Color Terminology
Red Solid -
Don't get too hung up on the shade of red - reds can deepen or lighten as the dog grows - or it can stay exactly the same!
Red Abstract
"abstract" means white markings
Light Red/ Dark Apricot Solid
Reds can deepen or lighten over time, so I am putting lots of shades on this guide to give you an idea of range.
Light Red/ Dark Apricot Abstract
Apricot Solid
Apricot Abstract/Blenheim
This puppy has an even amount of white and apricot, so she sort of falls into both color categories.
Black/Tan Phantom
Phantom is a pattern. It means that there is a different color in the eye brows and cheeks. This is a black/tan phantom. This is a traditional Cavalier color and marking pattern that is difficult to achieve in Cavapoos - a Poodle with just the right hidden color genes is needed for this beautiful pattern to manifest.
Apricot Abstract
Blenheim/ Red Parti
In Poodles, "Parti" is the term used for a primarily white coat with distinct parts of the coat being a different color. Purebred cavalier King Charles spaniels this coloring are called "Blenheim" (pronounced BLEN-em) and "Red Parti" is the term used for poodles. For Cavapoos, either works. Since I began by breeding purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, I usually refer to it as Blenheim.
Black/Tan Phantom Abstract
Those white patches make this an "abstract"
Traditional Tri-Color
Genetically, a Tri-color means that the dog has two copies of the Phantom pattern, and two copies of the Parti (white spotting) gene. This is a black/tan phantom parti. AKA "Tri-color". This is another of the 4 traditional Cavalier marking patterns - difficult to achieve in Cavapoos, and so cute!
Chocolate Tri
That deep rich brown color is a result of two recessive genes on the B allele. This means that anywhere that would have been black is now brown. They usually inherit lighter greenish eyes as well. This puppy is a chocolate parti who also has two copies of phantom. Can you see those lighter brown eyebrows and cheeks? So pretty. So rare. Without those lighter eyebrows and cheeks, this puppy would be considered a Chocolate Parti.
Sable Abstract
Sable comes from an Ay on the A allele. It makes a swirl of two colors rather than distinct parts of different colors. In order for sable to manifest, a dominant gene on the E allele must be present, so a sable will always have some black or rich chocolate brown swirled in.
Sable Abstract
Look at those pretty black and red swirls!
Black Abstract
Like a fancy black tuxedo.
Cream/White
Our momma Lexington is primarily white/cream, but if you look closely you'll see swirls of black and apricot in her ears and tail.