WHAT IS A FOX RED LAB?

PawPrint Genetics

       Quick Trigger Kennels tries to ensure we are producing the most genetically sound Labrador without any genetic problems by first genetically testing our Dams and Sires to ensure they do not carry any genetic diseases that can or could be passed on to their offspring.QTK uses Paw Print Genetics to run molecular genetic analysis for 23 specific mutations reported to be associated with disease in dogs.

WHAT IS A FOX RED LAB?

       Welcome to the world of canine wonders, where the charming Red Fox Labrador Retriever takes center stage! Commonly known as the ” Fox Red Lab,” this stunning variant of one of America’s most beloved breeds is not just a feast for the eyes with its striking, russet-hued coat, but also a treasure trove of loyalty, intelligence, and boundless energy. Join us as we dive into the fascinating details of the Fox Red Lab, uncovering the secrets of its lineage, exploring its distinctive traits, and understanding what makes this fiery-coated companion as unique as a flickering flame in the vast forest of the Labrador pedigree. Whether you’re an avid dog lover, a potential pet owner, or simply curious about this beautiful breed, prepare to be enchanted by the allure of the Fox Red Lab.

THE ORIGIN & HISTORY OF FOX-RED LABRADORS

       Red labs have always had the potential to exist within the Labrador breed. However, at one point, almost all labs were black. While this is partially due to nature, it’s due to human interference as well. In the past, chocolate and yellow labs were not only harder to breed but were also less desirable. As time went on, though, the need for a hunting dog surpassed the preference of coat shades, and in recent years, these rarer colors (like fox-red) have been becoming more popular.

IS IT FOX RED OR RED FOX LAB?

       When it comes to finding the perfect family pet, the Fox Red Lab is a popular choice. This breed is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and gentle nature. They are also an active breed and need plenty of exercise, making them great for families who enjoy outdoor activities. With proper training, the Fox Red Lab can easily learn new tricks and commands. They are known for their eagerness to please their owners.

       The Fox Red Lab is a medium-sized dog and can weigh up to 70 pounds when fully grown. They have a thick, soft coat that requires regular grooming and brushing to keep it healthy. These dogs do best with plenty of love, attention, and exercise. With the right care, the Fox Red Lab can be a loyal and gentle companion for many years.

IS A FOX RED LAB PUREBRED?

       The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is a purebred Labrador Retriever with a unique dark red to almost mahogany colored coat. This color variation of the Labrador Retriever is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. The breed standard requires the coat to be a solid color, with lighter shades on the head and chest. This variation of the Labrador Retriever is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and should have the same temperament and health as any other Labrador Retriever.

       The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is a loyal and devoted breed that is eager to please, making them excellent family companions. They are intelligent and highly trainable, making them an ideal choice for a variety of activities from hunting to obedience training. The breed is known for being a low-maintenance breed, requiring minimal grooming and exercise needs.

       The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is an ideal breed for those looking for an intelligent, loyal, and devoted companion. They are not only a great choice for a family pet, but also an excellent choice for a variety of activities. With proper training and care, this beautiful breed is sure to be a wonderful addition to any home.

FOX RED LAB ORIGINS AND HISTORY

       The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is a variation of the traditional Labrador Retriever that originated in England in the early 1800s. This breed is now a very popular choice in the United States due to its friendly and loyal temperament, intelligence, and athletic ability. The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is an ideal choice for hunting, competing, showing, or simply as a family pet. They are known for being loving and affectionate companions and make an excellent addition to any family.  No matter the color, or shade of coat, a Purebred Labrador Retriever is known for being one of the easiest dogs to train, most loyal, water loving, gentle, and athletic; the only major difference is the color of the coat.

       The Fox Red Labrador Retriever is a strong and active breed, so they require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. They enjoy playing fetch, running, and swimming and are easily trained. They are also very intelligent and can learn commands quickly and easily. They are generally good-natured and easy to please, and are eager to please their owners.

       The Labrador Retriever is an excellent breed for families with children. They are gentle and patient, and love spending time with their families. They are also highly trainable and eager to please, making them great pets for novice owners.  As with any dog, they are not a good choice for people who are not willing to take the time to properly train them.  They are a loyal and loving companion that is sure to bring joy and companionship to any family.

