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The Poodle Comes In Many Colors
Not only do Poodles come in three sizes, they come in a rainbow of colors. The color you choose may simply depend on what color the breeder you select has available, or you may seek out a breeder who specializes in the color you prefer.
Solid Colors
Blue, gray, silver, brown, cafe-au-lait, apricot, cream, with black and white being the most common. The coat may show varying shades of the same color.
Brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream, and white Poodles have black noses, eye-rims and lips, black or self-colored toenails and very dark eyes.
Most Poodles are not the same color at birth as they are at maturity. Silver poodles are born black and eventually turn silver as they grow up. Sometimes it takes a year for the color to clear.
Parti Poodles
The coat of a parti-colored poodle is not an even solid color at the skin but of two or more colors. This can vary from a small amount of white on a dark dog to a fairly even ratio of light to dark. Parti poodles have irregular-shaped pattern of spots, most commonly black and white. Parti-colored dogs are disqualified for the show ring in the United States, but can be compete in obedience and agility events..
Phantom Poodles
A Phantom Poodle is a Poodle of any color with the tan point pattern. This is the marking that appears in all of the known tan marked breeds- such as Dobermans, Dachshunds, and Yorkshire Terriers.
There are black phantoms (with apricot, red, silver, or cream markings), chocolate phantoms (brown and apricot), red phantoms (red and apricot), and silver phantoms (silver and cream).
There shall be a spot of a different color in the following places:
- Over each eye
- On the sides of the muzzle and cheeks
- On the undersides of the ears
- On all feet and or legs
- Under the tail
- Generally on the chest
The American Kennel Club requests three pictures showing the tan point pattern when registering a Phantom Poodle. Just like Parti-colored dogs, Phantom Poodles are disqualified from the show ring in the United States.
In 2004, nonsolid colored poodles became eligible to be shown in the United Kennel Club conformation ring. Solid and multicolored poodles are judged separately with a best of breed chosen from both categories.
