Discover the diverse world of poodles.
Poodle Size, Colors, and Patterns!Let’s Explore the different varieties, colors and patterns according to AKC and UKC breed Standards. Note: While AKC recognizes all the colors and patterns that we will be reviewing not all the colors or patterns are eligible for AKC conformation events.
Image Credits
Please note that not all images used are our own. Any images not belonging to us will be clearly labeled.
Poodle Sizes
According to the breed standards, Poodles are categorized into three size varieties both in AKC and UKC.
Toy Poodles: Not exceeding 10 inches in height
Miniature Poodles: 10-15 inches in height at the shoulder
Standard Poodles: Over 15 inches in height at the shoulder
Note: all three size varieties maintain the same muscular build and proportional characteristics.
-
Toy Poodles
Photo From Winsome Toy Poodles- AKC Breeder of Merit
-
Miniature Poodles
Photo from Aery Poodles - AKC Breeder of Merit
-
Standard Poodle
NCR Poodles- AMCH Shuvaloff Moment of Glory
Decoding Patterns and Markings
The world of Poodle colors and patterns can be complex, especially when considering the differing rules of the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). While AKC permits registration of multicolored Poodles, commonly known as Parti Poodles, they are not eligible to compete in conformation events. However, Multicolored Poodles can participate in performance events such as agility and FastCat.
It's crucial to understand the distinction between multicolor and solid poodles, because the United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes solid and multicolor poodles as two distinct varieties. Let’s examine the guidelines set forth by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC) to gain a deeper understanding of these two coat types.
Parti Poodle
Parti-colored Poodles are characterized by a coat that is at least 50% white, accompanied by spots or patches of another acceptable solid or patterned color. Parti Poodles are shown under the Multicolor Poodle variety.
Abstract Poodle
The Abstract Poodle coat pattern features less than 50% white, with the remaining percentage consisting of any other acceptable solid or patterned color. Abstract Poodles are shown under the Multicolor variety in the United Kennel Club (UKC).
Phantom Poodle
Phantom Poodles have a solid base color with sharply defined markings of a second color. They typically have markings on the face, legs, and chest. The markings on a Phantom Poodle are sometimes faint. Phantom Poodles are shown under the Multicolor variety in the United Kennel Club (UKC).
Brindle Poodle
Brindle Poodles feature a solid base color with a striped pattern visible at the skin level. The stripes can appear anywhere and don't follow a specific pattern. While a longer coat may give a blended appearance, shaved areas such as the face, feet, and base of the tail should display distinct stripes. They can display the brindle pattern in various ways, including all over the dog, as a parti, abstract or phantom. All Brindle Poodles are exhibited under the Multicolor variety in the United Kennel Club (UKC). They are not eligible to compete in American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation events.
Photo from Rivers Edge Standard Poodles- AKC Breeder of Merit
Sable Poodle
Sable Poodles have a coat characterized by black-tipped hairs on a background of any solid color, with the black tips scattered randomly throughout the coat. they can display the sable pattern in various ways, including all over the dog, as a parti, and as an abstract. All Sable Poodles are exhibited under the Multicolor variety in the United Kennel Club (UKC). They are not eligible to compete in American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation events.
Multi- Patterned
A Multi-patterned Poodle is a dog that displays more than one recognized color pattern, such as a Parti Poodle with Phantom markings or a Phantom Poodle with Abstract markings. This is commonly referred to as a “tri-colored” poodle. All Multi patterned Poodles are exhibited under the Multicolor variety in the United Kennel Club (UKC). They are not eligible to compete in American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation events.
Solid Poodle
A Solid poodle coat appears as a solid color at the skin. While a uniform color is preferred, it's normal for the coat to show subtle shading variations, especially in the ears and ruff, with slightly darker tones in these areas. Solid Poodles with proper pigment are eligible to compete in American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation events.
Miscellaneous
In the Poodle world, you may come across terms like "Tuxedo" and "Ticking". While these patterns and markings are notable, they are not specifically classified with the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel Club (UKC) breed standards. Instead, Poodles with these markings are generally categorized as Parti Poodles.
What is a “Tuxedo Poodle”?
A Tuxedo Poodle is a type of Parti Poodle markings. It is characterized by a distinctive color scheme rather than a specific color. The Tuxedo Parti Poodle is a "blanket" or "saddle" of color across its back. While the remaining area is white making it look like your poodle has a tuxedo on.
What is “Ticking” on a Poodle?
