Facial Markings: May be dark enough to give the appearance of a full bar, however the color is always salt and pepper rather than solid. Markings on face often fade and can be much less extensive in adults, detectible only as rings around the eyes.
Pigment: Dull and often washed out brown. Tend to have broken areas of pigmentation in the mouth and on the lips where it is completely pink. Pads pale in color. Nostrils pink.
Eyes: Pale Yellow
Notes: Can be difficult to tell from light Lilac as an adult. Often mistaken for Red Agouti or Light Red.
Newborn or Puppy: Born with a sooty or "dirty" looking face. Eyes are pale slate blue when they open, and then turn bright pale blue for a few weeks.
Pigment: Dull and often washed out brown. Tend to have broken areas of pigmentation in the mouth and on the lips where it is completely pink. Pads pale in color. Nostrils pink.
Eyes: Pale Yellow
Notes: Often mistaken for Mahogany Red.
Newborn or Puppy: Born almost solid brown. Face brown with very tiny white "eyebrows". Eyes are pale slate blue when they open, and then turn bright pale blue for a few weeks.
Coat: Salt and pepper coat – dark bands dull brown
Undercoat: White/off white
Legs and Face: White/off white
Facial Markings: Markings fade in color and size, never
having the appearance of a full bar, and being washed out
and shadow-like instead of solid
Pigment: Dull and often washed out brown. Tend to have
broken areas of pigmentation in the mouth and on the lips
where it is completely pink. Pads pale in color. Nostrils pink.
Eyes: Pale Yellow
Notes: Often mistaken for Light Red
Newborn or Puppy: Born with crisp facial markings/masking and large white eyebrows. Eyes are pale slate blue when they open, and then turn bright pale blue for a few weeks.
Coat: Appear Dull Brown from a distance however most have a white band at the base of the coat. Very dark individuals may be missing the white band.
Undercoat: Usually white, however may be brown/buff along topline and in very dark individuals.
Legs and Face: White/off white
Facial Markings: Always crisp and clear cut includes a full bar (except in individuals with additional white spotting) that appears solid in color on the face.
Pigment: Dull and often washed out brown. Tend to have broken areas of pigmentation in the mouth and on the lips where it is completely pink. Pads pale in color. Nostrils pink.
Eyes: Pale Yellow
Notes: Never has the extreme masking seen on Lilac and White dogs. Often mistaken for Dark Red.
Newborn or Puppy: Born with crisp facial markings/masking and large white eyebrows. Eyes are pale slate blue when they open, and then turn bright pale blue for a few weeks.
Artwork copyrighted to Susan Richardson, all rights reserved