Behind the front feet (specifically, behind the metacarpal/metatarsal pads) of some Labrador Retrievers are white spots or “thumbprints” called “bolo marks.” They’re named after the 
English Dual Champion Banchory Bolo (1915 – 1927), the first dog to earn a dual championship by winning both a bench championship as well as a Field Trial Championship in England. Some of today’s Labradors have them, and most breeder-judges are aware of the marks and ignore them (depending upon their size). As an aside, not only did many of Bolo’s pups carry the mark, but each of Bolo’s litters produced either a Field Champion or a Show Champion. Bolo had a tough start in life which you may find a compelling read.
Bolo mark on paw image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information. Painting of Dual Ch. Banchory Bolo (1922) by Reuben Ward Binks
Yes our Labrador has bolo marks on each front paw. He is the most beautiful Lab and a temperament to go with it.
Such a great breed, Susan – might you have a picture of his bolo marks?
My pup got bolo marks
ours too! BEST DOG EVER!
My miss katy have bolo marks on each front paw 🐾 shes most beautiful girl with her chocolate eyes and dark chocolate coat
Our Lab (Piper of Montrose) has “Bolo” marks behind each of her 4 paws.
I have a choc lab with bolo marks and his mother has them too
If you have a picture, Priscila, we’d love to see your dogs!
It is hard to take the picture cause they don’t stop ?
This one is 5 mo
the black one is the mother
LOL, good try though, Priscila!
My 6year old boy has big Bolo’s on all four paws. A dark chocolate, his coat has a bit of wave and is very thick. He was donated to our family as a service dog- he has been a dream for our family. But I have no idea what lone he comes from.
Marvelous bolos, Pammelah! Thanks for sharing your boy’s paws!
We have just had a litter of AKC pure bred Labradors and one of the pups has white tips on his toes and faint ones on the underside of feet, are these bolo marks? Also one of his pads are pink instead of black what causes this? His linage traces back to Lean Mac which is known for the bolo marks but I can’t find anything saying that can be on the toes also:/ TIA
Amber, we believe they are bolo marks, while the pink pad is a lack of pigmentation due to simple genetics. It’s possible the pad will darken with maturity…let us know? We’re always learning!
Us, too! Just one of our pups has this and on just one foot. It’s on the tips, too. Our pups trace back to the beginning of the breed through Buccleuch Nell I. At this site, it says that this is a genetic throw back to the now extinct St. John’s dog which provided breed stock that eventually became labrador retrievers. They had white tips on all their feet. Here’s the link: http://www.lorkenfarms.com/labrador%20Retriever%20history.htm
How bout a bolo mark on the chest? is that possible?
Mel, the short answer is no. “Bolo marks” refer specifically to white marks found on the Lab’s feet right behind their metacarpal/metatarsal pads. They’re named “Bolo marks” after English Dual Ch. Banchory Bolo because he produced these in his puppies. That said,the Labrador Retriever standard states that a small white spot on the chest is “permissible but not desirable.”
actually di nt Bolo lear teh tuxedo on his progeny. Feet chest and chin?
The original Labradors from Newfoundland had white markings on the chest, feet and chin.
My pup has one white spot on bottom of front paw rest is brown lol
Our pup has two of them, one on his front paw and one on his back paw. We think it’s the cutest thing ever. So cool that this genetic trade has been passed on to so many generations after!
It IS cool, isn’t it, Sam?
Belle Has Bolo pads on her feet, she is getting ready to have her first litter of pups the last part of December 2017. We are so very excited for her. My daughter shows her and she placed as Champion in the Agility class and received a top purple in advanced obedience.
Congratulations, Chastity, we love hearing about this! Let us know if Belle’s puppies also have any bolo marks?
Just had a litter of all black puppies and every one of them had bolos behind each front paw.
Pictures, please, Eli?
I just had a all black litter of 12 and half of them have the bolo mark on the feet
Cutest bolo marks EVER, and certainly the tiniest we’ve seen!
my lab is unique. she has both bolos and grey factor on her each paw
She’s wonderful, deepak! Thanks for sharing her picture!
Hi from NZ. our boy Hamish has Bolo marks on his front paws . we are v proud of him.
Mick, how wonderful! Thank you for sharing a really helpful picture!
My 2 year old black lab has em both on the front paws. Her, 2-week old singleton female puppy has them too. I’m from the Philippines just to give you an idea of the geographic distribution of this trait.
Thanks for writing, Jesu! And wow, the trait really HAS gotten around, hasn’t it?
My 2yr old black lab Rufus has them behind each of his front paws. Devon in UK
My Rosie has a bolo on one of her front paws and the other three are what 8 call her “secret paws” they’re white between the toes and youve got to get in there to see them. She has a few strand of white on her chin which are hard to spot. She’s a black lab from black mum and fox red dad and although she appears black when the light hits her she has a choccy sheen!
Her secret paws? Emily we LOVE this! She has darling feet and we bet the rest of her is just as cute.
