A Rainbow of Puppy Colors
Scroll down for photo examples of colors, patterns, and coat types
Temperament, energy level and health are the three most important factors to consider when choosing your cockapoo puppy. But the color and pattern of the dog is icing on the pup-cake! There is nothing wrong with loving a particular look, so long as you aren't prioritizing that over suitability for your home situation. There is nothing wrong with thinking your dog is your best friend and also the prettiest thing on the block!
Cockapoos can come in a wonderful variety of colors and patterns. Puppies grow and change and do not always look exactly as they did as a puppy. Their colors and patterns develop and some can change dramatically. Additionally, some colors fade as they grow (called "color clearing") and some coats get grey hairs or white hairs over time! There is no way to know for sure what a particular puppy will grow into without running a DNA coat color panel on the puppy. This is possible, non-invasive, and costs about $150 per puppy tested. Most families choose to let the puppy surprise them with their coat changes.
There are three main base colors for cockapoos: Black, Chocolate and Yellow. There are several patterns that affect those main colors in beautiful ways, and when layered can make a remarkable variation in the looks. First, we will look at the base coat colors.
Cockapoos can come in a wonderful variety of colors and patterns. Puppies grow and change and do not always look exactly as they did as a puppy. Their colors and patterns develop and some can change dramatically. Additionally, some colors fade as they grow (called "color clearing") and some coats get grey hairs or white hairs over time! There is no way to know for sure what a particular puppy will grow into without running a DNA coat color panel on the puppy. This is possible, non-invasive, and costs about $150 per puppy tested. Most families choose to let the puppy surprise them with their coat changes.
There are three main base colors for cockapoos: Black, Chocolate and Yellow. There are several patterns that affect those main colors in beautiful ways, and when layered can make a remarkable variation in the looks. First, we will look at the base coat colors.
Black Puppies
Black is the most common coat color for all dogs, though the majority of cockapoos are in the red color range. Black coats can have a rich mahogany undertone or a cool blue-black, depending on the genetics of the dog hiding under the dominant black. The coat can go salt and pepper and can dilute out to a blue color, as well.
Chocolate Puppies
Chocolate is a less common color for cockapoo puppies. It can be a cooler, bittersweet chocolate color or a rich, warm chocolate with deep ruby red tones or you can have a mid-tone color with a heavy copper undertone. Chocolate can fade as the dog grows, it can fade all the way into a sandy color. Or it can remain deep and rich. It is very difficult to know what will occur with a particular dog, though an experienced breeder might be able to tell. These puppies typically have amber or green or hazel eyes.
Yellow/Red Puppies
Red or yellow holds a whole spectrum of various shades, depending upon the undertones in the coat and the degree of fading present in the genetics of the dog. Whether a color is labeled as red or apricot, orange or golden really depends on the breeder or the breed. Some puppies sit right on the border between colors as well! Which makes it that much harder to really categorize them. I do the best I can and the following lists the various shades of "red" that I see in my beautiful puppies.
Fox Red
This is a clear-looking dark red, where the nose is black and the rims of the eyes are black. This color is the most likely to fade of all the reds. The eyes are usually a deep, rich brown. This is the rarest of all the reds, though it typically clears to a light color by age 2, which can be disappointing if you're not expecting the change.
Chocolate-Red
This color is similar to the darker fox-red, but the pigment on the nose and eye rims are not black, but a chocolate color. This is a red dog with chocolate genes and not black underlying the yellow. This dilutes the color of the coat a bit, with more of a chocolate hue. You can always tell by their sweet pink-hued liver-colored nose and the slightly muted shade of the coat. This can happen with all the varieties of the red/yellow base color. See if you can spot their cute little noses in the photos below this section in the lighter varieties of red/yellow. These puppies typically have amber or green or hazel eyes. This is the second red/yellow color most likely to fade to a softer shade.
Golden
Golden is my personal favorite of the reds. This color rarely fades and typically remains vibrant and rich throughout the life of the dog. The coat often has lots of natural highlights and practically sparkles in the sunshine. And this is the color that yields the perfect teddy-bear look, if that is something that melts your heart. Of course, I could never pick an all-time favorite color or pattern. Every single color and pattern is unique and beautiful. And everyone has their own personal reasons for preferring one color over another. I enjoy hearing all the different perspectives and tastes.
