Red Fox Labs are generally not controversial, however, some people don’t believe they are purebred Labradors. So, if you’re considering becoming a parent to this dog, what should you expect? Can a Red Fox Lab make good family pet?
A Red Fox Lab is merely a shade of yellow found in Labrador Retrievers; it is not a distinct breed. They have crimson hues all over their darker-than-average yellow Labrador coats.
A Red Fox Labrador will outperform your expectations whether you’re seeking a canine companion with a kind disposition or one with a lot of curiosity and a confident demeanor.
Before scrolling down this list of interesting facts about the Red Fox Lab, check out: Do Labs Have Webbed Feet? (2023) and 5 Best Labrador Breeders in Colorado! (2023).
Pros and Cons of Adopting Red Fox Lab
Here are some of the pros and cons of bringing home a Red Fox Lab:
Pros
1. Colorful and Unusual Coat
The color of a Red Fox Lab’s coat is one of its distinctive qualities. Apart from their coat color, they are identical to other ordinary Labs. Their coats usually have a darker shade of yellow, which is unusual and extremely beautiful!
2. Trainability
According to a ranking of the world’s smartest dogs, Labrador Retrievers come in at number seven. When planning for the arrival of your new Red Fox Lab, keep in mind that he will spend much of his time investigating household rules and routines.
3. Socialization Capacity
Red Fox Labrador Retrievers excel at socialization in addition to their intelligence. They integrate well into many different family systems. There is enough affection to go around — they are friendly with kids, adults, livestock, and other pets.
These dogs are adept at building strong bonds with their cranky and razor-tipped cousins, cats.
4. Emotional Control
Labrador Retrievers are known for being quite stable, which is another one of their great qualities. In general, they are kind and joyful. They are incredibly sensitive and don’t hesitate to develop a close emotional bond with their owners.
5. Outstanding Therapy Dogs
Many people find that Labrador Retrievers are the best fit for service or therapy jobs. They are ideal candidates for pet-assisted therapy because of their emotional stability, friendliness, and desire to please their owners. They make excellent service dogs for people with disabilities due to their exceptional intelligence.
6. Health
Labrador Retrievers have better overall health than most purebred dogs. They were developed for a tough and practical line of work for a considerable amount of time; therefore, they have avoided serious health problems brought on by conformation.
Cons
1. Boredom
If not adequately stimulated, a Red Fox Lab with an outgoing attitude and high intelligence can quickly become bored. Dog shelters frequently house a large number of Labradors between the ages of one and three due to a variety of behavioral problems, most of which stem from a lack of adequate stimulation.
2. Shedding
The double coat of a Red Fox Lab keeps him warm in every environment, but it sheds somewhat more frequently than other breeds.
Despite the fact that these dogs regularly shed, the more significant shedding occurs twice a year, in the fall and spring. It’s much worse when their more noticeable yellow and red fur gets all over the place as they fluff their coats out or shed.
3. Body Odor
Many dog breeds can emit an unpleasant stench if they are not frequently bathed, but Red Fox Labs may be the worst of all. This is because, in order to keep their coats drying out rapidly, they create more oil than other breeds. This has the drawback of producing body odor. Regular baths are the answer.
4. Discrimination
A Red Fox Lab can be presented in the conformation ring in addition to other obedience and performance events because, technically speaking, they are yellow Labs. Nonetheless, judges tend to give them lower ratings than their more conventional and lighter-colored Labrador counterparts. Hence, they have no real chance of succeeding.
5. More Vocal
The fox-colored Labrador Retriever stands out from other Labs in that it is more vocal. Dog specialists attribute this to their limited gene pool and suggest that a once-vocal ancestor may have passed on the characteristic.
Interesting Facts About Red Fox Lab
Here are some interesting facts about this unique dog:
1. Height, Weight, and Other Characteristics of the Red Fox Lab
- Weight range: 55 to 80 pounds
- Size: Male Red Fox Labs are 22 to 24 inches; females are 21 to 23 inches (females)
- Tail: Small, flat, otter-like tail (acts like a rudder and aids in turning and propelling them through water).
- Feet: Webbed feet that help them swim better.
- Distinguishable characteristics besides coat color: Drop ears, a broad head, a strong neck, a stocky physique, and big (and round) emotive eyes.
- Expected lifespan: 10 to 14 years.
2. Fox Red Lab, Red Fox Lab, or Foxred Lab?
The name can be spelled any way you see fit because fox red is not the “official” color for Labrador Retrievers. To put it another way, there are no rules or standards on how the name must be spelled.
