How common is it for a black lab to have a white spot on the chest and white on the toes?

Pretty common, well maybe 10% of dogs have white spots.

of Labradors

If he or she is a puppy, he or she could grow out of it.

thanks!

good question. too add to it, is this a sign of not full blood? my buddy just got a black lab pup with a white patch on his chest. what causes this? thanks

No, that doesn't mean they aren't full blood. The AKC standard says, "Color
The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling. Black--Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow--Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate--Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification."

The white spot on the Lab chest was actually very common in the breed, but thought undesirable in the U.S. and was to a large degree, bred out (as was fox red until the '80's and since then has been on the rise.) White spot on the chest is still considered a fault, but not a DQ for show dogs. Elsewhere on the body, it's a DQ... but again, that is for show dogs and is not a reflection of whether or not the dog is purebred.

also, alot of lab. puppies have a white spot at birth and goes away in a few days. But even if it doesnt go away it doesnt affect their personality or their hunting skills.

thanks for clearing that up guys.