At the end of the Twentieth Century, the frequency of silver (gray) labs began to increase in North America due to an increase in the number of chocolate labs in the gene pool of Labrador Retrievers. These Silver Labs in turn fueled an enormous controversy within the Labrador community.
Response of Jack Norton of the AKC on 1/24/00 giving AKC official position on the issue of Silver Labs.
The registry of the American Kennel Club is based on parentage and not the coat color of a member of any breed.
In 1987 the AKC, in corporation with the Labrador Retriever Club of America, conducted an inquiry into the breeding of litters that contained members that were registered as silver. An AKC representative was sent to observe these dogs. The report and color photographs of these dogs were reviewed by AKC staff and representatives of the Labrador Retriever Club of America. Both Parties were satisfied that there was no reason to doubt that the dogs were purebred Labrador Retrievers, however they felt that the dogs were incorrectly registered as silver. Since the breed standard at the time described chocolate as ranging in shade form sedge to chocolate, it was felt that the dogs could more accurately be described as chocolate rather than silver. This remains the current policy of the American Kennel Club.
Special Services Dept
Response of Robert Young of AKC on 3/27/00 giving AKC official position on the issue of Silver Labs.
Consensus at the "Silver Lab" meeting held on July 14, 1997.
1) The foundation for the AKC registry is based on parentage and not color.
2) We should register all Lab pups coming from purebred AKC registered Labs.
3) We should not register Labs as "Silver".
4) After a review of pictures, the file and history of this issue which goes back to 1987, we feel the most appropriate color for registration is Chocolate.
5) We will entertain complaints of impure breedings on an individual basis, but complaints should be based on more than color
Labrador Retrievers that express the dilute gene are recognized and
registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) based on the foundation
genetic colors Black, Yellow, and Chocolate.
Labradors that are descriptively called "Silver" are registered as
their genetic base color of chocolate.
Labradors that are descriptively called "Charcoal" are registered as
their genetic base color of black.
Labradors that are descriptively called "Champagne" are registered as
their genetic base color of yellow.
The policy of registering light shades of the breed standard-described
colors were established after a joint investigation by the AKC and the
Labrador Retriever Club of America (LRC) in the 1980's, wherein the
breed purity of "Silver" Labradors was also confirmed.