Similar to the great reformist Martin Luther, the Theses presented
here challenge what has become the egocentric practice of those that
would claim to be the conservators of the Labrador Retriever breed.
These Theses point out facts that those who hate Silver Labradors
choose to ignore or simply disbelieve, either through their own
ignorance or unwillingness to do their own research into the Silver Lab.
The key is that they are facts, substantiated, researched, irrefutable
facts.
When these Silver Lab haters spew their hatred, it behooves the reader/listener to ask for their facts in order to corroborate or disprove through their own research. What facts do they have that can conclusively, or, even remotely, prove their claims of crossbreeding to Weimaraners? Go ahead, ask them for their proof. When you recognize that all they have if biased opinion and hatred, you will be left to decide for yourself whether or not you agree with their opinions (and even outright lies) or, if you will accept the substantiated, researched, irrefutable facts.
When these Silver Lab haters spew their hatred, it behooves the reader/listener to ask for their facts in order to corroborate or disprove through their own research. What facts do they have that can conclusively, or, even remotely, prove their claims of crossbreeding to Weimaraners? Go ahead, ask them for their proof. When you recognize that all they have if biased opinion and hatred, you will be left to decide for yourself whether or not you agree with their opinions (and even outright lies) or, if you will accept the substantiated, researched, irrefutable facts.
The following Theses point out facts that those who hate Silver Labradors choose to ignore, like an ostrich with its head in the sand.
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1- Silver Labradors are American Kennel Club (AKC) pedigree Labradors, certified purebred.2- Dilute Labradors are registered as an allowable AKC color (Black, Yellow, or Chocolate).
3- Examination of the actual pigment in the hair shows conclusively, and unquestionably, that the pigment is "Black, Yellow, or Chocolate," not gray.
4- The Coat Color genes of the dilute Labrador will DNA test Eebb/EEbb (Chocolate) – EEBB/EEBb/EeBb/EeBB (Black) – eeBB/eeBb/eebb (Yellow).
5- Genes that modify the expression of Labrador colors are completely acceptable in the breed. The theorized “c” gene modifies the concentration of the pigment, which is believed to be the reason why the yellow color varies so widely. The dilution gene modifies the dispersion of the pigment in a related fashion, producing various shades within each of the Labrador colors.
6- The AKC standard allows for "Light" shades of Chocolate, which the dilution effect likely produces the lightest possible shade of the Chocolate color; Yellow is from light cream to fox red (dilute yellows fall in there just fine as well). Black is Black…(but according to renowned breed historian and author Mary Roslin-Willimas, black has been described as: "mousy” “silvery purplish” “lead” “rusty” “bluish” and of course “Silver”).
7- The Labrador Retriever Club of America (LRC) and the AKC have jointly stated that the Silver Labs they investigated decades ago (in the mid 1980's) are purebred Labradors. The LRC, alone, has in 2010, changed their position without providing any facts to support their reversal or position.
8- The Labrador’s closest genetic relations, the Newfoundland and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, both have the dilution gene.
9- Several of the reported and acceptable outcrosses that have occurred in the Labrador breed history have been to other breeds that also carry the dilution gene, another possible, and breed acceptable source.
10- Breed authors, Mary Roslin-Williams and Dorothy Howe describe “silver” puppies that “darken” or turn “Black.”
11- Some charcoal (dilute black) Labs do darken to a true black.
12-Mary Roslin-Williams described silver tabby striped Labrador puppies. Today’s Silver Labrador puppies appear tabby striped.
13- Mary Roslin-Williams called “Silver” and old colour in Labradors in the United Kingdom.
14- Silver Labradors do not point, the Weimaraner is pointer.
15- Like other Labradors, Silver Labradors are excellent retrievers.
16- There are presently at least a dozen unrelated lines that have produced dilute puppies.
17- There are AKC CH titled Labs that are Dd that tie into none of the known lines other than by way of historically famous lines like Lockerbie, Charway, and Lawnwoods to name a few.
18- The presently known lines come largely from Labrador lines that are heavily field type, mostly “pet” lines, and as such there is no surprise that many silver Labs do not have a stout-stocky-blocky Show Labrador conformation.
19- The recessive dilution gene is only obvious to the observer when matched with a recessive chocolate, appearing as a light gray to the eye. Chocolate Labs did not greatly gain in popularity and number until 1970-1980’s.
20- Dilute Yellow Labradors, particularly those with dark skin pigment, are not noticibly different than non-dilute Yellow Labs. A perfectly reasonable place for the dilution gene to be preserved from the breed's origin, in plain sight, but indiscernible without modern DNA testing technologies.
21- Crist Culo Kennel’s first Silver was born in the mid 1980’s.
22- Crist Culo Kennel never owned or bred weims.
23- Beavercreek Kennel never owned or bred weims.
24- None of the kennels that have since produced new Silver Lab lines are known to have owned or bred weims.
25- The claims of the famed Kellogg Kennel breeding Labs to weims have been exposed as outright, categorical, lies.
26- Those who hate Silver Labradors say they come from a Weim, yet in the last 25 years they have produced no factual evidence to support their claim.
