Truth be told, the solid colored poodle is the most common type of poodle. However, you may be surprised to know that there are many variables when it comes to coat color and markings. Some of these colors and markings that we will discuss are AKC recognized, while others are either only partially allowed or not allowed at all.
Today we’re going to discuss the following poodle colors:
- Parti Poodles
- Mismarks
- Tuxedo poodles
- Ticking
What is a parti poodle?
Parti Poodles are sometimes confused with phantom poodles. Here we will discuss what a parti poodle is in detail. By the end of this post it you should be able to tell the difference.
A parti poodle is a poodle that has a white base coat that covers more than 50% of their coat and a secondary color. The secondary color may fall anywhere on the dog’s coat.
This is one of the most appealing things about parti poodles. The fact that these spots can occur anywhere on the poodles’ coat means that no two poodles will ever look alike. in a way, it’s also very exciting to have litters of parti poodles because you never know what they will look like. This is especially attractive for owners because they can be proud that their dog has a unique and distinctive look to go along with its personality.
A parti poodle that has been well-bred will have a bright white coat and the secondary color will be sharp and well defined. They will have clear lines of separation between colors with zero fading.
While many parti poodles will have some tiny spots that can appear on their paws or body, there should not be any ticking in the white hairs. These spots are usually black in color.
When it comes to breeding, this is where things get really interesting. When two Parti Poodles are bred together the end result is always be a parti poodle littler. Sometimes things can get a bit tricky when you are dealing with multiple colors. For instance one litter and contain a red and white parti and also black and white parti poodle.
What causes coloring in parti poodles?
There is a gene that causes this unique coloring that occurs in poodles. This Gene is known as the MITF gene. To keep things simple, the MITF gene is recessive and solid colors are dominant genes. In order to produce parti poodles both the mother and the father must be parti poodles. If a parti is bred with a solid colored poodle the end result would most likely be a solid-colored poodle.
Can Parti Poodles be registered with the AKC?
There is a common misconception that parti poodles cannot be AKC registered. The root cause for this confusion stems from the fact that party poodles cannot be shown in AKC conformation events. They are however, able to be registered and shown in obedience and Agility events. There is hope that one day this will change but for now this is how things are.
Mismarked Poodles
Also known as abstract poodles in some circles, mismarks on a poodle is considered to be a fault in regards to show confirmation. it is not common for some breeders to confuse mismarks with tuxedo poodles or Parti Poodles. it’s important to note that there is a difference between each one.
A mismarked is when a poodle has less than 50% of a white coat and the remaining coat is any other poodle color. Remember that party poodles have more than 50% of a white coat.
To keep things simple, a mismark is when a poodle has a predominant color other than white. They typically have light markings that are usually white but again it is still less than 50% of the coat. The lighter color can be found on fracton of the coat or all over the dog.
What is Ticking?
Essentially the term ticking means spotting. Dogs like poodles have ticking can be visually described as very small dots.
You will most often find ticking on white or light-colored poodles. Often, the spotting or ticking is a dark color like black. The ticking gene is a dominant gene. For this reason, most breeders will not use a poodle with this gene to breed parti poodles. A poodle with this gene and bred with a parti poodle would produce a litter of pups that may have a dingy or dirty appearance. Had the gene not been present there would be a beautiful, clean, and clear looking coat.
What are Tuxedo Poodles?
So let’s talk about what a tuxedo poodle is. in some ways, you may think that a tuxedo poodle pretty much a no-brainer in terms of appearance. it’s true a tuxedo poodle literally looks like tuxedo. Here’s what you’ll find on a true tuxedo poodle:
- White from the throat all the way down to the neck and chest area. This white may wrap around the neck but it’s possible that it doesn’t.
- A white underside that should connect to the white in the throat and chest area.
- White that stems from the underside of the belly area down to the front legs, hind legs, and paws.
- A “blanket” or “saddle of any color that stretches across the back of the poodle.
- The most common tuxedo poodles are black and white followed by red and white and blue and white. The latter combinations are a rarity.