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The Many Colors of Poodles

All solid colors are permitted in the conformation ring, as specified, in the ANKC standards, that poodles are judged by.

Black

Blacks must have black points (lips, pads, nose, and eyelids and their skin looks dark grey) and dark brown eyes.

White

True white is born white, with black points. Most whites we have today are actually faded creams

Silver

Taz Bibelot Standards

Silvers are born black and clear over time. There are varing shades of silver; from a sparkling platinum that is almost white to a beautiful pewter color. Silvers must have black points and dark brown eyes.

Brown

Australian Champion Lefay On The Catwalk

Browns must have liver points and dark amber eyes.

Blue

Is a dilute of black. Blues take the longest time to clear. Blue should have black points and dark brown eyes.

Cream

Red

Apricot

Is a dilute of red, blk points preferred

Silver Beige/Cafe O Lait

Are born brown. They must have liver points and dark amber eyes.

The colors below are not allowed in the conformation show ring but can crop up in litters from time to time. With DNA testing you have the knowledge to produce the color you want.

Other Colors Poodles may Exhibit

Parti color

Vulcan Champagne Polka Dot

Polka was whelped June 21, 1953 and was owned by Ann Coppage of Vulcan Kennels.

At least fifty percent white, with spots or patches of any other solid color.

SABLE

Colors change as the pup develops. This is the adult of the pup above.

A coat represented by black-tipped hairs on a background of any solid color, with no particular pattern/location designated for such hairs.

Phantom

Phantom coloring is a dog that has one main color, and then has 'tips' of another color. If you can picture the coloring of a Rottweiler, Dachshund or a Doberman, this is the same color scheme. Phantom can occur with any color, A Silver Phantom with White points, A Chocolate phantom with Cream points, A black phantom with tan points

Phantom is an simple recessive - however it only affects some colors (Brown, Black and their dilutes such as silver and blue) But does not affect apricot, red, cream or white.

Brindle

Brindle is simply stripped. Color and thickness of the strips varies with each dog. Brindle typically appears as black stripes on a 'red' base. The stripes are eumelanin and the base is phaeomelanin, so the appearance of those pigments can be changed by any of the genes which usually affect them. - Eumelanin (the pigment making up the stripes) can be affected by: merle (and harlequin), liver, dilution, greying, and recessive red. - Phaeomelanin (the pigment making up the base) can be affected by: Intensity locus. White markings and ticking can occur on any brindle dog

Tuxedo

Tuxedo is also a specific parti poodle marking. It is white from the throat all the way down the neck on the chest abdomen and up the underside of the tail. Tuxedo poodles can come an any color.

Merle

Merle coloing does not exist in pure bred poodles. The Merle gene can NOT be carried, it is a semi dominate gene Not a recessive. It is not a natural pattern in poodles.The Merle gene had to be introduced into the poodle via another breed of dog, most likely is the Australian Shepherd.

Therefore a purebred poodle cannot exhibit this color. It has to be a mixed breed.

Merle dilution gene affects eumelanin. That means that any black, brown, blue, silver, cafe in the coat will be merled, whether it's the whole of the body, a mask on a sable, shading, brindle stripes, or even a saddle. Phaeomelanin (red, apricot, cream) is not affected at all and will appear as normal.The lightening only affects the black, brown or black & brown diluted colors (silver, blue) pigment in the coat. This gene does NOT affect cream, apricot, red.

These are images taken from the internet. If you would like the image removed from this site or a link back to your poodle please send me your information. With many thanks, PCSA