Labrador Retriever Colors
By Dr Laura van Dalen
Labrador Retrievers are loved around the world in their three classic colors: black, yellow, and chocolate. While the shades within those colors may vary, the official Labrador Retriever standards are clear and consistent. Correct Labrador colors are black, yellow, and chocolate — not silver, charcoal, champagne, brindle, or other advertised “rare” colors. This page explains what the breed standards say, why these distinctions matter, and why Van Dalen Labradors breeds only standard-colored Labradors.
The Three Correct Labrador Colors
Labrador Retrievers come in three recognized colors: black, yellow, and chocolate.
These are the only Labrador colors recognized in the major breed standards. The shades within those colors can vary, but the colors themselves remain the same.
A black Labrador should be black. A yellow Labrador may range from light cream to fox red. A chocolate Labrador may range from light chocolate to dark chocolate.
At Van Dalen Labradors, we breed only the three standard Labrador colors: black, yellow, and chocolate.
What the Breed Standards Say
The Labrador Retriever is a breed with a written standard. A breed standard describes the ideal Labrador in structure, coat, movement, temperament, and color.
The major Labrador standards are very consistent on color.
The AKC Labrador Retriever Standard states that Labrador coat colors are black, yellow, and chocolate, and that any other color or combination of colors is a disqualification. The AKC standard also allows yellow shades from fox-red to light cream, and chocolate shades from light to dark chocolate.
The Kennel Club Labrador Standard states that the only correct colors are wholly black, yellow, and liver/chocolate. It also states that any other color or combination of colors is unacceptable.
The FCI Labrador Retriever Standard also lists the correct colors as wholly black, yellow, or liver/chocolate, and lists any other coat color or combination of colors as a disqualifying fault.
So although the wording is slightly different from one standard to another, the conclusion is the same: a correct Labrador Retriever is black, yellow, or chocolate.
What About Silver, Charcoal, and Champagne Labradors?
In recent years, some breeders have advertised Labradors as silver, charcoal, or champagne. These colors are often marketed as rare, unusual, or special.
They are not recognized Labrador colors in the breed standard.
Silver, charcoal, and champagne are usually associated with the dilute gene. This dilution can make Labradors that would otherwise be black appear charcoal, chocolate appear silver, and yellow appear champagne.
That is why these colors are considered non-breed-standard colors. They are not simply another accepted shade of Labrador.
Why This Matters
Color may seem like a small issue, but in preservation breeding, the breed standard matters.
Responsible Labrador breeding is not about producing unusual colors for marketing. It is about preserving the Labrador Retriever as a sound, healthy, correct, good-tempered breed.
When breeders advertise silver, charcoal, or champagne Labradors as “rare,” puppy buyers should be cautious. Rare does not mean correct. Rare does not mean better. And a higher price for a non-standard color is not a sign of better breeding.
The Labrador Retriever Club, the AKC parent club for the breed, has stated its concern about silver Labradors and the marketing of dilute coat colors as desirable or rare.
Our Position
At Van Dalen Labradors, we breed only standard Labrador Retriever colors:
Black | Yellow | Chocolate
We do not breed or advertise silver, charcoal, champagne, brindle, or other non-standard colors.
Our focus is on correct Labrador type, sound structure, health testing, temperament, and the qualities that make the Labrador Retriever such a beloved family companion.
A beautiful Labrador does not need to be rare.
A beautiful Labrador should be correct, healthy, sound, and unmistakably Labrador.
References
AKC Labrador Retriever Breed Standard
The Kennel Club Labrador Retriever Breed Standard
FCI Labrador Retriever Breed Standard
The Labrador Retriever Club: The Issue of the Silver Labrador