I have just had a litter with my fox red girl and a black sire. She produces 4 dark yellow/fox and 3 black. One of the black girls has the chocolatey sheen to her coat and little whit hairs in her pads.
We bet they’re adorable, Nicola!
Jasper as a puppy, showing off his bolo marks. He’s now an AKC champion.
Congratulations, Susan, on Jasper’s title. He had wonderful bolo puppy feet!!
Front and back paws on my FRL puppy 😍
Love it, Steph! Thanks for sharing your dog’s bolos!
Thank you for this interesting information. Our 13 week old black lab pup has two bolos, one on each front paw. We love her dots!
Thank YOU for writing, Don! “Dots” is a wonderful way of looking at bolo marks. Perhaps it’s nature’s way of telling us where to give foot massages?
Bailey has them.
Our chocolate Tucker has them on all four paws.
Isn’t that something, Chas? Thanks for sharing Tucker’s photo with us, he’s a looker!
I have an akc lab she has the bolo marks she just had a litter of eight pups and all of her pups have the bolo marks as well
How special is that, Courtney (to say nothing of adorable)? Bolo marks live on!!
Yes my lovely Lexi has them. She also has the most wonderful temperament
Berries bolo marks, he has them on all 4 feet
And he wears them well!!
My Daisy has white in between her toes on her fronts. Are these related to Bolo spots? She is not 100% Lab…but she is precious!!
Could be, Sandy, the bolo spots seem to be a prepotent gene in the breed
My 4 month old Charcoal Lab has a bolo paw (1) front paw….She is super smart and currently is in training. Molly
Can dogs have brown bolo spots? My black has a brown pad and hair on his hind foot.
Not being Lab experts, we shouldn’t venture a guess – but someone well versed in genetics might have the answer!
Now these are bolo spots.
Wow, they sure are!!
My red lab has them in her front paws. We call them reflectors! Lol!
Reflectors, that’s really cute, Teri!
I have a 10 week old AKC choc and she white behind all 4 paws. Is this bolo too?
Looks like it to us, Wendy!
Back paws are white too
Two out of ten have bolo marking. One has it on his chin also.
Darling!!!
Leja has under each front paw ♥️
Are these bolo marks
She is 3 weeks old both parents purebreds! We are trying to decide on keeping our 4th lab to also share the bed with us lol or if we should just go ahead and find good homes for the whole litter? Had not ever heard of bolo marks until now due to not ever seeing any sporting!?!?
Both of her back feet have those markings on the toes and underneath…
Our 3 year old Black Lab “Ranger” 90 pounds of fun!
LOL, those are epic bolos, Bill!
Would this be considered bolo? She has them in front and behind each pad and they are long.
As we are not Lab experts, we toss the question to our readers. What say you all?
We have litter now with multiple bolo pawed puppies 209 612 5028
Mazel Tov, Dan. Pictures?
Our Callie has Bolo markings. She is. 3 year old chocolate lab. Her sister, a black lab, does not have the markings
Wendi, Callie has spectacular Bobo marks! Thanks for sharing her photo with us.
My dog Ash (solid black) is out of stonewalls in South Georgia, and my new female (solid black) from upstate South Carolina just threw a litter and 3 out of 6 has white marks. Other 3 are all black. So 2 of them have white spots on both front feet on heel, 3rd one has spot on its chest as well his heels. Was curious if this makes my litter worth more or what exactly BOLO means in my litter. New to this seeing the puppies made me do some research. Ash is a excellent dog all round! This is the reason I was breeding in the first place he is 11 and I want another JUST like him.
Our 10 week old chocolate June Carter has them on both front paws. Also has 2 white tipped toes on back left paw.
Puppy paws, so soft and sweet!! Thanks for sharing June Carter’s paw picture, Jenny!
My pupp has white dots between the pads. Are these bolo markings?
Could be, Crystal!
Mój szczeniaczek czekoladowy też ma takie znaki.
Your puppy’s bolos are distinctive, Agnieszka! Thank you for sharing his or her photo!
We just adopted 1 year old Maggie from a rescue organization. We love her 4 white spots and now even more that we know they are bolo marks!
Our black lab has them on both front paws.
They’re classic bolos!!
3 year old kahlua
Wow, Tom, those are good ones!
My 8 week old pup Lucifer has bolo spots on both front paws, I’d never heard of these spots before this week! The spot on the right paw (unseen in photo) is smaller than the one on the left paw. Pup so far seems to very placid
Now with photo added!
Very nice, and classic bolo mark, Sarah!
My boy has them! At first I thought it was a defect but I really love them now.
No defect – they’re “love spots!”
I have a lab puppy named Winnie and she has bolo marks on three paws. She is incredibly smart and calm. Amazing temperament.
Ross is our handsome 2 year old lab with a bolo mark on back of each front paw..
Our Bailey girl has Bo’s on both front paws. She is almost 10. A lovable cuddly baby.
Our rescue puppy, Sammy, has them