You may be familiar with a Dudley Labrador if you own a Labrador or are thinking of adding one to your family.

There is a lot of mystique surrounding these unique dogs, which means they can sometimes struggle to gain a home or your breeder may demand a premium for the pup.

These charming dogs are a lot more intelligent and trainable than you may realize. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about them. They’re just as suitable for a family dog as any other Labrador breed. However, keep in mind that they won’t be shown in competitions.

What Is A Dudley Lab?

Labradors come in a wide range of hues. Some have black noses, while others have brown noses. A Dudley Labrador lacks pigment on his nose, eyes, or feet. He appears to be entirely pink all the time.

Some people believe that any Labrador with less nose pigmentation is a Dudley.

A Labrador’s nose is black, brown, or pink. Labradors with pink noses are known as Dudleys. Brown-nosed Labradors are also known as Dudleys. Some people refer to brown-nosed Labradors as Dudleys because of their noses.

Where Do Dudley Labradors Come From?

The term “Dudley” is derived from the English town of Duddeston, which was named in honor of Lord Dudley and his terrier, Dash. The name comes from an old English word for “black,” although some claim it derives from a variation of the Latin words dux (“leader”) and Leo (lion). Labradors with white coats are called albinos because their lack of pigment does not affect every part of their bodies.

Labradors come in a variety of colors, including black, chocolate, and yellow. Each of these dogs has two genetic loci that influence their coloration.

The B loci are the first of these, and they can be BB, Bb, or bb. A black Labrador with a BB or Bb will be inherited. Chocolate or yellow dogs that inherit a bb are possible.

Ee refers to the genes that determine whether a dog is a chocolate or yellow. The Ee loci, which can be EE, Ee, or ee, determine whether they are chocolate or yellow. Those with the bb loci who inherit EE or Ee will be chocolate, whereas those with the ee loci will be yellow.

Those few pups that inherit both bb and ee loci will not only be yellow, but they will also be Dudley Labrador.

So, Dudley Labradors are a natural genetic occurrence, but they are relatively rare.

Some Labrador dogs, however, have less pigment, such as Black Labradors with a chocolate nose.

Some people also refer to these dogs as Dudley’s, although this is not technically accurate. This form of minor pigmentation reduction is simply a natural variation in the typical Labradors’ color spectrum.

Pink Nose Lab

The nose of a puppy is pink. The majority of Labs’ noses will blacken or brown during the first few weeks of their lives.

However, because Dudley Labradors have less melanin, their noses, rims around their eyes, and feet remain pink for the rest of their lives.

Dudley Labradors are not albinos, because this lack of pigmentation does not affect every part of their bodies.

Dudley Labradors are not the only ones with a pink nose. As Labradors grow older, the color of their noses fades.

The inside of their noses takes on a pink tone as they get older. This pigmentation is caused by the enzyme tyrosinase, which creates melanin. As this enzyme becomes less efficient, their nose may become pink as they enter their senior years.

This is completely natural and should not be a cause for concern. Because the enzyme works better in warmer conditions, this is more likely to happen in colder temperatures.

If a younger Lab, which is not a Dudley, develops a pink nose at a young age, it might be an indication of a medical problem such as bacterial infection, sensitivity, or skin condition. In this situation, you must speak with your veterinarian.

Because Dudley’s nose lacks pigment, it is more prone to sunburn than other Labradors’ noses. Because of this, some additional precautions should be taken to protect their noses.

How Are Dudleys Different From Other Labradors?

Dudley Labradors are no different from other Labradors in terms of appearance.

• They are both stubborn and clever.
• They have the same life expectancy as other Labradors and are afflicted with the same medical issues, but they are not predisposed to any extra health problems owing to their unique noses.

Some recent research has been done on whether the color of Labradors affects their trainability or other traits; according to anecdotal evidence, Chocolate Labradors are more hyperactive, aggressive, and difficult to handle.

In an experiment, the researchers determined that there was no difference in trainability or intellect between Labradors of various colors.

There is some cause to believe that Yellow Labradors, like Dudleys, maybe more aggressive towards other dogs than Black and Chocolate Labradors, but the difference isn’t significant.

There have been no studies conducted to compare Dudleys to other Yellow Labradors in terms of their intellect and behavior.

Dudley Labradors are not permitted to compete in shows or breed, which is one area where they differ from other Labradors. They have pink noses, which is a fault in the ring and prevents them from competing.

They are also not recognized in the Breed Standard by the Kennel Club. This implies that the dog can’t be registered as a breeding animal with the Kennel Club.

From the AKC website:

The nose should be black on black or yellow dogs, and brown on chocolates. Nose color fading to a lighter shade is not a fault. A thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment is a disqualification.

– OFFICIAL STANDARD FOR THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER

Where To Buy A Dudley Labrador?

Although Dudley Labradors can be found in the same breeders as other Labradors, they are rather difficult to come by.

They are a particularly uncommon genetic combination, which means they do not often occur in litters naturally.

Furthermore, knowing the rules for Dudley Labradors in competition and reproduction, many breeders have deliberately excluded them.

Breeders will sometimes conduct DNA testing to ensure their pups do not have the ee loci, which prevents them from producing Dudleys.

You may ask a breeder to try to breed one for you if you are desperate to acquire a Dudley Lab. However, this service will likely set you back a significant amount of money.

A top breeder’s Labradors might cost you upwards of $3,000, and a Dudley may well require more than that.

A non-professional breeder’s Labrador that has become pregnant is more likely to deliver a Dudley Labrador.

If they’re selling the pups, they may want to charge a bit extra for Dudley because he’s likely to be one of a kind in the litter.

So, to summarize, actively looking for a Dudley Labrador might be difficult.

They are suitable for both family and company, especially if your Labrador produces a Dudley in their litter or you come across a Dudley that requires adoption. They’re great house pets.

FAQS About Dudley Labradors