What matters most is this Lab’s stunning coat color! Because it precisely complements the coat color, Red Fox Lab is a term that we (and the majority of other owners of this Labrador) commonly use.
Last but not least, it is important to note that some people frequently assume these dogs are hybrids or mixes of foxes, likely due to the name. That is not the situation, though. The name’s fox component is only used to indicate color. All of these dogs are Labs through and through.
3. History of the Red Fox Labrador: Where Did They Come From?
Most researchers agree that the first Labrador Retrievers were raised on the island of Newfoundland off the coast of Canada. They were initially developed to assist fishermen in retrieving fish, nets, and ropes. Moreover, they served families as companions and guard animals.
The breed has always had the capacity to produce dogs with any of the known coat colors of the Labrador Retriever, including black, yellow, chocolate, red, and any other color in between.
Nonetheless, there was a time when people loved black Labrador Retrievers more than other colors. As a consequence, other colored Labs, like Red Fox Labs, were eliminated from the breeding program. Lighter yellow Labradors gained popularity as the years went on, but red or darker colors lost favor.
There is a group of folks who continue to adore the deeper and Red Fox Labradors, though. Those in the working gun community tended to prefer this coat color because it made them less visible to passing wildfowl than the more common pale yellow coat.
Red Fox Laboratories became once again desirable as a result of the gun community’s newfound love for them. In order to meet the desires of this segment of the community, many breeders started breeding selectively in an effort to produce litters of fox reds.
4. Red Fox Lab Temperament
The majority of would-be Red Fox Labrador owners have a tendency to believe the temperament of their dog is unique compared to other Labs. Contrary to popular belief, Red Fox Labradors have the same temperamental traits as other Labs, including their yellow, black, and chocolate counterparts.
Your Red Fox Labrador Retriever will be sweet-natured, friendly, sympathetic, and show little to no nervousness around people, even total strangers, assuming he is socialized early, well-cared-for, and introduced to favorable experiences.
If properly trained, these dogs get along well with people, other dogs, and animals. A few Red Fox Labrador Retrievers may exhibit a strong instinctual prey drive and chase other household pets, but with the right training in puppyhood, the tendency can be stopped. In spite of their gregarious nature, red Labs are protective of their families and homes.
5. Puppies’ Colors
Puppies of Red Fox Labs typically appear substantially darker when they are born. After a few weeks, they will significantly lighten. The coat color then changes over a period of months. It will become noticeably darker, for one thing. So how can you predict what color your Red Fox Lab puppy will be as an adult?
The majority of dog experts advise examining your puppy’s ears because they frequently bear the closest similarity to the ultimate coat color. Labs often achieve their full height by month nine, and they are fully mature when they are a year old. Therefore, when they are two to three years old, expect their coat colors to stay the same.
6. Red Fox Lab Price
The price range for a Labrador Retriever puppy from a competent breeder should be between $900 and $1,000, if not more. But given the rarity of the red fox coloring, expect to spend significantly more — at least $1,200. The simple law of supply and demand is in effect in this situation.
However, it is worth noting that once a breed’s color becomes a selling point, all the other crucial factors to be considered while breeding — such as good bloodlines and health — tend to be overlooked. Demand will be driven by color, and breeders will use it as a simple means of making quick money.
So, you should be on the lookout for breeders who frequently demand disproportionately higher prices for their Red Fox Lab puppies. Most likely, they are skimping on health and other crucial areas. If anything, a trustworthy breeder will be critical of hasty pricing changes for puppies based on coat color.
7. Red Fox Lab — Purebred or Not?
Some dog lovers aren’t convinced that Red Fox Labradors are 100% pure Labradors because of their unusual coat color. This is especially the case when contrasted to other classic lab colors such as black, chocolate, and light yellow tones.
Some people go so far as to say that these Labs are being bred unethically in order to exploit the unique colors. So, are Red Fox Labs purebred dogs? In a nutshell, yes — they are genuine examples of the Labrador Retriever breed, and their lineage can be traced all the way back to when the breed was first developed.
These dogs are considered purebred by the American Kennel Club and other major kennel associations across the world, with their coloration only being a stylistic variation on the classic yellow Labrador.
8. Red Fox Labradors with a Darker Coat
You’ve probably noticed that not all Red Fox Labs have an identical appearance; some have fox red tints that are substantially lighter, while others are considerably darker. Does one differ from the other?