Golden is distinguishable from red due to its higher yellow content. It is a nice balance between yellow and red, leaving the coat a rich gold. The mahogany red coat has far less yellow in the coat. Photos can be very tricky when judging a coat color online!! The best way to know the true color of a coat via photograph is to see the pup outside, in natural sunlight. Yellow indoor lights, bright photography lights, golden hour sunset and intentionally color-saturated and edited photos can make a color much harder to specifically categorize. Since most puppies are sold via online photos and videos, it is always a good idea to ask for an outdoor filter-free and un-retouched photo so you can get the best idea of what color the babies are before you choose, especially if color is important to you.
Golden is distinguishable from red due to its higher yellow content. It is a nice balance between yellow and red, leaving the coat a rich gold. The mahogany red coat has far less yellow in the coat. Photos can be very tricky when judging a coat color online!! The best way to know the true color of a coat via photograph is to see the pup outside, in natural sunlight. Yellow indoor lights, bright photography lights, golden hour sunset and intentionally color-saturated and edited photos can make a color much harder to specifically categorize. Since most puppies are sold via online photos and videos, it is always a good idea to ask for an outdoor filter-free and un-retouched photo so you can get the best idea of what color the babies are before you choose, especially if color is important to you.
Champagne
Champagne is a less saturated shade of red, with copper undertones and silvery highlights. It is a beautiful, multi-faceted color. This color can fade a bit, as all bronze-y shades can. Champagne is so delicate and pretty.
Blonde
Blonde is a less saturated shade of gold. It has mostly yellow pigment and none of the copper. It is a clear, sunny, lovely color
Cream Puppies
Cream is the lightest of all the yellow/red colors. It is very clear, almost white and this color doesn't fade. It remains true and beautiful.
Coat Patterns
Tuxedo
Tuxedo is when the base color is broken by white on the chest, sometimes including a ring around the neck, white paws, sometimes including the legs and belly, and sometimes an adorable little white tip on the end of the tail. In cockapoos, tuxedo occurs when the dog carries only one copy of the "pie-bald" or "white spotting" gene.
Parti
Parti-color (often misspelled by non-professionals as "party") is also known as "pie-bald". This truly beautiful pattern is an all-over white coloring with patches of color broken all over the body, face and legs. Each parti-colored dog is like a piece of art-completely unique and captivating. This pattern can be found in many breeds, though it is not permitted in poodles (all patterns are forbidden in poodles).
Parti-color occurs when a dog carries two copies of the white spotting gene.
Parti-color can be dangerous to the health of the dog when paired with certain color diluting genes. If you do not know the origins of a dog you're selecting it is wise to choose a pup with pigment in black, brown or yellow/red over the eyes and ears.
While the creamy wash over the eyes and ears is fairly rare and often much-coveted for it's beauty, it must be done properly to avoid health complications. If you choose such a color ensure you trust your breeder and their knowledge of their breed and genetics. Dalmations (a mutation of this gene) are one breed known for hearing loss associated with pigment loss on the ears. Hearing nerves require melanin to function properly.
When there is a concern for hearing problems in a litter or breed, then a BAER hearing test can be done after a few months of age to determine the hearing ability of an individual puppy. Deaf dogs can learn very well and make lovely pets, but it is necessary to diagnose them properly in order to train them and avoid fear-reactive-aggression.
This is incredibly uncommon in cockapoos. It is still important for a breeder to understand melanin dilution genes and how they can affect vision and hearing in dogs. I have never experienced this due to careful selection of parent dogs and knowing all possible outcomes in pups prior to arranging a pairing. And our parti-colored dogs are like little gems of variety. My favorite is when they have little freckles!
Parti-color occurs when a dog carries two copies of the white spotting gene.
Parti-color can be dangerous to the health of the dog when paired with certain color diluting genes. If you do not know the origins of a dog you're selecting it is wise to choose a pup with pigment in black, brown or yellow/red over the eyes and ears.
While the creamy wash over the eyes and ears is fairly rare and often much-coveted for it's beauty, it must be done properly to avoid health complications. If you choose such a color ensure you trust your breeder and their knowledge of their breed and genetics. Dalmations (a mutation of this gene) are one breed known for hearing loss associated with pigment loss on the ears. Hearing nerves require melanin to function properly.
