The chocolate Lab is a type of dog that is one of the most popular globally for a good reason. Today we will help you find healthy chocolate Lab puppies from good breeders.

We will tell you how to care for your dog and raise them. We’ll also let you know what to expect from them, like their behavior and lifespan.

Chocolate Labs are dogs. They come from Labrador Retrievers. We have some tips on adopting or buying your chocolate Lab. Chocolate Labs are innovative and have good tempers.

We will find a chocolate Lab puppy. But, unfortunately, we also need to take care of an old brown dog. If you click on the links here, you can jump down the page or scroll down to learn more about the chocolate Lab.

Chocolate Lab Facts

The Chocolate Lab is a friendly dog. It is also popular as a pet. But a new study has shown that they might have health problems. The study indeed said this, but it is not clear-cut. There are many reasons to have a Chocolate Lab other than just the color of their fur.

For many years, people did not like the color of Labradors that were chocolate. Puppies would sometimes be killed when they were born if their color was chocolate. So black was the only acceptable color for Labs. But now, people don’t care about colors, and all colors are appreciated in Labs.

Where do Chocolate Labs come from?

Labrador Retrievers were recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1903 and by the AKC in 1917. But they had been around since the 1800s before that. The Labrador breed was developed mainly by a couple of English aristocrats from dogs imported from North America.

In the past, Labs were primarily black. But some of them had a gene that made other colors. For example, some dogs have a gene to make yellow Labs. So people used to kill those puppies. But now we should not because they are unique and fabulous!

Labradors used to only be black, so they only had black puppies. But occasionally, a brown puppy is born, and people don’t know how it happened. Scientists found the genes that carry the code for coat color in Labradors and found that sometimes two different genes can be passed down at once.

How is the Chocolate Color Inherited in Labradors?

The instructions for what color your dog will come in genes. Genes come in pairs. Labradors have one of two genes: B or b. That means that every Labrador has either a gene for brown (BB) or a gene for black (Bb).

The color black is dominant in Labradors. If a Labrador has one gene that makes the dog brown and one gene that makes the dog black, then the dog will be black because his black gene switches off his brown gene. The brown gene does nothing while the other one takes control of how he looks.

What about Chocolate Labs?

The brown gene only controls the color of a Labrador if it is paired with another brown gene. So if a chocolate Labrador wants to have brown puppies, they need two genes (bb). But this is tricky because there can be black Labradors that also carry one of these brown genes (Bb) and pass it on to their children.

Chocolate Lab Coat Changing Color

Some dogs change color as they grow. For example, when they are shedding, their undercoat might show through, making them look paler. But this is not something to worry about. Dogs also get old, and their coats can fade, especially around their face.

Why were Chocolate Labs not Wanted?

If people always had brown Labrador genes, then there would always be some brown puppies. Someone who wanted to breed a black dog with the Bb gene to another black dog with the b gene. They could make some brown puppies!

And, of course, there was no way to know that a black dog was carrying brown until he had made some brown puppies. By the time someone did DNA tests, it was too late!

Some people didn’t like chocolate Labrador puppies. They were bred from Labrador dogs, but some of the chocolate ones were probably thrown away. So we don’t know why they didn’t like them. But in the early 1900s, only black puppies were allowed to be born.

When did Chocolate Labs become Popular?

In the 1920s and 30s, some brown or liver Labs were showing up at shooting fields. They weren’t popular until the 1960s, though. Then, a new group of people, who weren’t Lab fanatics, liked them because they called them chocolate.

In today’s world, people still often name their brown Labs after favorite snacks. You can also register as a chocolate Lab as liver in color.

English Chocolate Lab

Labradors that are bred for Shows are called English Labs. The first chocolate Lab, Cookridge Tango, was a Show Lab in 1964. The 1960s were when more people started to like chocolate Labs, but interest did not increase.

People gradually wanted chocolate Labradors. So slowly, people began to breed them. Chocolate Labs became increasingly popular in the show ring and as pets over the next few decades. In shooting communities, where Labradors were expected to do a job, people continued to prefer black Labs into the present day, particularly in the UK.

American Chocolate Lab

American Labradors were bred to work, and they are known as field Labradors. However, sometimes it is hard to find a chocolate Lab, so you might try different breeders.

There is a rumor going around that brown Labradors are a bit stupid. Is it true? It’s not clear. But you might have noticed that chocolate Labradors are rarely seen as seeing-eye dogs. So let’s look at some of the Labrador characteristics to find out where they come from.

Chocolate Lab Characteristics

Every dog is a product of their environment and the genes they are born with. We have seen that many chocolate Labradors come from show Labrador lines. These bloodlines tend to have specific features in common, which are passed along from parent to puppy.

