There are many different types of Labrador Retrievers in the world. These dogs come in various colors, sizes, and coat types.
Some people think that mixing different types of Labradors will result in even more varieties.
But is this always the case? What happens when you end up breeding a yellow Lab with a black Lab? The results are pretty interesting.
This article explores what happens when you breed a black Lab with a yellow Lab and what sort of puppies you can expect from this cross.
What Is a Black Lab?
A black Lab is one of the most common types of Labrador available.
These dogs are renowned for their stunning dark coats, which contrast significantly with the light-colored faces usually seen in Labradors.
Black Labs are also slightly smaller than other Lab mixes and purebreds, making them an excellent choice for people with limited space.
They have the same temperament as other types of Labs. They’re outgoing, friendly, and exceptionally loyal and have been serving humans for hundreds of years.
What Is a Yellow Lab?
Yellow Labs are a type of Labrador less commonly seen than their black counterparts.
These dogs are loved for their unique coloring, which includes a yellow coat and light-colored face.
These are outgoing dogs, but they’re more reserved than black Labs. They’re also said to be more intelligent and adaptable than black Labs, though it’s important to remember that no two dogs are alike.
What Will Happen When You Breed a Black Lab With a Yellow Lab?
Let’s talk genetics!
MC1R is a specific sequence of DNA that determines coat color. It’s represented by two alleles, e and E.
A black or chocolate dog will have either two copies of the E allele (EE) or one of each (Ee). A yellow dog always has two copies of the e allele (ee).
The color is located on the B locus, also called TYRP1, which is a specific sequence of DNA that determines a black or brown coat.
A black dog will have two copies of the B allele (BB) or one of each (Bb). A chocolate dog will always have two copies of the b allele (bb).
Now that this is all clear, we can finally calculate the probabilities of different coat colors if you breed a yellow Lab with a black Lab.
According to the Mendelian inheritance pattern, if one parent is black (EeBB, EeBb, EEBB, or EEbb) and the other is yellow (eeBB, eeBb, or eebb), they can have either black, chocolate, or yellow puppies.
There are four ways to be a black puppy, three ways to be a yellow puppy, and only two ways to be a chocolate puppy, there are 12 different possible outcomes.
The bottom line is, you’ll mostly get black Lab puppies, but you may also get some yellow and chocolate Labs. The probability of you getting a black Lab is 1:1, getting a yellow Lab is 1:2, and getting a brown Lab is 1:3.
Conclusion
As you’ve just seen, you can predict the coat color in Labradors by doing a simple Mendelian inheritance pattern. Breeders typically use it to correctly predict puppies’ coat colors.
So, if you end up breeding a yellow Lab with a black Lab, you might get a litter containing black, chocolate, and yellow Lab puppies!