Apricot poodles are some of the most sought after poodle colors. With their beautiful cheery, warm, sunny coats, it’s no wonder.
They are sometimes confused or mistaken for either red or deep cream poodles. Since owners can specify the color of their poodle on their official paperwork mistakes can happen.
However, in many cases, once the poodle matures it becomes apparent that the puppy isn’t a true apricot at all. As the poodle matures, their color may deepen or lighten. With such a wide range of colors, tones, and variations, this is not a surprise.
There is often quite a bit of variation in color when it comes to apricot poodles. For instance, there may be some tipping on their ruff and or darkening around the ears. Variations such as these are still considered AKC compliance.
A true apricot will have black points. This means that their nose, eye rims, lips, and toenails will be very dark. They will also have very dark eyes. They may also have liver points. This means that they may have a liver-colored nose, eye rims, lips, and dark amber-colored eyes. While this is acceptable it is not the preferred coloration for an apricot. You will find that this is also true for red poodles.
Brief History of Apricot Poodles
Apricot poodles, like red poodles, are one of the more recent poodle colors to be recorded. The first apricot poodle was named Sowden Yellow Gall in 1898. Interestingly enough, the first apricot had liver points. While the color was without a doubt much different than the apricot color that we know today.
With the litter sold to an English kennel, the work continued to producing apricots and reds. This has lead to the apricot poodles that we know and love today.
Initially, only standard poodles were bred. However, with the growing demand for miniature poodles breeders began the journey to producing miniatures with the same beautiful warm sunny color of apricot familiar today. Later, and over many years, other dedicated breeders have worked to produce toy apricot poodles as well.
The first apricot champion poodle was crowned in 1929. During the 1930s some very talented breeders in the United States sought to continue to improve the apricot poodle line and did so by importing some Poodles from England.
The genes from these imported English apricots are responsible for all of the apricot poodles that exist today.