Black & Tan, Blue Roan?

[Harriet]

Just a general question Is there much difference on the grooming of a Blue roan dog to a Black & Tan dog? My mum's friend at the end of last year lost her 2 cockers (1 Blue Roan & 1 Black)  And I'm trying to persude her to consider next year to get another one but a different colour so it dosen't 'replace' them as such.  Also is there much difference in the temperament on the Solid to the Parti? I heard some breeders last year say that the Blue Roans are "nutty/crazy" to the Solids, I was quite annoyed 

Mods If in the wrong place feel free to move it. Thanks 

[scooby's mum]

Hiya

I have a blue roan boy (who's 2) and a black and tan girl (4 months) and I would say (although Misty's still only a pup) that there's gonna be a lot of difference in the grooming department    Misty's coat is already really thick and heavy, topknots the lot and I'm just having "kittens" looking at it 

As I understand, solid blacks are more likely to have a heavy coat than any other colour, but saying that some solid blacks I've seen have a really fine coat - but I'm no expert 

The roans are supposed to have a finer coat but, again, Scooby's coat, I think, is quite thick and dense for a roan, but he has been "done" and that is supposed to alter the coat but tbh Scooby's was the same before we had him done.  Also, I believe orange roans are supposed to have the finest coat.

With regards to temperament, when I informed my vet that I was about to get a b & t girl she said I shouldn't as the solids are harder work than the roans (more independent) and therefore you have to be stricter/firmer with them - I was also told (by one of the breed club secretaries) not to get a solid with a roan (I posted a thread on here about it).  I've also been told that blue roans are supposed to be more "skittish", and I've also read that solids are more intelligent 

In my experience though, Misty has been a much easier puppy, she has a lovely sweet nature and is really cuddly - whereas Scooby was a hyper/boisterous pup, but I don't think that's anything to do with colour, just personalities 

Anyway I ignored their advice  and went ahead and they get on famously and I love them both to bits 

[Sheryl]

  And I'm trying to persude her to consider next year to get another one but a different colour so it dosen't 'replace' them as such.

I thought about this when I lost Chloe last year but to be honest, I don't think it any more.  I did go ahead and get another blue roan and they couldn't have been more different if they tried   Chloe was a very laid back, calm, good mannered doggie and Kali is a feisty, whirlwind who wouldn't know a good manner if it slapped her in the face   Both blue roans but both total opposites!  Loved just the same though

[Anita breathes Cockers]

There is apparently a saying that roans could keep goin 24/7 and the solids breath a sigh of relief when the kids go to bed
My solids WILL play and go nutty but have an underlying calmness about thm.
Gracie (blue roan) though is so nutty, she even finds it impossible to keep her bottom still when sitting. She is Always on the go at full speed. Delightful though.

[Cob-Web]

Also is there much difference in the temperament on the Solid to the Parti? I heard some breeders last year say that the Blue Roans are "nutty/crazy" to the Solids,

There is apparently a saying that roans could keep goin 24/7 and the solids breath a sigh of relief when the kids go to bed

I'd love to know the genetic basis to this theory........... does the roan gene (if indeed, there is one  ) have a linked gene that influences temperament

[crunchie]

Going by personal experience, I have had 2 golden cockers and now have Pringe who is a blue roan.

Pringle is a completely different kettle of fish to my previous 2.  The 2 goldens were a lot, lot calmer and placid, whereas Pringle is completely scatty, very lively, very feisty, very noisy, determined and wilful.  She also seems a lot more independent than the other 2 as well and isn't as cuddly as they were.  Not sure how much of this is down to colour or temperament really.  It is just my experience.

[RainbowClaire]

Hi,

We have two golden girls - age 3 years and 12 weeks and I must say both are very calm and laid back!! The three year old a amazing - complete couch potato and lapdog but let her off lead on a walk and she is the most energetic dog you could get. Bonnie - our puppy is also following in her footsteps, (So far..) Very chilled out indeed 

We had a black and white puppy several years ago who has sadly died  She had so much energy she barely knew what to do with it. Truly couldn't stay still for a minute!! Adorable but BUSY!!

So, if my experience is anything to go by, maybe there is some truth in it??

[Jane S]

I don't believe there is any link between temperament and colour as such - temperament depends on a whole range of different things including breeding, socialisation and training. Some breeders may like to say partis are all hyperactive maniacs but that's patently not true, same as it's not true to say all solids are calm and laid back. No solid breeder would accept (and rightly so) that solids are prone to poor temperament so it can't be right to accept any other sterotype for particolours Of course, there may be lines known to be more "nutty" than others but that's due to the influence of particular dogs in the pedigree rather than down to their colour. We've had particolours for over 20 years now and some have been so laid-back they're almost horizontal and some have been much livelier. Every Cocker is different with their own individual personality - it would be boring if they were all the same

[Annette]

I was just going to say that with my, admittedly, very limited experience of cockers (or dogs of any kind) I honestly don't think you can say that behaviour/intelligence/character can have anything to do with the colour. Jane has put it much more scietifically than I could though, and she has a lot more experience then I.

Our blue roan Buddy is certainly not hyperactive! He has his giddy times of day but is a real couch potato most of the time.

I think there can be some differences in coat texture associated with colour, but as far as I have noted on COL it's not a certainty that any particular colour will have a particular type of coat.

I can understand your thinking by wanting to look at other colours, but I also think that even in your mum's friend's situation, temperament and health issues are more important than colour or even coat texture!

[sarah25]

I agree with Jane & Annette

[lolajays]

As I understand, solid blacks are more likely to have a heavy coat than any other colour, but saying that some solid blacks I've seen have a really fine coat - but I'm no expert 

Maudie has a fine coat! So no its not always true. We train with a B&W cocker who has a very heavy coat. His coat is growing in all different directions. He is 5 months old and has been clipped about 3 times because is coat is so heavy. Could the clipping have caused his coat to grow this way? I have given her the details of our groomers and suggested hand stripping and she is taking him in a few weeks.
Sorry to hijack this post!

[Deb H]

I have blue roan brothers and they very different in coat and ways. Temperament wise they are very similar in being affectionate,loving, bonkers, stomach on legs but Harry is far more laid back and gentle whilst Sydney is a whirling dervish and wants to be at the centre of everything. As for coats Syd's is much easier to look after whilst Harry is a very hairy bear atm. He has more patches of white and black and Syd's is more ticked. My other 3 are also very different Henry is solid black with a very thick coat, quite chilled and sleeps for England. George is mostly black with a white chest and is never still and has never needed to be clipped, i occasionally trim his legs (1/2 working) and Jasper is mostly red with a white chest a very easy coat and he is also very active. Jasper actually changes colour, when his coat is long it is very red but when clipped a pale orange.

[suzysu]

..I have two blue roan girls and they are both totally different.     One is lively and never sits still and the other is laid back and only moves if she has to    Both are gooooooorgeous and a good balance for each other 

[Harriet]

Thanks for all your replies. Yes health and temperament is way more important than colour but she is still coming to the terms of the loss of her Cockers  I'm getting my little baby soon, so I think she will decide for herself from then 

[Anita breathes Cockers]

Well said Jane