How did Big Do Chocolate Labs get?

Labrador Retrievers come in different sizes. There are two types of Labs, show Labs, and field-bred Labs. Show Labradors are heavier and slower than their field-bred counterparts. Some brown English Labradors will be around 80 or 90 lbs without being overweight or fat. American chocolate Labs are often lighter.

Most people that are her build will weigh five or ten pounds more. English chocolate Labs are also more likely to have a chunky Labrador head and thick otter tail. But some people think that the chunkiness of their head has been taken too far in show lines. Still, there is no denying the beauty of a classic Labrador head.

Therefore, a brown Labrador is more likely to be from these show types of the bloodline. They are more likely to have the same body shape as other dogs in that bloodline. But it is not just body shape that is inherited.

Chocolate Lab Temperament

American Labs have a more strong desire to chase and retrieve things than their show-bred cousins. They are also faster and racier in their build. They are also more sensitive and responsive when training.

American Labs are keen to please.

Field-bred labs are dependent on their handler’s approval. They want to please their owner. In generations, they have been bred to be obedient, and they have a different temperament from show dogs.

Chocolate Lab Intelligence

In show dogs, you may see a more relaxed temperament. For example, an English chocolate Lab is often less worried about little things. Instead, it’s all a bit of fun. Nothing is taken too seriously. And I have seen this to be true with Rachael, who likes soft toys and spends hours playing with her Flat Squirrel!

A field-bred Lab may be more likely to be focused and therefore easier to train. They may also be less distractible. Their focus can make them seem more intelligent than American chocolate Labs, which are more severe and may not seem as bright because of it. But they can also be black and black Labs are not always wise.

American vs. English Chocolate Lab

English Labradors are intelligent, trainable dogs. They can be used in different ways. The differences between field and show might give you the edge in competition. But they won’t change your basic obedience training or how your pet behaves.

They are also becoming increasingly irrelevant as we switch to more modern methods of training, which are much better at motivating dogs to engage in the training process. So now let’s find out why working retrievers are usually brown.

Any color as long as it’s black!

Working retrievers like the color black. They are less likely to buy a puppy that is not in working lines. When they do, they would rather have a black dog. Most Labs in working lines are black.

Black dogs are a good color for hunting. However, it’s easier to see the yellow, so they were not as popular with hunters. Brown dogs blend in better, but they became more popular much later, and hunting people started to think of pets first.

Are Chocolate Labs Stupid?

I believe that no study has been done on the different intellectual abilities of Labrador dogs of different colors. Almost everything you hear about this is based on stories from people. But I have seen something interesting with my dog, chocolate color and more playful than the working bred Labradors I know.

They are very good at retrieving items. Sometimes They do not bring the item back to me right away. But most likely, there is no difference in intelligence between dogs of the same breed of different colors.

Being chocolate does not make a dog stupid.

Even if there were differences in learning ability between different colored dogs, it does not mean one caused the other. Instead, the answer lies in how a dog’s temperament and behavior are from its bloodline.

Types of chocolate Labs

Some dogs are bred for the show. Other dogs are bred for work. Show dogs are easier to train, but field dogs can learn just as fast. It is a coincidence that many show-bred Labradors are brown, and many work-bred Labs are black.

This is a story about a myth. People think that chocolate Labs from working lines are harder to train because they have not met one. But there are lots of them! So we can teach them the same way we teach black Labs from working lines.

Chocolate Labrador Shades

Most chocolate Labradors are the same color when they are puppies. But when they grow up, their coat can change colors depending on whether it is shedding or not. The old hair turns white, and the new hair is shiny black.

Some chocolate labs are darker than others. But they all look a little different except for the Silver Labrador, which is a lot different from other chocolate labs.

Silver Labs Are Chocolate Labs

Silver dogs have an interesting gene. This gene makes their coat not brown but pale and silvery. Some people like this gene, while others think it is ugly. But we don’t know how the gene got there or when it appeared.

The gene that makes Labs silver came from the cross-breeding of a Labrador with another dog. For example, the Weimaraner. The other explanation is that the gene was some kind of accident or mutation, but this is less likely. Kennel Clubs currently register silver labs without caring about their ancestry.

A bright future for the Chocolate Lab

There have been many famous black Labradors. And most people associate yellow Labs with the vital job of being assistance dogs. For example, Bill Clinton’s dog was called Buddy. Still, it is harder to find examples of chocolate Labradors who have done something special in life.

Labradors of a different color are not less than. They are just rarer. There are chocolate Labradors in the military, as assistance dogs, and in the shooting field. But their story is just beginning, and we will hear more about them soon.

You want to read on because you might have a story about your chocolate friend. Or maybe you are just starting on your journey to find a chocolate Labrador friend that you can share your life. But, first, you need to know where to look for them.

