Colours and Markings

Burrinjuck Labradoodles breed a diverse range of colours however specialise in the chocolate and red shades. Labradoodles are available in black, silver, chocolate, cafe, gold, red and cream colours. These base colours are displayed in a myriad of tones and shades!  Labradoodles may be one solid colour or a combination of colours. It is also possible for labradoodles to display  some gorgeous  markings, abstract splotches and tan points.

 

A MYRIAD OF BEAUTIFUL COLOURS

Chocolate

Chocolate should be a dark, rich colour. True chocolates are born almost black and maintain the rich dark colour throughout their lifetime. Nose pigment to be rose in colour (matching the coat colour). Rare colour group.

Red

Red should be a solid colour. A true red should not be lighter at the roots than on the outer coat. Reds can fade as the dog grows older. Nose pigment to be black. This is a rare colour group..

Black

Black should be a solid colouring with no sprinkling of any other colour through the coat. In my opinion, the flowing locks of a beautiful jet black coat is one of the most stunning coats. Nose pigment to be black.

Café

Café ranges from a milk chocolate to silver-beige in colour and will develop over time (1-3yrs). Dogs that develop a café colouring will be born chocolate. Nose pigment to be rose in colour (matching the coat colour

Gold

This colour depicts varying shades of gold. A true Gold should not have a lighter root than the outer coat. This colour may fade as the dog grows older. Nose pigment to be black in colour.

Silver

Silver can range in varying shades from light pewter in colour to dark charcoal. It is fascinating to observe the colour change over a period of time. Puppies are born black and develop the silvering over time (1-3 yrs)

Parchment

A smokey colour, likened to a cup of coffee with a generous addition of milk. Parchment dogs are born milk chocolate and the colouring develops gradually over time (1-3yrs) Nose pigment to be rose colour.

Caramel

Caramel ranges from a buttery caramel colour through to a deep red. The description of caramel includes the gold, apricot and red shades however the nose pigment is always rose.

Cream

Cream should be a creamy colouring sometimes with apricot/gold tinting. All shades of cream are acceptable. Cream dogs with brown/rose noses are referred to as Cremé Caramel.

Colour Combinations

A kaleidoscope of markings

Parti

Parti Markings describe the combination of two distinct colours in relatively even patches. To be classified as having parti markings, the dog must be 50% white with patches of one other colour. We breed labradoodles with chocolate and white parti markings, black and white parti markings and also gold and white parti markings.

Abstract

Puppies with abstract markings are a mostly solid colour with markings that are less than fifty percent white. It is common for puppies to have varying degrees of white abstract markings on the chest, under the chin and sometimes on the paws. The appearance of abstract markings sometimes resemble markings similar to a Border Collie.

Phantom

Phantom markings describe a body colour with a solid colour [chocolate or black] with defined markings of a second colour above each eye, on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheek, on the underside of the ears, on the throat, the chin and chest. 

The colour of the nose

If a cream dog has a black nose then it is described as cream however if the same dog has a rose nose then the colouring is described as caramel cremé or caramel cream. Sometimes a dog is born that is a striking white colour rather than cream. We refer to this colour as chalk. A chalk dog with a rose nose is referred to as being a caramel-ice colour.

The Lightening Gene

IT IS COMMON FOR COLOURS TO LIGHTEN WITH MATURITY

Many colours will lighten in colour from eight months through to two years of age. This is due to the lightening gene often inherited from the poodle side. If you notice some silver hairs emerge in your puppy from 8 months this is not a cause for alarm – it is simply the adult coat growing through and the lightening gene being displayed.


The lightening gene result is a gradual change in coat colour that takes place over a period of several months. Dogs may inherit no lightening gene, one lightening gene or two lightening genes.