Breed Information

English Cream Labrador Retriever

August 11, 2022

The English Cream Labrador is a very light coated yellow Lab. The English part of their name refers to their show bred ancestry, and the cream notes their pale color. They have a stocky build, broad head and straight otter tail. They can be excitable as puppies, but tend to calm down a little into adulthood. These friendly, confident dogs make great pets for active homes that enjoy modern dog training. Today we’ll share where this cool color came from, how it’s bred, and help you to find your very own English Cream Lab puppy.

What are English Cream Labradors?
Is English Cream a standard Labrador coat color?
English Cream Labrador genetics
Breeding English Cream Lab puppies
Are English Cream Labradors rare?
Where to adopt an English Cream Labrador

Prepare to meet the truly breathtaking English Cream Labrador, a dog who turns heads not just for their sunny personality but for their gleaming coat as well. In fact, the first time you see an English Cream Lab, you might even assume this dog is not a Lab at all!

What is an English Cream Labrador?

The English Cream Labrador dog is first and foremost an English Labrador Retriever. This is an important distinction to make as there are some notable differences between the English Labrador Retriever and the American Labrador Retriever in both conformation (appearance) and temperament.

However, one area where the English Labrador and American Labrador are in sync is in coat color. The three main Labrador Retriever colors for both English and American breed lines are yellow, black and brown.

And while it may not appear so upon first glance, the English Cream Labrador coat color is actually a lighter variant of the yellow coat color. The English Cream coat color appearance can range from a very light ivory all the way to a creamy light yellow.

Are English Cream Labs Purebred Dogs?

The only three Labrador Retriever coat colors recognized by the two main governing dog breed associations are yellow, black and brown. Any other Labrador coat colors are considered non-standard and may disqualify a dog from competing in conformation-based official AKC and UKC breed competitions.

However, Labrador breeders and owners do have a bit of wiggle room here. The UKC specifies that the yellow coat color may vary from pale cream to red. The AKC specifies that the yellow coat color may vary from light cream to fox red.

If you have your heart set on competing in either association’s breed shows, be sure to do your genetic research in advance so you can feel confident your English Cream Labrador pup will be permitted to compete.

English Cream Labrador Coat Color Genetics

It probably won’t surprise you to learn dog coat color genetics can get quite complicated quickly. This is because there are several genes that can influence what coat color a Labrador Retriever puppy grows up to display.

This is true even though there are only two different color pigments that create the entire variety of dog coat colors. These are eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Eumelanin is a black pigment. Phaeomelanin is a red pigment.

The many shades of the yellow Labrador coat color are produced when different genes interact with the red phaeomelanin pigment. You might wonder how a red pigment could turn out cream colored, which is a great question that it took canine geneticists a long time to answer!

The default color for phaeomelanin without any additional genetic influence is actually yellow or gold. Some genes can make this default color darker or more intense. Other genes will cause the color to become lighter or paler.

Breeding English Cream Labrador Puppies

Interestingly, canine geneticists have now identified a specific gene sequence that may produce the lighter cream yellow coat color more consistently. English Cream Labrador breeders can use this type of information to breed selectively for a more desirable coat color.

However, even when a breeder is very familiar with the genetics of their personal breeding dogs, some coat color differences are to be expected. For example, some Labrador puppies may grow up to have slightly darker English Cream coats while other puppies may grow up to have lighter or even white-appearing coats.

Other factors can also influence an adult English Cream Labrador’s coat color, including age, gender, health, diet, exercise and life stage.

Is the English Cream Labrador Retriever a Rare Breed?

The English cream Labrador coat color is eye-catching and perhaps less customary in the world of Labrador Retriever breeding. But this doesn’t change the fact that the dog wearing a cream colored coat is still a Labrador Retriever.

Why is this important to remember? Because not only is the Labrador Retriever dog not rare, but the Lab is the world’s most popular dog breed! In America, the Lab has topped this list for more than three decades. In the United Kingdom, the Lab regularly hits the second or third most popular spot.

Be wary of any breeder who markets their English Cream Labrador puppies as rare and uses this as a reason to inflate the price you pay. Always focus your search on reputable Labrador breeders who put puppy health first.

Buying an English Cream Labrador Puppy

Just like other trends, different dog coat colors go in and out of fashion. Longtime Labrador Retriever carers also often develop their own preferences based on experiences with past pet Labradors or with previous working Labrador dogs.

The English Cream Labrador coat color is quite popular right now. You might have a wait to find your perfect puppy.

Be sure you select a breeder with a proven track record for producing healthy English Cream Labrador puppies. Ask to review pre-screening health test results for both parent dogs. Also verify that your breeder will give you a record of all vaccinations and an initial health guarantee.

This will give you the best chance of making a commitment to a healthy, happy English Cream Lab puppy.