Understanding the Different Colors of Cavapoos
Learn about the various coat colors and patterns of Cavapoos, and find out which one might be the perfect fit for your family.
Cavapoos are adorable little pups created by crossing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle. They are extremely popular due to their adorable appearance, intelligence, and affectionate personality. One of the most fascinating aspects of Cavapoos is their coat colour, which varies from dog to dog.
What are the different colours of Cavapoo coats?
The coat colours of Cavapoos can vary greatly depending on the genetics of the parent breeds, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. Cavapoo coat colours most commonly seen include:
Red
Red is a lovely colour, the coat can range in colour from light, almost blonde to deep red.
Red is one of the most sought-after coat colors in Cavapoos, and it is expressed through the E-Locus allele. Dogs that carry the ee-locus gene have a “yellow” coat that can range from a dark ruby red to a medium peachy apricot or a light golden cream. The darkest puppies with the ee-locus gene are considered “red,” which is sometimes referred to as ruby. It’s important to note that the intensity of the red color can vary depending on other genetic factors and environmental influences such as sunlight exposure.
Apricot
Apricot is a popular coat color it is part of the yellow/red family. Apricot puppies are usually lighter at birth compared to dark red puppies and have a beautiful peachy, apricot color to their coat. Similar to the apricot Poodle, the puppy coat of an apricot Cavapoo starts off darker but lightens over time. It’s important to note that the ears and tail often stay a shade darker, which adds to their unique and charming appearance. If you are considering getting an apricot Cavapoo, it’s essential to work with a reputable breeder who can provide you with information about the puppy’s genetic background and health.
Cream
Cream is another common coat color found in Cavapoos and is a shade that is darker than white but lighter than apricot. They can also be referred to as golden or tan in color. Similar to the cream Poodle, the coat of a cream Cavapoo clears or lightens over time. It’s also common for the ears and tail to stay a shade darker than the body, which adds to their unique and charming appearance.
Black
A solid black coat appears when both parent breeds have the black gene. The black coat is shiny and can appear sleek and elegant. A black Cavapoo has a solid black coat with no ticking from birth, meaning there are no spots or patches of other colors. Some black Cavapoos may have abstract patterns with white markings, which adds to their unique appearance.
Black Sable
Black Sable is a interesting coat color it comes about when a Poodle that carries a copy of Dominant Black K-Locus, kbr. Sable puppies can have a black or red base, and when bred to a Black and Tan or Tri Cavalier King Charles, Black Sable puppies can be produced. Sable puppies are usually born black and clear, which is a kind of lightening that can lead to a silver appearance as they age. These puppies often have tan highlights or tickling through their coat from birth. Some black puppies may only have a small amount of sable on their legs and around their eyebrows and ears. Interestingly, even a haircut can change their color as a single hair follicle can have three or more shades. Black Sable Cavapoos have unique and interesting coats, as their color usually lightens or darkens as they grow into adults.
Red Sable
Red Sable is beautiful coat color among Cavapoos. The Red Sable coat is created by breeding a Poodle that carries a copy of the Agouti A-Locus, Ay gene, to a Cavalier King Charles with a Red coat. This gene results in a color pattern where the base color of the coat is red, and the tips of the hair are black.
Similar to Black Sable, Red Sable puppies often have tan highlights or tickling through their coat from birth. One of the interesting things about the Red Sable coat is that the tips of the hair can fade over time, creating a lighter appearance. This can lead to an almost apricot-like appearance as the puppy grows older.
Brindle
Brindle is another interesting coat variation. The Brindle coat color is created by breeding a Poodle that carries a copy of the Brindle K-Locus, KB gene, to a Cavalier King Charles with a specific coat color.
Brindle puppies have a base coat color with dark stripes or spots of another color. This results in a tiger-striped look when the puppy is shaved. The Brindle coat can vary greatly in color and pattern, depending on the parents’ genetic makeup.
Brindle puppies’ coats often lighten or darken over time, which can make their coat color even more unique and interesting. When considering getting a Brindle Cavapoo, it’s important to work with a reputable breeder who can provide you with information about the puppy’s genetic background.
It’s also important to note that Brindle is a dominant gene, which means that if one parent carries the gene, there’s a good chance that the puppies will inherit the Brindle coat color. However, the specific coat color and pattern can vary greatly, even among siblings.
Phantom Abstract
Phantom Abstract or ‘Tri’ is a combo often seen in the Cavalier. This coat color is created by breeding a Poodle that carries a copy of the Agouti A-Locus, at gene, to a Black and Tan uniform Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This gene results in a color pattern where the base color of the coat is black, and the tips of the hair are tan.
Phantom Abstracts can also have white markings, which makes them similar to the Black and Tan or Tri-color coat patterns. When referring to a Cavapoo with this color pattern, some people may call them Black and Tan, while others may refer to them as Tri. The difference is in the amount of white markings present in the coat.
Phantom Abstract puppies are usually born with a black base coat, and the tan markings start to appear within the first few weeks of life. Like other Cavapoo coats with color patterns, the Phantom Abstract coat’s pattern can vary greatly from one puppy to another.
Blue Merle
Blue merle is a much rarer coat color. The blue merle coat is characterized by a mottled or speckled pattern of blue and black patches, and it is caused by a genetic mutation known as the merle gene. This gene affects the way pigment is distributed in the coat, resulting in the distinctive pattern.
Blue merle Cavapoos are typically born with a solid black coat, and the merle pattern begins to appear as they grow older. This pattern can vary in intensity and size, and it can appear in different areas of the dog’s body, including the face, legs, and body.
It is important to note that breeding two merle dogs together can result in a higher risk of genetic health problems, such as deafness and vision problems, in their offspring. Therefore, responsible breeders will carefully select their breeding pairs to minimize these risks.
While blue merle is a unique and striking coat color, it is important for potential Cavapoo owners to remember that the temperament and health of the dog should always be the primary consideration. A dog’s coat color should never be the sole factor in choosing a new pet.
Chocolate
The genetics of chocolate coat color in Cavapoos are interesting. It is caused by a recessive gene called “bb,” which is a dilution of the black pigment gene “B.” When both parents have a copy of the “bb” gene, the puppy will have a chocolate coat. However, if only one parent carries the “bb” gene, the puppy will be a carrier of chocolate and will not have a brown coat.
Chocolate coats can range from light brown to a rich liver color. Some chocolate Cavapoos may also have white abstract markings on their coat. It’s important to note that some chocolate or brown coats may be prone to fading or sunburn if not properly cared for. Regular grooming and use of sun protection can help maintain the coat’s color and health.
Factors Influencing Cavapoo Coat Colors
A Cavapoo’s coat colour is determined by the genes inherited from their parents. Because the Poodle parent can pass on a dominant gene for a specific coat colour, the Cavapoo will have that coat colour. If the Poodle parent does not have a dominant gene for a specific coat colour, the Cavapoo’s coat colour will be determined by the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel parent.
When two Cavapoos with different coat colours breed, the puppies can have a wide range of colours. It is important to note, however, that not all coat colours are acceptable in the breed standard. Before purchasing a Cavapoo, it is critical to research the breed standard and the colours that are acceptable.
Cavapoos have a variety of coat colours that can vary depending on the genes they inherit from their parents. Black, white, brown, red, tricolour, phantom, sable, and merle are the most common colours. Before purchasing a Cavapoo, it is critical to research the breed standard because not all coat colours are acceptable. Whatever colour coat your Cavapoo has, they will undoubtedly bring you joy and love.