Ticking is a marking not a color. It is small flecks of color that can appear on a dog's coat you commonly see this on multicolored poodles. Ticking can look like someone took a sharpie and made little spots on your poodle.
“Ticking”
“Tuxedo”
Poodles in Every Hue
Poodles come in a wide range of colors. Many of these colors such as blues, grays, and apricots, can have subtle shading variations. Additionally, the nose, eye rims, and lips commonly referred to as points, are typically colored to match their coat. For example, Brown and Cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored features, while Black, Blue, Gray, silver poodles have black points. However Cream, and White Poodles also have black points. Red Poodles typically have black points however some red Poodles may have liver-colored points instead of black points this is generally not considered ideal but is acceptable.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) does recognize all the colors we will talk about. These colors can occur in various patterns and markings. However, only solid-colored Poodles are eligible to compete in AKC conformation events. It is important to note AKC does allow Multicolored Poodles to be registered and compete in sporting events.
Unlike AKC, the United Kennel Club (UKC) permits both solid and multicolored Poodles to compete in conformation events within their own designated variety. According to breed standards of both the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club, these are the recognized colors: Black, Blue, Gray, Silver, Red, Apricot, Cream, White, Brown, Café-au-lait, and Silver-Beige.
Black Poodle
A Black Poodle should have a solid, consistent coat color with no hint of silver or blue tint. Their facial shading should nearly match the color of their coat. The coat should remain vibrant and resistant to fading. Additionally, all points - including nails, paw pads, nose, and lips - should be black, with no deviation from this deep, rich color.
Photo From Pinterest- Don’t Know the Original Source
Blue Poodle
A true Blue Poodle exhibits a single, uniform coat color with hair that is solidly colored throughout. This distinctive coloration is the result of a dilution effect on the black pigment, giving rise to the characteristic "blue" hue.
Photo From Pinterest- Don’t Know the Original Source
Gray/Silver Poodle
Gray Poodles have a mixture of white and black hairs, giving them a distinctive gray coat. Interestingly, Gray Poodles are born with a black coat that gradually lightens over time. Despite this color change, their nose remains black. However, Silvers and Grays are scientifically classified as Gray Poodles, with the difference being a matter of shade rather than distinct color categories.
Red Poodle
Red Poodles owe their distinctive color to a unique gene, often referred to as the Rufus gene, which deepens the more common apricot color, resulting in a rich, red hue. Red Poodles are particularly prone to color changes over time, with some poodles fading and others darkening as they mature. It is preferred that they have black points.
Apricot Poodle
Apricot Poodles have a distinctive coat color, characterized by a dull orange hue with medium saturation. This unique color is actually a diluted version of the vibrant red color found in some Poodles. Like the red poodles’ black points are preferred.
Photo From Pinterest- Don’t Know the Original Source
Cream Poodle
Cream-colored Poodles are lighter than an Apricot Poodle. They sometimes have a beige-like appearance. They have black points and over time, their coat may fade to white, except for certain areas such as the ears, which often stay a few shades darker.
White Poodle
White Poodles have a pure white and uniform coat, with no variation in color. Despite their completely white coat, they have black points, and their skin often appears black when exposed to sunlight. Like people they need some time to tan to get that darker skin pigment.
Brown Poodle
A Brown Poodle should be a deep, rich shade. While it's not uncommon for the color to fade slightly with age, the points on a brown poodles will always remain a deep brown.
Café au Lait Poodle
Café au Lait is a unique color variation. They are born with a dark brown coat, these dogs undergo a color transformation, fading to a Café au Lait hue usually by the age of three. They are brown dogs with a single fading gene. It's essential to note that a beige-colored puppy at birth is not a Café au Lait. This color variation can be easily confused with Silver Beige
Photo From Bill Pongo
Silver Beige Poodle
Silver Beige is a greyed version of brown, resulting from the progressive greying gene. Notably, it's believed to possess two of the yet-to-be-discovered progressive greying genes. This distinguishes it from Café au Lait, which is thought to have only one of the progressive greying genes. One way to predict if a puppy will develop into a Silver Beige is to shave their face at around six weeks old. If the underlying skin tone is a very light silver color, as seen in the picture, the puppy will mature into a Silver Beige.
The Beauty of Poodles
We hope this information has been helpful in understanding the unique characteristics of Poodles. For further learning and exploration, please find additional resource links below. Thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of Poodle colors, sizes, and patterns!
