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Dilutes
| This dog is a dark Blue Tri-color.
Blue occurs as a dilute of the normal Tri-color gene, but can be
changed in color depth by the same modifier genes which govern the
depth of color on the Reds from Lemon to Mahogany. Quite often such
dilutes will have lighter eyes, some even almost yellow, although this
too is influenced by modifying genes just as in the normal tri-color
dog. Notice the slight bluish cast to the brown areas of the coat.
This dog would be described as Brown, Blue and White.
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To the left is a head shot showing the slate blue nose common to
this dilute color. Oftentimes, especially as puppies, this is the only
indicator the dog is a blue rather than a tri-color.
Occasionally, a dog that is born blue will turn so dark
that he is indistinguishable from a normal tri, including having what
appears to be a black nose. When put next to a true
tri-color, however, the difference will be barely distinguishable.
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| Another Blue Tri-Color, this one a
Shaded, exhibiting much lighter tan areas than the dark blue above.
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To the left is a litter of Blue and normal
Tri-color puppies. Three are blue
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There is a wide range of Liver or Chocolate Dilutes, including
some that are also Blue/Liver or so-called Lilac
| Chocolate: Usually a tri-color
where the black has diluted to Dark brown and the nose is also dark
brown or liver. |
Liver: A
tri-color which has more modification toward the liver range of the
spectrum. |
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| Lilac: A Tri-color not only
having the Liver or Chocolate Factor but the blue dilute factor as
well giving a bluish cast to the blanket. |
Here is a litter of a wide
range of color variation beginning with the Lilac at the top, then a
normal Tri, a possible Tan & White and a Chocolate Tri. |
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Yet another Chocolate, this one a puppy about 6 weeks
old. Quite often in the dilute colors of chocolate and blue the color
will sometimes deepen as the puppy gets older
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| These are a normal
colored tri and a liver or chocolate tri, shown side by side so you
can see the difference in color |
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Same two dogs with
close up of heads. Liver dog is on the right, normal tri on the left.
Notice the obvious liver coloration of the nose.
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| The puppy at right
is a heavily ticked chocolate tri-color, or what some people might
call a chocolate ticked or liver ticked hound. Notice the rather
greenish color of the eye. The eyes will quite often
darken to a hazel with age. |
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