How to Find A Chocolate Lab

You can get a chocolate Labrador retriever in two ways. One is to rescue one from the shelter or dog’s home. The other way is to buy a puppy and raise it yourself. I can’t tell you which would be best for your family, but it isn’t as clear-cut an issue as some people might say.

It may depend on your family’s life stage and how much experience you have with dogs. You can buy both books from Amazon following the links above. If you do, The Labrador Site will get a small commission, which is excellent and won’t affect the cost.

If you want to rescue a dog and give it a new life, head to dog rescues and look for Labradors. They specialize in Labradors.

Rescuing a Chocolate Labrador

The first step is to talk with your local Labrador Rescue. But most rescues won’t take a dog from outside the area they work in. But rescuing a dog can be good because then you get a new friend.

If you are not ready to adopt an older dog, or if you want to get a Labrador for a particular purpose, it may be better just to find an older dog or a puppy.

Buying a Chocolate Lab Puppy

If you want a chocolate Labrador puppy, it is best to wait until they are 8 weeks old. If someone asks for a puppy younger than that, be cautious because there could be something wrong with them. Make sure you buy the right puppy from the right place.

This means choosing a good breeder. Puppy mills and pet stores are bad. A breeder for hunting dogs is different from a breeder for show dogs. A Labrador that shows can also work in the field, but not usually vice versa. Keep this in mind when you’re picking a dog.

Chocolate Labrador Puppy Health

Labradors could have problems if their parents were not healthy. They should have good hips, elbows, and eyes. If your puppy’s parents are healthy, it will be more likely that the puppy is healthy too. But does picking a chocolate Lab mean that you will not care as much about health?

Are Chocolate Labs Unhealthy?

In 2018 a study was published about chocolate Labradors. This study said that Labradors of this color have a shorter lifespan and are more likely to be unhealthy. It studied over 33,000 Labs and found out that 23.8% were chocolate.

Some Labs with skin problems also had ear problems. They also had more stomach problems than other kinds of Labs. So these were not the same kinds of Labs that just have skin problems.

Chocolate Labrador dogs live on average for 10.7 years, but yellow and black Labs can live up to 12.1 years. In addition, dogs with these colors are less likely to have degenerative joint disease or dental problems than others.

Avoiding Health Problems in Chocolate Labs

A puppy buyer needs to get the puppy tested. This will reduce the chance of your pup becoming ill. But it is also necessary to look at the coefficient of inbreeding. For example, chocolate Labs get their color from a recessive gene. So when you buy two chocolate parents, this means that you can have a litter of chocolate puppies.

Puppies with low inbreeding coefficients are healthier than those with high levels of inbreeding. You can also protect your new puppy by getting it tested for diseases. It is sensible to get a chocolate Lab puppy whose parents do not have ear or skin problems.

Training and Exercising your Chocolate Labrador

My advice for training and exercising your chocolate Labrador is to determine what type of lines your dog is from. Then, follow a good training program. Exercise his mind as well as his body. Even if you never intend to take him hunting, he still needs a job to do, like retrieving or finding toys or crossing streams.

If you have a dog, he needs to be trained. He will enjoy it and so will you! His breed may need more training than others. But he also needs plenty of exercise and playtime outside.

Training my Chocolate Lab

Sometimes, they like to play with other dogs and people. But this can be a problem because it means that sometimes her attention is distracted. This is bad because They might not do her job as well if she’s paying less attention.

I have to spend more time training my dog than a yellow or black American Labrador. This is because I also have to make sure that They do not bother people who visit me. But on the other hand, it takes less time for her to behave because She is not as nervous as a field-bred Labrador.

Too friendly!

Pay extra attention to training your dog’s good behavior in the presence of people and other dogs. You may find that your dog is amiable and sometimes distracted. That is why you have to teach him these things!

Above all, treat your chocolate labrador like an individual, not just a product. He is different from other dogs because he has a personality and is exceptional.

Caring for an old Chocolate Lab

As the year goes by, we leave behind things. We get new items. Our eyesight is not so good, our joints are stiffer, and it is harder to hear something. But these senior years can still be happy for many dogs! The best way to keep your dog happy is by keeping them slim.

If your friend is heavy, you will need to oversee his weight. If he has more weight, then his joints will have more stress and strain. You can help this by making him comfortable when he gets old. I think that elderly chocolate Labradors are beautiful with their gray faces and kind eyes.

What is so Special about Chocolate Lab

Labradors are all beautiful. But the chocolate Labradors are special. It is hard to explain, but if you have one, you will know what I mean!

I like to learn about how people’s chocolate Labs are special. But, of course, chocolate Labs are the best, so please write it below if you have a story.