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Thank you.
Lee most likely will keep him for a year to get him started. I don't wanna screw it up !!!

Yellow or black for me, right after great genetics and proper conformation!

If any animal is purposely bred for a specific color- by default you are forced to accept whatever other genetic traits may be present in the parents.

Yellow is in fact dominant in that a dog with one copy of the yellow gene will be yellow regardless of its gene for black or brown. Black and brown share the same locus and black is dominant over brown. Thus you can have yellow dogs with either black noses/lips or brown noses/lips. Two brown dogs bred can ONLY have brown puppies. Two black dogs bred could have either black or brown puppies. Yellows bred together may have puppies of all three colors.

All labs are great and most dogs are better than the majority of people.

a Dudley. i have a yellow with the pink. her sister was choco with the brown nose. the choco passed this spring at 15, rosie the yellow is almost 16 and slipping.
i love em all but the chocolate's seem to have the most independent nature. mine flipped me the bird every time i missed. the yellow we have sheds like a cottonwood tree. have to vacum the house everyday of there is 2 inches of hair

tcp,
Can't help but agree fully with your last sentence. However re the genetics of coat color I respectfully believe this is a better explanation:

https://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-colors/#black-chocolate-Labrador-origins

"Mating Two Yellow Labradors
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."

Longarm,

Thanks for the correction. I was responding from my memory. Here is an equally good explanation with a little more detail

http://www.oakhillkennel.com/library/color.html

100%

This Can Not Be Stressed Enough!

^ Actually there is nothing particularly revelatory about that statement. In EVERY breeding one is "forced to accept" the genetics of the parents.
Sure, if someone is breeding primarily for color AND is willing to accept negative traits in the parents simply because the breeding will result in offspring of a preferred color, then they are breeding poorly/irresponsibly.

Silver, Red, etc are breed for color! Black, Yellow, and Chocolate are not forced colors. You agree in your own words with my statement!

Sure, if someone is breeding primarily for color AND is willing to accept negative traits in the parents simply because the breeding will result in offspring of a preferred color, then they are breeding poorly/irresponsibly.

"You agree in your own words with my statement!"
Is that a first?

I'm a big fan of the three standard colors in Labs. It's been awhile since I read up on silvers, but I seem to remember that there were some skin issues being introduced by focusing solely on that color in a breeding program. First breeder to report them happened to also be breeding Weimaraners..

Not a Lab guy at present, but if I was “nose, desire, size and temperament” would be the first priorities...have those in the right combination and I would be content with whatever they had.

I have no idea, I don't keep up with you and your positions.

It isn't just skin and medical issues. Breeding for colors has introduced weaker genes that effect a lot of the dogs behaviors and capabilities like drive, instinct, temperament, and also confirmation standards. Lab's outside of the Standard Black, Yellow, and Chocolate I would steer clear away from. They are novelties not gun dogs.

sad doing this to hunting dogs. Labs have enough health issues with the over breeding

I wouldn't even take a chocolate myself. Black or yellow, those are the choices. Everything else is a novelty, as stated.

I agree but Chocolate's do occur regularly without manipulation so I included them. Myself I rather have a Chessie, but if I were to get a lab it would be black or yellow.

A friend of mine big in the hunt test scene told me that off colors do get titled. BUT he said the best of the best in natural colors vs bred colors is night and day. Personally I have only seen a handful of Silvers, a few whites and reds. None of which impressed me in the least.

I mean, if you just want a dog to look at, then knock yourself out. No shame in that. Just know what you're getting into. 12-15 years of your life and his intertwined. Make it what you want it to be.

Again, it appears you are seeking an argument where there isn't one. Maybe have a glass of milk and a nap?
No one has argued in this thread for red or silver labs.

You may want to re-read your original post. I never said anyone argued over red or silvers. I stated why they should stay clear of them and why they are a novelty dog and not a gundog. You have added zero to this thread.

Do you even own a dog, Champ?