FOX RED LAB FUN FACTS

       Have you ever heard of a Fox Red Lab? Fox Red Labradors are a rare, light red shade of Labrador Retriever. They are not a separate breed, but rather a unique color of Labrador Retriever. The shades of red range from a light, rusty red to a deep mahogany. Fox Red Labradors are a beautiful breed and have become increasingly popular in recent years.

       Fox Red Labradors are very intelligent and loyal dogs who make excellent family pets. They are very active dogs and require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. This breed is known for its cheerful personality and gentle disposition. Fox Red Labradors are usually very easy to train and highly adaptable. They are usually gentle and good-natured with children and other animals, making them a great addition to any family.

       Fox Red Labradors are good swimmers and love to play in the water. They require regular brushing and grooming to keep their beautiful red coats in good condition. They are also known for their high energy levels, so exercise is a must for this breed.

       If you’re looking for a loyal and active companion, the Red Fox Labrador might be the perfect fit. They make excellent family pets and are sure to bring lots of joy and laughter into your home

       The Fox-Red Labrador is a darker shade of the yellow Labrador Retriever, and with their striking beauty – it’s no surprise that they’re growing in popularity. With that, we thought we’d share a bit more about their history and background.

FOX RED LAB GENETICS

       The Fox Red Lab is a variation of the traditional yellow Labrador retriever. These dogs are characterized by their deep mahogany red coat, which is much darker than the classic yellow Labrador. Fox Red Labs are known for their wonderful temperaments and are typically very sweet and gentle. They are also highly intelligent, making them easy to train and great for families. Fox Red Labs are loyal and protective, so they make wonderful watchdogs. On top of that, they are active and love to play, making them great companions for outdoor activities. All of these qualities make the Fox Red Lab an amazing breed that is sure to bring joy to your home.

RED FOX LAB PUPPIES ARE GENETICALLY YELLOW

       Fox Red Lab puppies are a unique type of Labrador Retriever that are genetically yellow. They are known to be intelligent, loyal, and energetic companions who can be trained to do a variety of activities such as hunting, agility, and obedience. Red Fox Lab puppies are known for their friendly and outgoing nature, making them great family pets. With their high energy levels, they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. When properly cared for, Fox Red Lab puppies have a lifespan of 12-15 years. They are an excellent breed of dog for those looking for an active and devoted companion.

       Fox Red Labrador Retrievers are quickly becoming one of the most popular breeds of dog. The fox red color is a deep, dark, reddish-brown hue that can range from a light tan to dark chocolate. They have the same lovable and friendly personality that you would expect from any Labrador Retriever. Fox Red Labradors are intelligent and easy to train, making them great family pets. They make excellent hunting and sporting dogs, as they have tremendous stamina and athleticism. Fox Red Labrador Retrievers are strong swimmers and have a great deal of energy, so they need regular exercise and plenty of playtime. These dogs are also incredibly loyal and will form strong bonds with their families. They are great with children, and can even be taught to perform tricks. If you’re looking for a loyal and loving companion, then a Fox Red Labrador Retriever may be the perfect choice for you.

FOX-RED LABRADOR GENETICS

       While we probably don’t have to say it, genetics are complicated, so it’s not very unusual for breeders to get puppies in colors that they weren’t expecting.

  • Think of a Labrador as basically a black dog by default with their black coat being created with the genes called “B genes.”
  • A puppy inherits one gene from their mother and one from their father, creating a pair that looks like this: BB.
  • B genes can come in big B or little b, so a pup could also have something that looks like this: Bb.
  • The little b carries the code necessary to make a brown coat instead of a black one. HOWEVER, the big B dominates the code and turns the little b off.
  • Therefore the little b only gets a say if there are two of them, which would look like this: bb.
  • The genes Big E and little e work similarly, but with yellow labs.
  • When a lab has a pair that looks like this: ee – it switches off the black and brown coat and gives you yellow.
  • Now, the fox-red comes in with a pigment called pheomelanin, which is responsible for the depth of the red coloring in the yellow (ee) lab’s coat.

       With the fox red, the A gene controls the production of the red color, while the C gene controls whether or not it is fully expressed or diluted.

 

LET’S EXPLAIN THE DETAILS OF THE COLOR GENETICS OF THE LABRADORS

       The genetic basis of coat colour in the Labrador Retriever has been found to depend on several distinct genes. The interplay among these genes is used as an example of epistasis.

