I think you are right; but what’s great about it is they said it couldn’t be done. Until my breeder came along; it couldn’t; but she knows genetics really well. It took them 30 years. Even the breed founder has never done it. LOL
I never knew that about the blues and lilacs having had one of each. My lilac had the bluest eyes you have seen. They were just like the blues of the ocean. You learn something everyday.
I love it about the labs. My handler/trainer breeds blood hounds originating with a line going back to his grandfather. The grandfather’s dog had a star I believe on his hip and ever since then if you breed with that line; you are going to get a pup with a star on it’s hip.
Some breeders don't pay much attention to the details of genetics - some, like me, take some interest in the topic - and some folks, like your breeder, REALLY take it seriously, for 30 years.
Those are the folks who do what 'couldn't be done'. Congratulations to her.
It's hard to get a really good eye color in the Lilacs, so you had a really good kitty!
Talking about the star on the bloodhounds' hip, an interesting mark in Chocolate Labs is what they call "Bolo Spots" or "Bolo Pads". One of the main Chocolate foundation sires (who appears in almost all American field type Chocolate pedigrees) was a black English dog named Dual CH (dual = field & conformation) Banchory Bolo, whelped in 1915.
Not only did he throw the chocolate color, he also threw these funny little white spots on the bottom of the feet, in the hair behind the main paw pad.
My Shelley dog is descended via her grandsire NFC/AFC Storm's Riptide Star from Banchory Bolo. Sure enough, she has the white spots on her paws!