Fox red is a deep shade of yellow Labrador, not a separate breed or color genetics category. Yellow Labs range from pale cream to deep red depending on other genes. Health and temperament depend on the breeding line, not the shade. Answer page →
What colors do Labrador Retrievers come in?
The AKC recognizes black, yellow and chocolate. Yellow ranges from cream to fox red. Silver, charcoal and other dilute shades come from the dilute gene and are outside the classic standard trio. Coat color is controlled mainly by the B and E loci. Answer page →
Can two black Labs have chocolate puppies?
Yes, if both parents carry the recessive b allele. Then about one in four puppies is expected to be chocolate on average, as long as they are not ee, which would make them yellow. Model specific parent genotypes with a coat-color calculator. Answer page →
How do Labs get their coat color?
Two main loci control classic Lab colors: B, which sets black versus chocolate, and E, which decides whether dark pigment reaches the coat. Chocolate Labs are bb and not ee. Yellow Labs are ee. The dilute D locus can further lighten coats. Answer page →
What is a chocolate Lab?
A Labrador Retriever whose coat is brown because it has two copies of the recessive b allele at the B locus and is not ee at the E locus. Same breed standard for structure and temperament as black and yellow Labs. Answer page →
Lab color comes down to two genes. Once you see how they interact, every “surprise” litter makes sense.
The two loci
Locus
Gene
Alleles
Effect
E
MC1R
E (dominant), e (recessive)
ee blocks dark pigment in the coat, so the dog is yellow
B
TYRP1
B (dominant), b (recessive)
bb turns dark pigment brown, so the dog is chocolate
So:
Black = at least one E and at least one B (E_B_)
Chocolate = at least one E and bb (E_bb)
Yellow = ee (any B). A yellow dog with bb shows a brown nose and eye rims; with B it has black ones.
Common pairings (expected averages)
Parents
Black
Chocolate
Yellow
Chocolate (EEbb) × Chocolate (EEbb)
0%
100%
0%
Chocolate (Eebb) × Chocolate (Eebb)
0%
75%
25%
Black carrier (EEBb) × Black carrier (EEBb)
75%
25%
0%
Black (EeBb) × Black (EeBb)
56.25%
18.75%
25%
Black (EEBb) × Chocolate (EEbb)
50%
50%
0%
Yellow (eebb) × Chocolate (EEbb)
0%
100%
0%
Yellow (eeBB) × Chocolate (EEbb)
100%
0%
0%
These are probabilities per puppy. A litter of eight from two Bb blacks can easily have zero or four chocolates. Run any combination in the coat-color calculator.
Why chocolate litters are smaller-pooled
Breeders who want guaranteed chocolates breed bb × bb. Fewer dogs qualify, so the breeding pool narrows. The 2018 VetCompass study’s authors suggested this may explain why chocolates had shorter lives and more ear and skin disease. Read more in chocolate Lab lifespan.
Other color genes you may hear about
D locus (dilute) produces “silver”, “charcoal” and “champagne” Labs. See dilute Labs.
K locus. Labs are normally KB/KB, which lets the E and B loci show.
Mismarks such as small white chest spots occur and are allowed in moderation.
Chocolate Lab FAQ Quick, sourced answers to the most common chocolate Labrador questions: size, lifespan, shedding, cost, health problems, temperament and feeding.
Health Tests Every Lab Breeder Should Show You The OFA/CHIC health clearances for Labradors (hips, elbows, eyes, EIC) plus recommended DNA tests (CNM, PRA-prcd, HNPK, SD2, DM) and how to verify them.