       Background

       Labrador Retrievers are a popular dog breed in many countries. There are three recognised colours, black, chocolate, and yellow, that result from the interplay among genes that direct production and expression of two pigments, eumelanin (brown or black pigment) and pheomelanin (yellow to red pigment), in the fur and skin of the dog. The recognized colours are due to two genes, while a third gene affects the range of colouration observed within the yellow Labrador. These individual genes do not act independently of each other, and their interaction in affecting the trait of coat colour is used by biology textbooks to demonstrate the genetic principle of epistasis, where multiple genes react synergistically to affect a single trait.

       The genetics of mammalian colouration has been studied in detail, and similar mechanisms have been identified across many species. For this reason, much of the early work on the colouration of dogs in general and Labradors in particular have relied heavily on analogy to the traits characterized in mice and other mammals. Initial genetic studies of coat colour in dogs published in the 1950s concluded that there were two main genes involved, one distinguishing blacks from browns, and the other distinguishing blacks from reds and yellows. A 1977 study using crosses within a population of purebred Labradors showed the involvement of two specific genes in production of the three main coat colours of Labradors and described the underlying genetics of these colour varieties.

 Genes for black, chocolate, and yellow colouration

PHEOMELANIN IN YELLOW LABRADORS

       Colour variation within yellow Labradors due to differences in pheomelanin expression.

       According to Candille, et al. (2007), dog coat color can largely be explained by three genes: MC1R, Agouti and CBD103. When a dog has wild-type alleles at all three genes, it will have a yellow coat. When the dog has a loss-of-function allele at MC1R, it will have a yellow coat regardless of the genes it carries on the other two genes. Only a dominant black allele at CBD103 will produce a black coat color in dogs possessing wild-type alleles at MC1R and Agouti.[8]

       The E locus also determines whether the phenotype due to the third genetic locus affecting coat colour will be evident. This locus is recognised as affecting coat colour through the expression of pheomelanin, the pigment responsible for red and yellow pigmentation. The effects on pheomelanin pigmentation are only seen if there is no eumelanin expressed in the fur, else the dark eumelanin will mask any pheomelanin present. Thus these differences are visible only in yellow Labradors, which as a result range in colour from light cream to copper-red.

       It had long been thought that the genetic locus for this trait was the same seen regulating pheomelanin in other mammals, subsequently identified as tyrosinase. This enzyme makes both eumelanin and pheomelanin, and when subject to a knockout mutation results in albinism. A less extreme mutation of the same tyrosinase gene, the so-called Chinchilla trait, produces a dilution that selectively affects pheomelanin alone, similar to the phenotype observed in yellow Labradors.[3] Thus, as with Chinchilla-related pheomelanin dilution in other species, this trait in yellow Labradors has been represented by the letter C. However, genetic analysis of the inheritance of coat colour in yellow Labradors has shown that the locus responsible is entirely distinct from the Chinchilla trait of the tyrosinase gene, and likewise is distinct from SLC45A2,[9] the so-called cream gene responsible for the dilution of pheomelanin in buckskin, palomino and cremello horses and also for the absence of pheomelanin in the white tiger,[10] while a mutation in SLC7A11 found to cause pheomelanin dilution in mice was not found in a survey of cream-coloured dogs.

EUMELANIN COLOUR

       Labradors showing eumelaninistic colour phenotypes: Black (BB,Bb) and chocolate (bb).

       The three recognised colours of Labrador Retrievers result from differences in two genetic loci that affect pigment expression. Those affecting the colour of the dark pigment, eumelanin, are referred to as the B (brown) locus. The variation displayed by this locus is observed in many mammals, reflecting a so-called ‘dilution‘, a lightening, of black eumelanin to a brown colour. Initial genetic research excluded a role for the melanocortin 1 receptor and the Agouti locus as being the cause of the black dilution trait in dogs.[12] Instead, TYRP1 (tyrosinase related protein 1) was found to be responsible.[6] This enzyme is localised to melanosomes, the cellular organelles that produce and store pigments, and serves to catalyze oxidation of eumelanin precursors.[3]

       In dogs, three mutations in the TYRP1 gene have been identified, one resulting in a truncation of the protein, the other two leading to an amino acid deletion or a single amino acid substitution in the sequence of the protein. All of these mutations are found across the range of dogs, and hence are thought to have preceded the divergence of distinct breeds, and all three are found within Labrador Retrievers.[6] Each of the mutations appears to eliminate or significantly reduce enzymatic activity, and the colouration phenotypes (the visible traits) produced by the three mutations are indistinguishable.[3]

