How to tell if your Lab Dog is a pure breed.?

Question

I have a 10 months old Lab Dog, the person I had gotten him from said they think he is a pure breed. How Can I Tell?

He didn't come with any papers. The person that had him before me had gotten him from someone else, they coulndn't keep him when they moved. Is there a way to tell without papers if he is a pure breed dog.

Answer 1

Apparently, you will never really be able to proof if he is a pure breed lab without the papers, to show his lineage. If, however, you want to know how closely he comes to the standard lab breed, you can visit: www.akc.org/breeds/labrador_retriever/index.cfm for the physical attributes that the AKC would look for in a lab.

Personally, I feel it should not matter how much "pure breed lab blood" he carries. Many so-called pure breed dogs do not have a genetic advantage precisely because they have been line bred and inbred so much. If he's healthy and you both enjoy each other, what the AKC thinks means absolutely nothing, and neither does how "pure" a lab he is.

I hope you two have many years of joy together!

Answer 2

A purebred dog, a well-bred, carefully planned and reared one should always cost more than a mutt. However these days BYBs are naming their price, hanging a fancy (stupid) name on what they are producing, and calling them rare quite often. Sadly there are gullible people out there who believe all this and part with their hard-earned money for something they are told is 'better'. Provided you find a reputable breeder (usually via the relevant Breed Club), go visit and check the place out, see mum with the litter and some adults they have, logic should tell you that this is far more likely to give you a healthy puppy. BYBs don't test, use stock originally rejected from a breeder's breeding programme because of a significant fault or two and so sold as a pet with the intention it should never reproduce. It matters not to a BYB re registration, so even if the dogs concerned are endorsed not for breeding, they just go ahead. If you don't especially want 'a breed', please adopt from a Shelter and DON'T contribute to the income of the BYB.

Answer 3

They think???? Did you buy the dog or was it given to you? Well sounds like a shelter dog. The only for sure thing you can do is ask your vet and I bet they can't even tell you. To me the question would be do you love your dog? because if you love your dog doesn't matter if he is a pure lab. Just remember if a dog is free there is a reason.
As a breeder and an animal lover I would love to stop the puppy mills, but as long as people buy them there is nothing I can do. I work with 2 other breeders and would work with more directing people to proper breeders so that the will not go to the pet shops. If all breeders would do the same. we could slow them down.

Answer 4

Well there are really two types or styles of Labs. Both are the same breed but they have different attibutes. The English is shorter in height, stockier,slightly calmer and you would see that style in the show ring. The American which is used primarily in the field trials are taller, more slender,longer face and have alot more energy.
But they have to be of a solid color, either yellow, black, or chocolate.
They also have otter like tail (breed characterisic) as well as a water resistant coat, with an undercoat which is softer.
Other than looking at your dog physical characterisics there is not much you can do. If he is mixed you will see traits in him that are charactersitc of another breed , like how the ears lie, the coat, the coloring etc.

Answer 5

You can read it off his papers or check him against the standard but, if you don't have papers you will never be 100 percent sure. An experienced person can pretty much tell. Pure bred dogs have a precise look. Mutts can be almost anything.

Answer 6

No you really can't tell.

Some mixes look like they fit the breed standard and sometimes there are pedigreed dogs which do not.

Does it matter? If you want to participate in canine performance events with the a.k.c. and don't have papers you can apply for an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) number and you'll be able to compete in agility, rally, etc.

To get the ILP you'll need to send photos and proof the dog has been altered. www.akc.org has info. on this.

Answer 7

There is a possibility you were ripped off, full breds should come with papers. But if you still want to have it checked take him to the vet and have a blood test, this still doesn't mean he comes from good parents though, maybe that is why there are no papers, they don't want this line to continue.

Answer 8

The AKC papers that you got should tell you, if he did not come with papers you can attempt to check his lineage with the AKC regisitry That should cost about $30.

Answer 9

Conversely, if you don't have some rego papers for him then he may or not be pure-bred, but won't be recognised as such. Why anyway, do you plan on breeding from him?

Answer 10

Purebred dogs come with a paper pedigree listing his lineage.