Labrador Retrievers are recognized in exactly three colors: Black, Yellow, and Chocolate. According to the official AKC Breed Standard and the LRC, no other colors are accepted for purebred Labradors. No coat shadings are recognized for black or chocolate Labradors.

Accepted: Black · Yellow (including Fox Red) · Chocolate

Not accepted: Silver · Charcoal · Champagne — these result from a dilute gene and are not part of the breed standard.

Source: AKC Labrador Breed Standard  ·  The Issue of the Silver Labrador – LRC

Yes. Fox Red is a rich, dark shade of Yellow and is a perfectly legitimate and desirable Labrador Retriever color. It falls within the Yellow color category recognized by the AKC Breed Standard.
Source: AKC Labrador Breed Standard

No. Silver Labradors are not recognized as purebred Labrador Retrievers. Silver coloring results from the dilute gene (dd), which is not part of the verified Labrador genetic profile. The LRC and AKC state plainly that silver, charcoal, and champagne are not accepted Labrador colors.
Source: The Issue of the Silver Labrador – LRC

There is only one breed of Labrador Retriever. “English” and “American” are informal labels for natural body style variations within the breed. More accurate terms are show/conformation style and working/field style.

Show-style Labradors tend to be stockier with heavier bone and denser coats. Field-style Labradors tend to be leaner with longer legs and a narrower muzzle. Both must meet the same official AKC Breed Standard, and both styles can appear within a single litter.
Source: About the Breed – LRC

No. There is no recognized miniature variety of the Labrador Retriever. Dogs advertised as “Miniature Labradors” are typically bred from undersized parents with no guarantee of any particular adult size. The LRC states that the ethics of any breeder who purposefully breeds for incorrect size must be questioned.
Source: LRC Breeders Code of Conduct

No. A Labradoodle is a crossbred dog – a mix of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle – not a purebred or a recognized breed. The LRC is formally opposed to the deliberate crossing of Labrador Retrievers with any other breed.
Source: LRC Breed Information

The LRC and CHIC require responsible Labrador breeders to complete the following tests before breeding:

• OFA Hip Radiographs Required – graded Excellent, Good, or Fair
• OFA Elbow Radiographs Required – graded Normal or dysplastic
• OFA Eye Examination Required – by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist
• EIC Genetic Test Required – Exercise Induced Collapse
• CNM Genetic Test Required – Centronuclear Myopathy
• Dilute Gene (dd) Test Required – confirms breed purity; absence of dilute gene required
• prcd-PRA Genetic Test Recommended – progressive blinding disease
• Congenital Cardiac Exam Recommended
• Advanced Cardiac Exam Recommended – by a board-certified cardiologist

Source: OFA CHIC Requirements for Labrador Retrievers

Verify any dog’s health results for free through the OFA public database at ofa.org/search. Enter the dog’s full AKC registered name and select “Labrador Retriever.” The database shows all submitted results including hip grades, elbow grades, eye exams, and genetic tests.
Source: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals – ofa.org

CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) is a program administered by OFA. A CHIC certificate is awarded to a dog that has completed all required health tests and agreed to make results publicly available. For Labrador Retrievers, required tests include OFA hips, elbows, eye examination, EIC, CNM, and the dilute gene (dd) test.

Asking whether a breeding dog holds a CHIC number is a quick way to confirm all required testing has been completed and publicly disclosed. You can verify CHIC status directly on the OFA website.
Source: OFA Canine Health Information Center (CHIC)

The best starting point is the LRC Breeder Directory, which lists LRC members bound by the club’s Code of Ethics. On the AKC Marketplace, look specifically for breeders with the Breeder of Merit designation – these breeders have been reviewed and approved by the AKC as meeting established standards, including health testing requirements, at the time of their application.

A reputable breeder will:

• Provide OFA health clearances for both the sire and dam
• Belong to the LRC or a regional Labrador Retriever club
• Ask you screening questions about your lifestyle and home
• Have a waitlist rather than puppies always available
• Include a take-back clause in their sales contract
• Welcome you to meet their dogs at AKC shows, field trials, or hunt tests

Source: Getting a Puppy – LRC  ·  About the Breeders Directory – LRC

Not always – and this is not necessarily a red flag. Many responsible breeders restrict outside visitors from their whelping area while puppies are young and unvaccinated. This is a biosecurity precaution to protect the litter, and it reflects the care of a responsible breeder.

What reputable breeders do offer: photos and video of the dam with the litter, detailed temperament and health information, and invitations to meet their dogs at AKC conformation shows, field trials, hunt tests, or obedience trials -where you can observe the dogs in a natural setting.

Source: Getting a Puppy — LRC

• What are the full AKC registered names of the sire and dam so I can verify them on OFA?
• Have both parents completed all CHIC-required tests: hips, elbows, eyes, EIC, CNM, and dilute gene (dd)?
• Can I see photos or video of the dam with the litter, or meet your dogs at an upcoming event?
• Are you a member of the LRC or a regional Labrador club?
• What is your take-back policy if I cannot keep the dog at any point in its life?
• Do you offer a written health guarantee, and what does it cover?
• How many litters do you produce per year?
• Can you provide references from previous puppy buyers?

Source: Getting a Puppy — LRC

Yes. Responsible breeders plan litters carefully and breed infrequently. A breeder with puppies always in stock may be running a high-volume operation that cannot give adequate individual attention to each litter.

Reputable breeders often have waitlists of several months. A waitlist is a positive sign – it means the breeder is thoughtful, in demand for the right reasons, and not overproducing.
Source: LRC Breeders Code of Conduct

No. The LRC strongly opposes the auctioning of puppies at fundraisers or charity events. An auction is not an appropriate environment for the serious decision of adding a dog to your family – people caught up in bidding may make impulsive commitments they cannot sustain.

Auctioning dogs without a USDA Animal Welfare Act license may be illegal. Many states have enacted laws prohibiting this practice. Reputable breeders do not participate in puppy auctions.

Source: LRC Position Statement on Puppy Auctions · USDA Animal Welfare Act §2142

No. The AKC and LRC advise against giving puppies as holiday gifts. The holiday season is a poor environment for a new puppy: schedules are disrupted, households are overstimulating, and hazards such as decorations and toxic plants are present. A dog is a commitment of 10 to 14 years that deserves careful, unhurried consideration – not an impulsive holiday decision.
Source: LRC  ·  AKC

Yes. The Labrador Retriever has an ideal family temperament – friendly and outgoing, indulgent with peers, strongly human-oriented, and tractable. They excel as family companions, assistance dogs, therapy dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and hunting dogs.

Labs are active dogs that require daily exercise, consistent training from an early age, and regular companionship. They are not a low-maintenance breed and are not well suited to long periods alone.

Source: About the Breed — LRC

The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC) is the AKC’s official national parent club for the Labrador Retriever breed, founded in 1931. The LRC is dedicated to preserving the breed’s integrity as a working retriever. It maintains a Code of Ethics for member breeders, publishes official position statements on breed issues, funds breed health research through the AKC Canine Health Foundation, and maintains a public breeder directory.
Source: About the LRC