No, they are all considered Red Fox Labradors. The variance in shade is only a reflection of pheomelanin, a pigment that is frequently found in the skin. Hence, if you own a dark Red Fox Lab, just know that it is still a Red Fox Lab despite having a darker shade of coat color.
9. Are Red Labs Uncommon?
Naturally, Red Fox Labs are less well-known than other conventionally colored Labs. Because of the intricate nature of the inheritance mechanism, the majority of breeders do not place a high priority on creating foxtail Labradors, and breeding red Labrador puppies is not a straightforward process either.
As a result, Red Fox Labradors are often a rare breed in the Labrador Retriever market.
Advice for Caring for a Red Fox Lab
Here is a list of things to help you provide your Red Fox Lab with the best care possible:
Frequent Brushing
Brushing your Labrador’s coat on a weekly basis can assist his natural oils to be distributed more evenly. Also, it keeps the coat in good condition so that it can provide protection in cold weather.
Grooming
Your Red Fox Lab has to be groomed, just like other dogs. If he goes around with his nails making a clicking sound, you need to clip them. Moreover, give him a dog shampoo bath on a regular basis to keep his coat looking attractive and new.
Install a dog shower attachment if your dog is huge to make cleaning them simpler. In addition to bathing, make sure to brush your dog’s teeth every day with toothpaste designed for dogs. This will prevent dental problems.
Ear Care
Red Fox Labs are susceptible to ear infections due to their large, floppy ears. Their ears serve as breeding grounds for bacteria when dirt and water become trapped there, leading to uncomfortable illnesses.
You should make it a habit to inspect the ears of your dog for any buildup of dirt or wax and to clean them on a regular basis in order to help prevent ear infections.
Swimming
Take your dog swimming; they will enjoy it just as much as you will. Labradors love to swim. Never miss a chance to take him swimming whenever it presents itself. Consider rewarding him by allowing her to dive into the lake or pool after a productive training session.
Get a Leash
Red Fox Labs should always be walked in public on a six-foot leash. To make it comfortable for you and your dog, choose one made of rope, nylon, or chain.
Invest in a Dog Collar
A collar keeps your dog’s identification tags in place and aids in effective training. Choke collars, conventional collars, and hybrid collars are among the collars available on the market that are worth your money. Pick one that is suitable for your dog’s needs.
Stimulation
Provide a lot of excitement and enjoyment if you want a Labrador that is healthy, stable, and affectionate. The best way to keep your dog active is to take it on walks, jogs, and park trips with you, where you can both play fetch and use their puzzle toys.
Plenty of food
Labradors enjoy eating. The fact that Labradors lack the POMC genes, which alert dogs to fullness, means that they are frequently hungry, as evidenced by research.
As a result, make sure to provide them with approximately three cups of food per day, or enough food to meet their nutritional needs. Make sure your working red Labrador has food high in protein to offer him more energy.
Check Your Dog for Typical Labrador Conditions
Make sure your Red Fox Lab is tested for some of the most prevalent health issues that affect Labradors such as hip and elbow dysplasia, muscular dystrophy, idiopathic epilepsy, exercise-induced collapse (which can result in a loss of muscle control), and progressive retinal atrophy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compared to black and yellow Labrador Retrievers, Red Fox Labs are rare.
Red Fox Labs are energetic, clever, and social dogs, just like their yellow-colored counterparts.
Red Fox Labrador Retrievers are high-shedding dogs, so you’ll need to plan for regular grooming.
Conclusion for “Interesting Facts About the Red Fox Lab”
As you can see, a Red Fox Lab is merely a variant of the hues found in the yellow Labrador Retriever, but it is one that is magnificent and incredibly appealing to Labrador fans.
They have good personalities and are sympathetic, gentle, devoted, fun-loving, and intelligent. Because they get along with everyone in the family, they are also excellent family dogs. Therefore, if you decide to bring this sweet breed home, you won’t regret it.
Don’t forget to return the favor when they show you affection and sprinkle you with their wisdom. Feed them well, discipline them, walk and exercise with them, and find novel ways to connect. That way, you’ll enjoy all the advantages of having a Red Fox Lab.
If you find this guide, “Interesting Facts About the Red Fox Lab,” helpful, check out:
- 7 Best American Labrador Retriever Breeders in the USA! (2023)
- 9 Best English Labrador Breeders in the US! (2023)
- Best E-Collar for a Labrador! (2023)
Learn more about the Red Fox Lab by watching “🐕Top 10 Best Things About Red Fox Labrador Puppies 🐾” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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