Our black lab passed away back in the summer and we are wanting to get a chocolate lab. The black lab was wonderful with the kids and just a wonderful pet. I have had some people say to stay away from chocolate labs. Does anyone know anything about the chocolate labs compared to the black labs?
2006-10-30 05:53:09 · 22 answers · asked by kelliecracraft 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I have never known a calm one.
2006-10-30 05:55:40 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I know a girl who's owned all three and rates them by intelligence and temperment in this order (from best to worst); black, yellow, and chocolate. I too have heard a few people warning about staying away from chocolate labs, but I don't know from personal experience. I've always tried to remain firm in my belief that the nature of a dog is more dependent on its owners than on nature itself.....but I've seen some dumb chocolate labs in my life.
Interestingly enough, there do seem to be a number of differences in labs between the colors. Some people may not agree, but I'm just going by what I've witnessed in my life. Yet all three are roped into the same category with no distinguishing characteristics between the colors.
I have a 7 month old lab/boxer mix, and he's been a wonderful dog so far (we adopted him 2 1/2 weeks ago). Judging by his color, he's most likely yellow lab and boxer.
2006-10-30 13:59:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been field trailing / hunt testing Labs for over 50 years, and have owned all three colors many times over. The only reason that it is easier to find a smart black compared to a smart chocolate is because for every chocolate Lab there are several hundred black Labs to pick from.
A dog has 39 pairs of chromosomes, each chromosome may contain several million genes.
From all those genes only two pair of genes determine the color of a Labs fur. So what would you think the % of influence the color of the dog has on it's personality????
2006-10-30 14:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by tom l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Labrador's are all the same it just depends on the training they receive. Any dog can snap at a child no matter how and by whom it was trained. As long as your kids know how to interact with the dog for example no bothering it when it's eating, pulling it's tail etc.
I have a black lab and she is such a sweetie but she is not used to children, she is more likely to run from a child than interact with one.
I recommend obedience training for any new puppy and make sure your kids remember that this is a new dog and it doesn't know everything the old dog knew. It's a training experience for the whole family. Good luck with your new Chocolate lab
2006-10-30 14:03:37 · answer #4 · answered by sibohan2004 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chocolate is genetically just the gene that dilutes the black color to brown. Temperament however, is somewhat hereditary and its possible that there are some bloodlines of chocolates that have tendencies toward bad temperament., caused by the breeders selecting for color or other characteristic and disregarding the temperament problems in the lines they were using. If you ask people who have and or breed labs, check the internet forums, the AKC and national breed club, you should be able to get some recommendations of breeders of quality Chocolates with good temperaments who you can look into getting a puppy from.
2006-10-30 14:08:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that the chocolate labs I have encountered in my life just aren't as smart as the black labs. I don't know why. Maybe the breeding has been done irresponsibly. Check the bloodlines of the breeders dogs and ask around about the breeders reputation. Go to their home or breeding facility and see how the puppies and mother are kept during the nursing process. If they won't let you visit them, then don't buy from them.
Take Care
2006-10-30 14:02:10 · answer #6 · answered by brandy10006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry 2 hear about Ur dog i had 2 have my dog bodie put 2 sleep 4 yrs ago coz he had Cancer so i know the pain Ur goin thro.
As far as i know all lab's are fine with kid's I've never heard of ne lab's being vicious,after all it's only the colour that's different they still the same dog's aren't they.
Ask a vet or a proper breeder b4 u get 1 tho just 2 b on the safe side
2006-10-30 13:59:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A chocolate lab is a labrador retriever with a different color coat. It's just a color variance of the breed. Dogs of the same breed will have different personalities but it is not due to the color of their coat.
You can breed a black lab with a chocolate lab and get puppies that are black, chocolate and yellow!
2006-10-30 13:58:33 · answer #8 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has a chocolate lab she bought from a field kennel for agility. He is a loving, sweet, VERY intelligent dog. And, he has DRIVE. Very fast, very demanding. Quite hyper. But my daughter also encouraged the drive for what she wanted: a FAST, DRIVEN agility dog. He has tons of hunting instinct; my daughter has taken him out pheasant hunting with a friend of ours. He scents, "points" and retrieves. He loves water. He is awesome in agility.
A Lab is a Lab. The color is inherited from "family lines". Along with inheriting color, there are other traits inherited. Chocolate is not as common of a color...hence there is more chance they are related. Out our way most come from field bred dogs. Often the chocolates are more active. There are several chocolates out our way doing agility and they are very similar, fast and driven...and are related.
The field bred yellows and blacks are more driven too than most of the the "pets" you see from "conformation" lines. Simple, a working dog has to have the drive to work.
Labs also can be very laid back and sluggish. Many have been bred for "assistance dogs". Most of these are yellows and blacks. An assistance dog can not be hyper. The breeding program, I am sure, selecting calm dogs to breed.
A lot is how you raise the dog. What you allow.
I have a Border Collie, just 2 years old, laying as I type under my chair. Waiting for me to say "ok, let's do something". She, too, is my new agility dog.....and is FAST and DRIVEN. But work and play is when I say. Otherwise she must "settle" and behave.
Have you read the book "Marley and Me", I think it is called. The gist is that the author was not very knowledgeable aforehand when he went out and bought his Lab puppy. Not in the breed nor with training. The puppy came from field lines and was not the laiad back dog he had pictured a Lab to be.
Myself? I like fun dogs, with a zest for life. I love training dogs to work with me. I love taking long walks. I think kids and dogs are great to wear each other out!
But that might not be you.
So, how good of a dog leader are you?
2006-10-31 12:57:09 · answer #9 · answered by Marna O 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive heard that they are hyper dogs but i also heard the same about black labs. most people say they are the same. i think the problem with all breeds is every now and again you run into puppy mills and some hide that fact very well and they inbreed these dogs and ive even heard of some people using a dead dogs registration number and really be breeding a brother and sister. this isnt good at all. my advice would be to check out your breeder really well and make sure its coming from a good one and go for it. you can judge all dogs in a breed because of one either so do what you feel is best, check them out good and get you a new puppy!!!
2006-10-30 14:02:46 · answer #10 · answered by tangela 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Labs are labs no matter what color.
I have heard hunters say that chocolates do not hunt well. I know several that have earned their master hunter titles. So that is untrue.
I feel that color matters little within a breed of dog. Unless you are talking about dobermans and the blue ones are prone to skin problems and the fawns are also. THey are still dobermans and have the tempermant of a doberman just not as nice a coat or hair as the reds or blacks.
Labs are the same but they all have nice hair coats and are just different colors.
I pick my pups by tempermant that I am looking for not by color.
2006-10-30 14:00:17 · answer #11 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