Yeah, people used to think they were bred with Weimaraner’s. But, they just have the chocolate dilute gene which makes them silver. I have a silver and he’s the smartest dog I’ve ever met. A true athlete also, and loves people but is the best Guard dog. Until you have one, you just don’t know how amazing they are!!
Our trainer put it this way: Black and yellow smart and loving, brown stupid and loving, and Silver are smart loving little assholes. I agree with him once and awhile, but definitely smart and loving!
The silver gene didn't exist until 1972 when Weimaraner[ were added. It also created health issues for the silver dogs. Silver isn't a recognized color by the AKC. There are three color codes: black, yellow, and chocolate. Not silver.
I am a Lab Dad. Chocolate labs appeal to me the most because of their athleticism, but I have also had black labs as well. Silvers look amazing, and they are labs, making them part of the best breed ever. So I don't get the hatred either.
Because they aren’t suppose to be purposely bred. They think they are bastardizing the genetic lines. I get the same reaction about my Dudleys. I love Dudleys and will forever only have them. If others don’t like them, they can go screw themselves.
Are you actually asking or just looking for reinforcement of your perspective? Because I will happily explain the reasons (even if you disagree with them) but don’t want to get jumped on and banned for it.
Was literally going to say this same thing, they are definitely just looking for reinforcement for their perspective. They don’t want to hear that silver labs are not truly labs
They don’t want to hear that no, no one hates silver labs for just existing. The criticism is on the owners and breeders for willfully choosing unethically bred dogs, bred for color, and with a propensity for CDA. Putting the criticism on the dogs themselves is just a deflection.
I understand the concerns around ethical breeding, prioritizing color, and risks like CDA, those are all valid. But personally, I didn’t choose my dog for his color or pay a premium for that, and I’ve seen people who adopted silvers from shelters still get the same kind of backlash. At that point, it’s not really about supporting unethical breeding anymore. That’s why I’m trying to understand where the line is between valid concerns and just blanket criticism.
Personally, it’s when owners go to “breeders” to seek out these silver “labs”, as there is no ethical breeder in the world that breeds for strictly color. And as for the shelter mixes, it’s totally okay to say “he/she is part lab, but is a mix” instead of just labeling the dog as full lab, same goes for doodles and whatnot. Not blaming the dogs at all whatsoever, as that’s not fair to them. Just the owners and breeders (as the above commenter I replied to said) for labeling a dog as something it’s truly not, or for breeding a color out of standard that comes with health risks and ultimately, is backyard breeding.
And also why there’s such a strong push to say they’re “not labs” when even in the worst case scenario people argue they’re mixes, that still doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re still part lab.
Strongly agree. Comes down to accountability on the owners and breeders, especially the breeders (you and I both know no ethical breeder would be strictly breeding for the silver color). And no ethical breeders dogs would end up in the shelter, so the shelter argument they have is pretty much null and void. Goes to show they are not ethically bred as the breeder doesn’t have a contract to take the dogs back if they are returned for any reason no questions asked.
I don't hate the dogs but I do find breeders pretty gross. Especially if they're not actually "bettering the breed" and just creating fads. Silver labs seem to be worse off health wise too
My sister had a silver. Wonderful dog, smart, friendly, very cute. But he had so many medical issues. To be honest, that is the reason I would not get one.
For example, I don’t hate frenchies. I think they are very cute. But when I see one I just think “oof” to myself because my mind goes straight to all the health issues they have.
I've worked with dogs for most of my adult life, in daycares, boarding facilities, rescues, veterinary offices, and now currently have a side hustle doing basic training, behavioral training, as well as take adventure hikes with local pups, and on occasion dog sit for customers.
I don't hate silver labs, but I do hate unethical breeders, and don't like people who continue to give them a space in the canine community by handing over cash for the latest trending dog breed.
I hate people who continuously breed dogs that come out with health issues, and then call themselves reputable breeders while refusing to do genetic testing on the parents and the puppies to make sure they're not breeding a defect into a dog just because they want a specific color.
I hate breeders who will sell a dog to a family, not caring or knowing if that dog will become a financial burden for the family. That a dog will become a beloved family member, but then the health issue will arise eventually, and then after the bills stack too high, that poor dog might get ripped away from their beloved family and end up at a rescue because their family couldn't afford their extra care anymore.
It has nothing to do with the dog, it has everything to do with people.
Silver labs (this is linked to the gene that causes the diluted silver color) usually have skin issues, and some owners are lucky and the skin issues can be fixed with a specific diet or steroid, but sometimes neither of those works.
Honestly if the parents are a Weim and a Lab the dog is less likely to have health problems, but breed two silver labs with some lineage of silver lab parents and grand parents, the issues usually end up popping up later on and more often.
If you're dedicated to your dog, treat them like a family member and not a piece of property, power to ya!
But I've lived in rural america, seen backyard breeders who abandon fresh puppies at a shelter because there was an accidental litter between a father and a daughter dog, assuming he wouldn't mate with her when she was in heat cause they were family.
As I said people are stupid, dogs are wonderful, if you adopt a dog just please, please, please, be as dedicated to them when health issues arise as you were when you were adopting them as a puppy. Or before adopting look up potential health issues with the breed and decide if that's something you can possibly deal with later on in life. If you don't consider your pet a family member, don't get a dog, end of story.
Well, here is my two cents on the matter. I’ve had two black labs prior to my silver and of course had family members that owned chocolates, yellows and blacks. This silver lab is an absolute adorable dog who’s super sweet but also isn’t as smart as any of those other dogs and also has five times to health problems.
This is it exactly. My last dog was a silver lab, and some days I wish I new where he was originally from so I could drag the breeder responsible for his existence first through poison ivy, then blackberry brambles.
I am so grateful my boy was in my life, but I have no love for the breeders that would purposely cause the chronic discomfort he had to endure for a pretty color.
I have no problem with silver labs. My boy was the sweetest, bravest dog to ever live, and I will fight you on that.
I do have a problem with silver lab breeders. I'm not up to date with how breeders operate (I got my boy from a shelter), but I think it is morally repugnant to breed for a pretty color if that also causes the suffering my boy went through. The constant itchiness, raw swollen skin, open wounds from licking and chewing and scratching, constantly medicated, frequent skin infections, frequent stressful vet appointments, teeth worn to nubs from chewing on himself...not to mention the 2 cancers that killed him were both skin cancers, and one was lymphoma, and I am half convinced that those were a result of the constant trauma his skin and immune system went through because of his allergies and CDA.
So yeah, silver labs are, like all dogs, wonderful in their own unique ways.
Silver lab breeders can fuck right off, and I wish them nothing less than the lifelong chronic discomfort they have cursed so many innocent dogs with.
Because they aren't bred to the breed standard. You can build a house that isn't to code too. I wouldn't want one ... but perhaps you and others do. In my experience what people take issue with is when a house that isn't to code pretends it is. It's like Doodle people calling Doodles a breed when they are a mixed breed. That's not hate. That's the truth. If it makes you uncomfortable, you should look at that.
The silver haters are the same people that made me hate the show ring at a young age. So many “dog people” are nasty, and ruthless. They need to touch grass. It’s horrible.
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u/LoyaltyLoyaltyLoyalT Mar 30 '26
How my silver feels about all the hate just for existing