Choc Lab - Eye Color Questions

[Leonard Wapner]

Hello:

Sometime this year we may be purchasing a choc lab and we have questions
about eye color. We prefer brown, but I understand they can be hazel,
green, amber ...

Which is most common, which is preferred, etc?

Thanks - Len

[Amy Dahl]

I think the standard says brown is preferred but I've yet to
see a chocolate with brown eyes. Usually they are yellow, from
pale straw yellow to amber. I've also trained a couple with
greenish blue eyes.

In many breeds the bb color combination gives yellow eyes.* I'm
curious on what the authors of the US breed standard based their
expectation of brown eyes. Any historians want to clue me in?

I don't know what they mean by "hazel." I've never seen a Lab
of any color with the mottled brown/green mix seen in people.

*to name a few
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Boykin spaniel
Curly-Coated Retriever
German Shorthaired (&Wirehaired) Pointer
rednose Pit Bull
Springer spaniel
Irish Water Spaniel

[KS]

In article <S9NR8.1009$Rf.3...@news1.news.adelphia.net>,
LWa...@adelphia.net says...

Len, this is from the AKC website:
Eyes--Kind, friendly eyes imparting good temperament, intelligence and
alertness are a hallmark of the breed. They should be of medium size, set
well apart, and neither protruding nor deep set. Eye color should be
brown in black and yellow Labradors, and brown or hazel in chocolates.
Black, or yellow eyes give a harsh expression and are undesirable. Small
eyes, set close together or round prominent eyes are not typical of the
breed. Eye rims are black in black and yellow Labradors; and brown in
chocolates. Eye rims without pigmentation is a disqualification.
-------
Hope this helps

[Kim Beverly]

"Amy Dahl" wrote in message : In many breeds the bb color combination gives

yellow eyes.* I'm
> curious on what the authors of the US breed standard based their
> expectation of brown eyes. Any historians want to clue me in?"

The British standard :)). In many breeds, eye colour should be matching the
coat. I myself don't like a very dark 'coal' coloured eye nor do I want a
burnt sugar eye in my dogs, those being black. Likely giving the breeders a
little bit of artistic intereptation has resulted in the various shades of
'brown' we see. Remember, the expression on a Lab should be intelligent yet
soft...and you are going to get that with a very light eye...that gives you
a rather intense expression...and a very dark eye gives almost an
'expressionless' expression. I like to see a 'sparkle' there myself :)).
Cheers

--
Kim, Pirate Labradors
Sutton ON Canada