Fox Red Labrador: History, Genetics and Puppies
Fox red, or red fox, is the darkest shade of the yellow Labrador. Where it comes from, how it’s inherited and our fox red Labrador litters in Modigliana (FC), Italy.
The Fox Red Labrador at a Glance
The fox red Labrador, also called red fox, is a yellow Labrador with a deep red coat. It isn’t a separate colour: the FCI standard describes yellow as ranging “from light cream to red fox”, and the American Kennel Club uses the same wording. Temperament is the same as in every Labrador: it depends on the parents and on training, not on colour.
- Other names: red fox, fox red, dark yellow
- Genetics: it’s a yellow (ee); the intensity of the red depends on other genes
- Nose: normally black
- Purebred: yes, it’s a shade that has existed since the earliest yellow Labradors
- Our fox red stud: Highway To Hell by Marina Lab (“George”), HD A, ED 0/0
- Next fox red litter: Highway To Hell by Marina Lab x Heaven for MyLabrador Albamarina
History of the Fox Red Labrador
Early in the Labrador’s history, the dogs people wanted were black. Yellow appeared later: the first registered yellow Labrador was Ben of Hyde, born in 1899 in Major C.J. Radclyffe’s kennel. In the early decades many yellows had dark shades, close to fox red.
From the mid-20th century, breeders came to prefer light yellows and creams, which became the most familiar image of the Labrador. Fox red became rare, to the point of being seen as a “different” colour. In recent years it has become popular again and is once more being deliberately bred.
As a breeder, I personally prefer yellows with warm, biscuit tones, closer to fox red, over almost white coats.
Temperament and appearance. A fox red Labrador has the same temperament and build as a light yellow: affectionate, cooperative, full of energy and an excellent swimmer. Only the intensity of the colour changes. In real life, fox red looks richer and warmer than it does in photos.
Fox Red Labrador Puppies: How the Colour Is Inherited
A fox red is a yellow Labrador. Like all yellows, it has two copies of the recessive “e” gene (ee), which stops black and brown from showing in the coat.
The intensity of the yellow, from cream to fox red, doesn’t depend on the E and B genes but on other genes that regulate the amount of yellow pigment. That’s why:
- two fox red parents almost always produce fox red or dark yellow puppies;
- a fox red and a light yellow often produce puppies of different shades in the same litter;
- a black or chocolate parent carrying yellow (Ee) can produce fox red puppies if the other parent is yellow.
A fox red’s nose is normally black. If the dog also carries brown (bbee), the nose is brown. We carry out coat colour DNA testing on all our breeding dogs, so we know in advance which colours can be born.
What about the “silver” Labrador? The silver Labrador is not recognised by the FCI standard and has nothing to do with fox red. Its colour comes from a dilution gene that wasn’t present in the breed’s historical lines: many experts believe it was introduced through crosses with other breeds, such as the Weimaraner.
Our Fox Red Breeding Dogs: George and Lucy
Highway To Hell by Marina Lab, “George” to us, is our fox red male. He was born on 29 November 2021.
- Colour: fox red yellow (BBee)
- Dysplasia: HD A, ED 0/0 (official scoring)
- DNA tests: clear (N/N) for prcd-PRA, EIC, HNPK, SD2, DM, OSD and CNM, as well as cystinuria, PK, SLC, MCD, Stargardt, XL-MTM and narcolepsy
- Sire: Iron Hill’s Peace of God, by AM GCh Ch Rubywood Saint Soulfully Iron Hill out of Keepsake Jo Jo (American Rubywood and Keepsake lines)
- Dam: Ch. Canny Albamarina, fox red, champion in Montenegro and Kosovo, from the Czech Od Himalajskeho Cedru line
Full pedigree, photos and results on George’s profile.
Our fox red females. Our females include MyLabrador’s Just Dance (Lucy), fox red (BBee), HD B, ED 0/0, clear for all 7 tests. She is by Laughing Ladykiller V.D. Weeward out of our Gaia Red Rose Od Himalájského Cedru: American Keepsake and Czech Od Himalájského Cedru fox red lines.
Our Fox Red Labrador Puppies
Fox red Labrador puppies with ENCI pedigrees, from health-tested parents.
Our fox red Labrador puppies are born to parents with official HD/ED scoring and DNA tests for PRA, EIC, HNPK, SD2, DM, OSD and CNM. They grow up in our home and go to their new families after 90 days of age, with 3 vaccinations, microchip, ENCI pedigree and sales contract.
Our next fox red Labrador litter: Highway To Hell by Marina Lab x Heaven for MyLabrador Albamarina. We’re waiting for Albamarina to come into season: we’ll share the date with families on the waiting list.
How to get a fox red Labrador puppy:
- Message us on WhatsApp or through the form and tell us you’re looking for a fox red.
- Come and visit us at the kennel: a visit is required before reserving.
- Join the waiting list for the fox red litter. The average wait is around 6 months.
You’ll find all the details in how to reserve a puppy and on our puppies and litters page.
Fox Red Labrador FAQ
What’s the difference between a fox red and a red fox Labrador?
None: they are two ways of saying the same thing. It’s the darkest shade of the yellow Labrador.
Is the fox red Labrador purebred?
Yes. Fox red is a shade of yellow included in the FCI standard, which describes yellow as ranging from light cream to red fox. It was already present in the first yellow Labradors.
Is fox red a different colour from yellow?
No. Genetically it’s a yellow Labrador (ee): only the intensity of the pigment changes, and that depends on other genes.
Does a fox red Labrador have a different temperament?
No. Colour doesn’t affect temperament. A well-bred fox red Labrador is as affectionate, balanced and cooperative as any other Labrador.
Is a silver Labrador a fox red?
No. The silver Labrador is not recognised by the FCI standard, and its colour comes from a dilution gene foreign to the breed’s historical lines. Fox red, on the other hand, is an official shade of yellow.
Do you have fox red Labrador puppies?
Yes, we have a fox red litter planned: Highway To Hell by Marina Lab x Heaven for MyLabrador Albamarina. To join the waiting list, get in touch: a kennel visit is required before reserving and the average wait is around 6 months. We’ll tell you the price at first contact.
The other colours: yellow Labrador, black Labrador and chocolate Labrador.
