coat color question

[kim26]

I know this isn't a LABradoodle question per se, but, I just realized that I never see black labs anymore. I mainly see yellow labs and chocolate is starting to get more common too. Are the breeders getting better at eliminating black and just getting yellow and chocolate? Does anybody know the answer?

Just curious.

I was just looking at the online San Diego Union classified ads and saw an ad for lab pups for $300-800 BUT, they had one black female that they said would be FREE to the 10th caller! Can you believe that? I guess nobody wants black ones anymore. I like black personally.

[movistar]

wait until these people get a white or cream dog! they will be clamoring back to black dogs

I had a white standard poodle and trying to keep that girl clean was impossible!! I now have 4 black dogs including the most gorgeous boxy black lab!

oh another intersting thing, my last litter had 7 black pups and 4 creams, 6 males and 5 females and I expected creams to go first but it was so interesting the way they went at the end I had one female and one male left and one was cream and one was black.

[kim26]

I think you are right Movistar. I had a white Bichon Frise who always had some staining. His hair would even turn pinkish around his back legs from licking. I had a black Std. Poodle and I have a black toy poodle. I ended up with a cream LD but I wasn't too picky about the color. I just knew I didn't want pure white. I hope that sweet little black lab gets a good home.

[Jac]

I agree that black dogs are the best! I really like my black dogs/puppies.

I don't know why people prefer any color of dog to black, but it is commonly known that black dogs don't sell. Statistically, most dogs in shelters are black. (I believe this is especially true of Labs.)

I saw a black Lab service dog in training the other day and she was stunning! Her coat was so shining and glorious.

I think that breeders are staying away from breeding black puppies because they just don't sell like the other colors, which may account for the fact that you are not finding them. I hope it isn't due to any other type of activity (such as euthinization of black puppies...)

I have found that the light colored dogs are more popular and I think it is because they photograph so much better. When I take pictures of my black puppies, you just see a mound of shiny, curly hair...but with my light colored puppies, you see dark noses and eyes so you get to see more of their personality in the pictures.

[Ronnie]

Could it be a California thing? Black labs are really popular here in upstate NY. Almost everyone in my neighborhood has a black lab--or two.

[KMO20057]

in MN black and chocolate labs are the most common, mainly because for hunting labs people prefer darker colors because they camoflage easier. The yellow labs tend stand out when in the field, so they're not as desireable for some duck/goose hunters.

We got what we thought was a black LD, shes silvering now wich I love! I actually think it will make her even better camoflaged for hunting! She is either going tomorrow or next weekend for her first goose hunt!!!

Here are some pics of her and my fiance testing out their blind:


"Can you see me?"









and just for good measure my latest fav pic of her:

[kim26]

That is very interesting Ronnie and KM. Maybe it IS a Calif. thing. Glad you shared that.

KM - How cute is that!! Your dog is adorable. I love the pics.
I bet she will love the hunting.

[Jac]

Kelly, Sammy is so adorable! She looks very much like my Bayley now that she is grown. I love your pictures.

Nope...black dog syndrom, as it is called, is not just CA. Here is one of many articles about it:

http://www.pedigree.com/dogsandpuppies/ ... ckdogs.asp

[kim26]

Aww Jac, that's really sad.

My sister and brother-in-law adopted a black lab from the shelter so I guess it never occurred to me before that there was such a prejudice against black dogs. I think putting a colorful bandana around their necks is a GREAT idea. I like black, I even have a thing for black cats, too.

[Angie]

I almost picked a black color labradoodle, but my husband wanted a light dog for when it was dark, as he said the dog would be seen, if he ever got out on the road where there was trafic. I have noticed most black labradoodle turn out to be the lovely curly coats, Ottos friend a black standard poodle is a lovely looking dog, why are they hard to sell?

[dixiedi]

I wish I knew the answer Ange, I think they are gorgeous and most of the black doodles have so many colors in their coats, it really is interesting to see what they mature to. I know part of it is you can hardly get a good picture of a black puppy. I was taking new pics to update my website today and it was really hard to get a picture that showed the black labradoodles, they just look like a black puff of fur.

[Jac]

That's a big part of it, Diane...I can't tell you how many people have said, "Oh, this puppy is soooo much cuter in person!"

I agree, blacks are really beautiful.

[NurseLeslie]

When my husband and I first decided on a labradoodle..after much, much research and debate...we thought we would get a cream colored one. We looked and looked for months to find an available litter in our area. When we found one, we were slightly disappointed that the pups were black, but we went to see them anyway with an open mind...Well, we came home with Calvin that day. Those puppies were SO cute and the parents were gorgeous! Mom was cream colored, dad was a black poodle. We were worried that he would get too hot with that black coat, but we provide him with lots of shaded areas and a pool to cool off in...it was not a problem at all! Now that his coat is changing..I love his 'look'. Wouldn't trade him for a cream dog for the world! AND, he's the only black doodle we know! Leslie

[angelakj]

Hi KM!

What a cutie! - your puppy is cute too!

[Maureen]

Kelly, your Sammy is ADORABLE! I love how she's silvering, too...that color/trait is almost ready to OVERTAKE my love for chocolates....it's a close 2nd, for sure.

Let us know how the hunting trip goes...the pic of Sammy peeking out the blind is adorable!