Colors and markings designated codes as of August 23, 2005, from the AKC web
site.
| Agouti Used to describe
Siberian Huskies, this color is the alternating bands of light and dark
along each hair in the coat. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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Albino A relatively rare, genetically recessive condition
resulting in white hair and pink eyes. |
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| Apricot Used to describe
Afghans, Pugs, Mastiffs, and Poodles, this color is a dull, medium-saturated
orange (like the fruit of the same name). Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description |
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| Belge Used to describe
Brussels Griffon, this color is black and reddish-brown mixed. Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Belton A color pattern
in English Setters (named after a village in England) of light or dark
ticking or roaning. Colors include: blue belton (black and white), orange
belton (orange and white), lemon belton (lemon and white), and liver belton
(liver and white). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the
breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Biscuit Usually used to
describe Pekingese and Samoyeds, this color is a combination of light gray,
yellow, and brown hues with medium brilliance and saturation (perhaps a
gray-yellow). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Blanket The color of the
coat on the back and upper part of the sides, between the neck and the tail. |
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| Blaze A white stripe
running up the center of the face usually between the eyes. |
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| Blenheim Used to define
the color of markings of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (red and white).
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Blue Gray. Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Blue merle A color
pattern of black blotches or streaks on a blue-gray background. Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. See Merle. |
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| Bluies Colored portions
of the coat have a distinctive bluish or smoky cast. This coloring is
associated with extremely light or blue eyes and liver or gray eye rims,
nose, and lip pigment. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the
breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Brindle A marking
pattern used to describe many breeds, usually in conjunction with another
color. Layering of black hairs in regions of lighter color (usually, fawn,
brown, or gray) producing a tiger-striped pattern. Brindle is often used to
describe Great Danes, Bulldogs, and Boxers. In Boxers, Reverse Brindle may
occur; i.e., there is such a heavy concentration of black striping that the
fawn background color barely, although clearly, shows through (appears black
with fawn stripes). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the
breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Broken color Self-color
broken by white or another color. Color definitions may vary by breed.
Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Bronze Used to describe
Newfoundlands, this color is usually a tinge in a black coat caused by the
sun. It is like the color of the metal of the same name, which can be
described as a moderately bright, yellowish brown. Color definitions may
vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Buff Off-white to gold.
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Cap Darkly shaded color
pattern on the skull of some breeds. |
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| Chestnut Usually used to
describe Irish Setters and Pharaoh Hounds, the color may be described as
deep, heavily saturated, reddish brown (like the nut of the same name).
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Cinnamon Usually used to
describe Chow Chows. Like the color or the spice of the same name, this
color is a lightly saturated, yellowish brown. Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
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| Collar (1) The markings
around the neck, usually white. (2) A leather, nylon, or chain neck band for
restraining or leading a dog when the leash is attached. |
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| Cream Used to describe
many breeds, this color is a lowly saturated, light-to-medium yellow. Often,
it has just a little more color than white. Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Dapple A mottled or
variegated coat color pattern. Single dapple is expressed as lighter color
areas contrasting with the darker base color, which may be acceptable color.
Looks like the merle effect in Shelties, Collies, etc., except that it is
found in Dachshunds. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the
breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Deadgrass Tan or dull
straw color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Dilute Washed out color.
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Domino Reverse facial
mask pattern on some breeds. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Double dapple Varying
amounts of white coloring occurring over the body in addition to the dapple
pattern. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Fallow Pale cream to
light fawn color; pale; pale yellow; yellow-red. Color definitions may vary
by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Fawn A brown, red-yellow
with hue of medium brilliance. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Harlequin Patched or
pied coloration, usually black or gray on white. Color definitions may vary
by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Hound-marked A
coloration composed of white, tan, or black. The ground color, usually
white, may be marked with tan and/or black patches on the head, back, legs,
and tail. The extent and the exact location of such markings, however,
differ in breeds and individual dogs. Color definitions may vary by breed.
Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Isabella Usually used to
describe Doberman Pinschers, this color is similar to fawn or light bay, but
has more saturation and brilliance (similar to a bay-colored horse). Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Lemon Used to describe
pointers, this color is a brilliant, medium-saturated yellow. Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Mantle Dark-shaded
portion of the coat on shoulders, back, and sides. |
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| Markings Contrasting
color or pattern in a dog's coat. |
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| Mask Dark shading on the
foreface. |
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| Merle A marking pattern,
used in conjunction with another color, to describe Shetland Sheepdogs,
Collies, Great Danes, and Australian Shepherds. The color is characterized
by a marbling effect of dark patches against a lighter background of the
same color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Mismark (1) Coat or
color. (2) A dog that has coat coloration or markings not conforming to that
which is acceptable for the breed. |
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| Mottled Pattern of dark
roundish blotches on a lighter background. Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Mustard Usually used to
describe Dandie Dinmont Terriers, this color is like the color of the spice;
i.e., a dull, highly saturated, brown-yellow. Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Parti-color Two or more
definite, well-broken colors, one of which must be white. For example, Black
Parti-color would be black and white. Color definitions may vary by breed.
Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Piebald Covered with
patches of two colors, especially black and white. Color definitions may
vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Pied Patches of white
and another color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the
breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Pinto Marked with white
and some other color (usually patches of color on white). Color definitions
may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Points (1) Color on
face, ears, legs, and tail when correlated; usually white, black, or tan.
(2) In events, credits toward championship status. |
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| Red sesame Red with a
sparse black overlay (Shiba Inu). Color definitions may vary by breed.
Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Roan Frequently a
blue-gray or iron-gray, this color is the fine mixing of colored hairs with
white hairs. For example, a blue roan is a coat comprised of black and white
hairs. (Note: This is the same definition as the Belton color in English
Setters.) Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Ruby A rich, mahogany
red (English Toy Spaniel). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check
the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Rust Used to describe
several breeds, this color is a medium-brilliant reddish brown. Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Sable Coat color
produced by black-tipped hairs on a background of silver, gold, gray, fawn,
or brown. |
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| Saddle Markings in the
shape of a saddle over the back. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Saddle back Overlong
back, with a dip behind the withers. |
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| Sandy Used to describe
several breeds, this color is a dull, yellowish gray of medium saturation.
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Seal Used to describe
Boston Terriers, this color appears black except that it has a red cast when
viewed in the sun or bright light. Color definitions may vary by breed.
Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Sedge Used to describe
Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, this color is similar to
deadgrass, but it is more accurately a lightening of the chocolate hue.
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Self color One color or
whole color except for lighter shadings. Color definitions may vary by
breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Spectacles Shadings or
dark markings over or around the eyes or from eyes to ears. |
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| Splashed Irregularly
patched, color on white or white on color. |
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| Stag red Deep red
(almost brown) with intermingling of black hairs (Miniature Pinscher). Color
definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Tawny Used, along with
white, to describe Ibizian Hounds, this color is the color of lions (sandy
yellow). Also referred to as Lion Tawny. Color definitions may vary
by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color
description. |
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| Ticked Small, isolated
areas (smaller than spots) of black or colored hairs on a white background.
Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the
definitive color description. |
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| Tricolor Three colors in
the coat: white, black, and tan (Prince Charles in English Toy Spaniel
breed). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard
for the definitive color description. |
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| Wheaten Pale yellow or
fawn color. The color of wheat. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Whitelies Body color
white with red or dark markings. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always
check the breed standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Wild boar Usually used
to describe Dachshunds, this color is dull gray hairs intermingled with
black hairs. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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| Wirehair A coat of hard,
crisp, wiry texture. |
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| Wolf sable Used to
describe Pomeranians. Silver or gray with black tips (no tan, white, or
cream anywhere). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed
standard for the definitive color description. |
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