When there is a concern for hearing problems in a litter or breed, then a BAER hearing test can be done after a few months of age to determine the hearing ability of an individual puppy. Deaf dogs can learn very well and make lovely pets, but it is necessary to diagnose them properly in order to train them and avoid fear-reactive-aggression.
This is incredibly uncommon in cockapoos. It is still important for a breeder to understand melanin dilution genes and how they can affect vision and hearing in dogs. I have never experienced this due to careful selection of parent dogs and knowing all possible outcomes in pups prior to arranging a pairing. And our parti-colored dogs are like little gems of variety. My favorite is when they have little freckles!
Phantom
The phantom pattern is also known as "tan points" which is a misnomer because the points are yellow/red pigment and not brown. This pattern consists of coppery markings above the eyes, which look like eyebrows, along the cheeks, on the forelegs, sometimes on the hind legs and always a little copper spot under the tail. Because the tan points are yellow/red this pattern cannot be seen on red/yellow dogs, you only see the existence of the pattern in chocolate and black dogs.
Tri-Color
A tri color dog has both the white tux pattern or the parti-pattern and the tan points/phantom pattern which results in three colors on the dog. This only occurs in chocolate and black dogs, of course, as you cannot see the tan points on red/yellow dogs. Tri-color is very uncommon in cockapoo puppies and very striking and interesting.
Sable
Sable is a stunning pattern on puppies and changes dramatically as the dog ages. Below you can see the puppy photo of a black sable puppy and the same puppy as an adult where the coat is completely copper with a black muzzle and ear tips.
Sable is when the tips of each hair are either black or chocolate and the base color of the hair is a shade of red/yellow. Since cockapoos have their hair cut, typically the black tips wind up on the floor of the grooming salon and the dog winds up mostly the color of the base of each hair, which can range from a soft cream to a blazing coppery-red.
Sable puppies have phantom-type markings visible.
Can you tell the difference between the chocolate sable and the black sable puppies? The younger a puppy is, the harder it is to tell it is a sable, the older the puppy, the more of the red color begins to show and the easier it is to see the sable pattern.
Sable puppies have phantom-type markings visible.
Can you tell the difference between the chocolate sable and the black sable puppies? The younger a puppy is, the harder it is to tell it is a sable, the older the puppy, the more of the red color begins to show and the easier it is to see the sable pattern.
Merle
Merle is a beautiful pattern that affects either black dogs (called "blue merles") or chocolate dogs (called "chocolate merles"). This pattern causes a swirling color dilution all over the coat. No two merles are alike. Various colors of silver and gold swirl in the coat and renders merle as unique as it is interesting. Merle looks best when the cockapoo is kept in a shorter clip, longer, shaggier coats can look a bit "muddy", though this is a matter of personal taste.
Merle can be seen with all other types of markings to include tux, parti, tan points and sable.
Below you can see blue-merles
Merle can be seen with all other types of markings to include tux, parti, tan points and sable.
Below you can see blue-merles
Below are two beautiful diluted blue merles in a silvery-blue color that is extremely rare. I have only seen these colors a couple of times in 15 years. The puppies below also happen to be parti-colored.
Below are beautiful chocolate merles.
Below are sable merles, both blue and chocolate.
These have all been perfect pooches born at Eden
All puppies pictured are living in forever homes.
I hope this has helped you understand all the different coat colors and patterns!! Now lets move on to coat consistency!
Smoothie
First, many people ask what is a "satin-coat" or a "smoothie" cockapoo? This is a somewhat rare cockapoo, seen in early generations of the cross. This dog does not carry the "wire" gene or the hair length gene necessary for the "bearded" face. Below you will see what a "smoothie" looks like. Smoothies typically do not require haircuts, making them easier to groom and maintain.
Teddy Bear Curls
This coat type has body and volume and tighter curls, giving the dog a teddy-bear appearance. The curls can range from poodle-tight to a more relaxed, more classic cockapoo curl pattern. This coat is always able to give the best shapes and styles in the grooming salon. You can do almost anything with this coat, and if fancy styles are your thing, or you're interested in grooming your dog, this is the coat type for you.
Shaggy Wave
This coat type looks like it sounds, loose shaggy waves and a silkier, softer feel. This coat type lacks volume and shape, but makes up for it with a soft hand feel.