ElKens Labradors

Fox Red is merely a shade of yellow rather than a distinct Labrador color. Fox red, or dark yellow, was the original Labrador Retriever's color in the early years of the breed's development. Before the British Kennel Club arrived to register them, the original yellows were actually known as Golden. They turned yellow since they claimed that "gold" wasn't a color. Ben of Hyde, the first yellow Labrador ever registered, was born in 1899 and was sired by Major Radclyffe's "Neptune" from Lord Wimborne's "Duchess"—both black dogs. This unique shade is easily recognized. These early Labradors were either butterscotch with a hint of red or dark golden. Until and even to some point after World War 11, dark yellow was the norm.

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People have forgotten the original source of the hue as the lighter Labradors have grown in popularity over time. Even now, it seems that a softer golden hue is preferable. These days, some "so called breeders" are marketing White Labradors, even though our breed doesn't produce any of them. The maxim "the lighter the better" is what they are pursuing. The darkest shade of yellow in the Labrador standard had virtually vanished due to lack of interest and appeal.

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Dark yellow Labradors had long piqued the curiosity of two UK breeders, John and Glenda Crook of Balrion and Mac Bedford of Wynfaul Labradors. The foxred was brought back to life as a result of this desire. Ch Balrion King Frost, one of the most well-known Labradors ever, belonged to the Crook family. He appeared to consistently generate very dark yellows in his litters. One of his granddaughters gave birth to the renowned Ch Wynfaul Tabasco, who is credited with founding the contemporary fox red Labrador breed. He was not just a gorgeous red dog but also had superb conformation. He went on to become the UK's sole contemporary fox red show champion. Note that Tabasco is descended from, if you go far enough back, is descended from the last Dual Champion in Great Britain, Knaith Benjo.

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The following phase involved breeding Wynfaul Tabasco to Lady Bountiful of Balrion, a very dark yellow girl who was the daughter of Show Ch Balrion Kings Ransom, a son of King Frost, and once more involved Ch Balrion King Frost. The fact that the offspring was all foxred confirmed Crook's theory—that foxred to foxred will yield all foxred. One red boy puppy from this litter, named Balrion Red Alert, was sold to Sally Kelley of Kelleygreen Labradors in the United States. In an effort to revive the hue, two breeders, Kelleygreen and Keepsake Labradors, via Sally Kelley's large red import, Red Alert, have made significant strides in recent years. Today, almost all foxred pedigrees can be found with a little research will show this dog in the pedigree multiple times.

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Sally subsequently bought Hennings Mill Kelleygreen Henna, a fox red girl who returned to King Frost via her father, Ch Scartho Frost, from Dot Galvin of Hennings Mill Labradors. She was bred by Sally to Red Alert, producing an all-foxred litter. Kelleygreen Kardinal, another outstanding youngster, emerged from the litter. Kardinal can be traced back one to three generations in the pedigree of many of today's fox red Labradors.

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The fox red Scrimshaw Placido Flamingo was another dog, though he wasn't very well-known, that influenced Kelleygreen and Keepsake's red bitch lines. Barbara Barfield of Scrimshaw Labradors bred Tenor, who was the grandson of the renowned Ch Lindall Mastercraft and the sire of Ch Scrimshaw Duckless Fairbanks. Tenor's mother was a dark yellow, but she also carried the red shade from both sides of her family tree: his grandpa, English Field Champion Venture of Brattonsplash, and his mother. Tenor's progeny inherited the fox red "C" allele. They produced Keepsake's I Love Lucy, dam of the only AKC fox red champion, Keepsake's Cajun, when they bred to Kelleygreen's Lady in Red. Not only did he give his shade to his descendants but also his wonderful laid back temperament. This big red dog was everything a Labrador should be, a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

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Thus, one may contend that Ch Balrion King Frost has had the greatest impact on the reshaping of the fox red tone throughout its history, spanning from Ben of Hyde to the present. From Wynfaul Tobasco to Kelleygreen's Kardinal, King Frost undoubtedly had a significant impact on the lineage at every turn.