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As the topic says - has anyone ever had a black lab (a purebred, we know for sure) that seems to have a very dark brown tint to the fur on top of his head? David is 13 weeks old and had a small white star on his chest (which has disappeared); but now we're noticing the fur on top of his head is turning a dark brown colour.
Can only see it in the bright sun.
Now, it doesn't really concern me - I know his blood lines, but I'm just more curious than anything else.
My guy was the same way when he was a pup he will be a year next month and he's black as black now even shining in the sun. I was worried too with mine. I'm sure yours will grow out of it.
My black lab was also the same when he was young but I only noticed it when he was in the sun. He is 4 now and I haven't noticed it in the last few years
I don't know about labs, but it wouldn't be the first breed to have colour take a while to set. My breed - Rhodesian Ridebacks change colour during the first 4 to 6 months. Breeders look at the coat between the ears to determine what colour the adult dog will be. Amazing to watch your pup change before your eyes
Good to know, makes me a bit more comfortable. After making this post I did a bit of Google'ing and discovered it is quite common in the breed to change from black to brown to even auburn over the first couple years.
I was more concerned it was a health or feeding issue, but the little guy eats like it's his last meal so I didn't think it was an issue.
There are a number of genetic traits that happen in labs.
One is there can be a cinnamon coloured tinge to the coat for the first little while.
Another is the white "star" patch on the chest.
Both often disappear as the dog matures.
Sometmes in the lineage there is a chocolate factor . That will give the brownish tint . We say there are two tones of black ...
Blue Black and Rusty Black . If you look to the roots of the fur you can see the brown.
Our black Pig-dogs get a definite brown sheen on their heads when they've had a feed of human "cah-cah". Usually some filthy pig snowmobiler who craps either on the trail, or two feet off the side of it. You also get a lot of "brown head syndrome" when you cross the portages while canoeing.