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In December 2025, the LRC formed a committee to look into the issue of Dilutes in Labrador Retrievers. The committee chair is Margaret Wilson. Additional committee members are Carol Lynn Johnson, Elizabeth Wenner, Chris Wincek and Board Member Tony Emilio.
In April 2026, the committee reported their findings to the Board:
In addition to the work by the Dilute Committee, the Board is looking into several other avenues.
- Share the report and RFP with AKC’s Registration Department.
- Identify other breeds that have a “dilute problem” and contact those breed clubs to understand how they are dealing with the issue, what they have learned from a scientific perspective and explore banding together.
- Contact AKC CHF to see if there are studies on alopecia and how we might “piggyback” on them to encourage the researchers to test for the dilute gene.
- Identify one or more researchers to respond in writing to the RFP and develop a cost estimate.
- Identify and sign up testing organizations to offer an inexpensive dilute test to members.
- Create a “white list” of dilute-free dogs, publish names on the website, develop criteria for inclusion.
- Create a “Dangers of Dilute” communications plan and publish information regularly on Facebook, the LRC newsletter, the LRC Facebook page, AKC publications and other canine publications.
- Develop a list of diute breeders and dogs that are carriers.
- Organize and collect DNA samples and pedigrees from at least 100 silvers for future D-locus testing.
Questions or comments should be sent to ASKLRC@thelabradorclub.com