retrievers.

People love them not just for the stunning color of their coats but also for their fun-loving, playful personalities. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of whether or not a Chocolate Labrador is the right fit for your home. Now the question is around cost.

I analyzed several Labrador breeder websites to get a sense of whether chocolate Lab puppies are more expensive. On average, Labrador puppies that have yellow, black, or chocolate-colored coats tend to be priced the same by breeders. More rare color variations, such as silver and fox-red, tend to be priced slightly higher. If you want to add a Chocolate Labrador to your life, there are a few things that you should think about before you decide whether you want to purchase the dog.