       These represent recessive mutations in the TYRP1 gene, and since mammals have two copies of each gene, one from each parent, an animal with at least one copy of the fully functioning TYRP1 protein (represented as ‘B’) will display the dominant trait, black pigmentation, while to display brown pigmentation, both copies of this gene must be mutant alleles (collectively represented as ‘b’). Thus a dog with the genotypes BB or Bb will express black eumelanin, while brown eumelanin will be seen in dogs with the bb genotype.[1]

EUMELANIN DISTRIBUTION

       Yellow Labrador with a Black Labrador. Gain-of-function alleles at various genetic loci will cause either the dominant inheritance of a yellow coat and the dominant inheritance of a black coat.[8][Note 1]

       A second gene affects whether these eumelanin pigments will be expressed in the fur or solely in the skin. Called the ‘extension’ (E) trait, this is directed by the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). This receptor signals the pigment-producing cell in response to melanocortins and results in deposition of eumelanin into the hair. Mutations in this protein have been shown to be involved in pale or red colour phenotypes in a range of species, including humans, horses, pigs, cattle, mice, fur seals, mammoths and the Kermode bear, as well as colouration in whiptail lizards.[13]

       In most dogs, activity of MC1R is modulated by two signaling molecules, a repressor that is a product of the Agouti gene (A locus), and an activator, β-Defensin 103 (CBD103), recently named the K locus. In Labradors a highly-active mutated version of the K gene, (KB) is invariant, producing uniform eumelanin distribution independent of the Agouti genotype and leaving differences in MC1R to mediate the sole variability of this signaling pathway.[14][8][15]

       A recessive mutation in this E gene truncates the protein, producing a non-functional receptor incapable of directing eumelanin deposition in the fur.[16] Among dogs, this mutation is unique to yellow Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers and is thought to have arisen in the retriever population before these individual breeds became distinct. The exact mutation has also been found to underlie the colouration of white coyotes found around Newfoundland, having apparently passed into that population through interbreeding with a Golden Retriever.[17]

       A variant of the functional MC1R allele that produces a facial ‘mask’ in other breeds of dogs (Em) is also present in Labradors, but since the colour of the mask is determined by the B locus, in Labradors the mask this gene produces is indistinguishable from the overall coat colour.

EUMELANIN GENE INTERACTIONS

       The interplay between these two genes determines the colour of a Labrador Retriever, and is widely used as an example of epistasis. If a dog possesses the dominant phenotype for the extension allele (genotype EE or Ee), then it will display the fur colouration determined by its brown locus genotype, while a dog with the recessive extension trait (ee) will have a yellow coat with either black (BB, Bb) or brown (bb) exposed skin. This results in the three coat colours seen:

       Yellow Labradors with black (top) and brown skin colouration, as seen in the exposed areas of the noses, lips and lining of the eyes.

  • BlackLabradors can have any genotype with at least one dominant allele at both the B and E loci: BBEE, BBEe, BbEE, or BbEe.
  • ChocolateLabradors will have a genotype with at least one dominant E allele, but must have only recessive b alleles: bbEE and bbEe.
  • YellowLabradors with black skin pigment will have a dominant B allele but must have recessive e alleles: BBee or Bbee.
  • YellowLabradors with pale or chocolate pigment, or an absence of skin pigment, can have only recessive alleles at both loci: bbee. These dogs are often referred to as Dudleys, and are disqualified in the showring, although are eligible for registration under current standards.[1] Aging-related declines in eumelanin production can cause the exposed skin in a Labrador with black skin pigmentation begin to appear lighter, but Dudley dogs have this colouration throughout their lives.

       These genes assort independently, so a single genetic cross involving two black Labradors each with a recessive allele at both the B and the E locus (BbEe) has the potential of producing all of the possible colour combinations, while crosses involving chocolate dogs can never produce black (there being no dominant B allele in either parent) but can give rise to yellow. Yellow Labradors will breed true with regard to fur colour but those with black skin can potentially produce a Dudley. Dudleys breed true for both fur and skin. The ability of the E locus to override the coat colour directed by the B locus is a classical example of epistasis, where multiple genetic loci affect the same observed trait.[2]