Hi, i think i remember reading something on this forum (unless im going bonkers) that if you were to have a black or brown pup it was best to have come from a litter of mixed colours,yellow included and not from a black or brown only.
I think ive got it mixed up somewhere can you put me right...please?

you wouldnt want a choc pup from a yellow as the colour,and pigment are wrong also the eye colour best to have chocs from black to black carrying Choc or black to choc.Yellow to yellow will only produce yellow puppies.Black can be dominant or carry three colours.

John, John, where for art thou John?

Sorry should have said the only problem would be choc from yellow,you often get black from mixed coloured parents and thats ok.If you want to email me Ill advise you further or give you JOHNS contact details

Mattie, it wasn't a slight on you. I know John lurks and when there is a lab. question I always think of him. Just wanted him to know I still think of him. :)

I know he looks in from time to time, Quinn. **winking** I too think of him whenever there are lab, retriever training, eye or hip questions. Gosh, he is truly missed.

Quinn no problem didnt think anything at all just that I may have confused the enquirer. and I think Johns email details may be still here and Im sure he doesnt mind people contacting him,I also find John a mine of information, bit zany at times but useful LOL

thanks to everyone who replied,i think i understand now..black is ok from yellow and black parents but choc most come from choc only?.I dont really know much about labs (our friends are after one not us) but could just remember something about the colour.
Just one more question before i go,how soon would it be best to put a dog or pup in to kennels and would it affect the pup/dog.Weve wanted a dog for years but have put it off because we live 250 miles away from family (dog unfriendly) and we go down for a few days at least 5 times a year.Ive looked into a few hotels but cant seem to find one thats pet friendly.We`d really love a dog but it feels like having another baby.
thanks Crissy

Welcome to the forum Crissy :-) Leigh

Chrissey, Choc can come from choc or black its just from yellow you really dont want them sorry maybe didnt make that clear. Must be old age creeping on

Hi, to be a good colour there should be no yellow in the pedigree for at least 3 and perferably 4 or more generations. If you mate choc to choc for several generations the chocolate colour and pigment (colour of nose and eye rims) will deteriorate and you should mate back to black (preferably with one chocolate parent, if you want most of the litter to be chocolate) to retain good coat and pigment colour. A lot of chocs seem to have a poor coat texture - too silky and short and without the correct undercoat and harder top coat. I'm sad to see John didn't answer this, hope I've done ok John?

Hi, Travel Lodge will allow you to stay with dogs. I would think it would be OK to leave a 5/6 month puppy for a day or two in kennels. Its probably better to acustom them to it before they are adult when it would be more upsetting for them. If you put him in kennels near where you are staying, rather than near your home, you could maybe visit each day and take him for walkies. Also I'd check with your vet or homeopath about protection from Kennel Cough, which can be caught in kennels.