The Dilute Committee’s Report and materials have been made available to members and the public. In June 2026 the materials were submitted to the AKC for consideration. The AKC Board:

“considered a request … that all dogs to be registered by AKC as Labrador Retrievers be microchipped and provide a DNA sample that identifies the distinctive DNA marker(s) associated with the dilute (silver) colored dogs. … the Board VOTED (unanimously) to not mandate genetic testing and microchipping to register a Labrador Retriever with the AKC.”

Additional Areas of Exploration

In addition to the work by the Dilute Committee, the Board is looking into several other avenues, including the following:

• Share the Committee’s 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.
• Organize and collect DNA samples and pedigrees from at least 100 silvers for future D-locus testing.

Questions or comments? Please send them to ASKLRC@thelabradorclub.com