CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => Genetics & Breeding => Topic started by: lolajays on April 05, 2007, 04:26:14 PM

Title: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on April 05, 2007, 04:26:14 PM
Ive been feeling slightly disheartened recently whilst reading some of your posts and was quite apprehensive about posting this but I am just interested. As some of you may know, Maudie's sire was a blue roan and her dam was black and tan. Maudie is a solid black however her trousers and skirt area is tinged with brown. I thought perhaps this was her puppy coat but I was reading a thread a few days ago and thought this may then be due to her breeding of a parti to a solid! Is it uncommon for this colouring? I have never seen a black close up to study its coat. The other thing I have been fretting about is her back length,is it right she should measure the same withers to foot as withers to tail? Is that Exactly? I'm concerned she is too long. I am really looking forward to entering a few shows this year just for the experience but these things are niggling me! I don't want to be laughed out of ring  :'(. Anyway I would be grateful of your comments
Here is a pic of her what do you think?

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r29/lolajays/Picture136.jpg
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Saffie on April 05, 2007, 04:29:50 PM
I know of a solid black worker that looks dark brown when the sun shines on him sometimes. I thought that if you had a roan and a solid the roan was the stronger gene and therefore roan puppies! I am sure there will be many more people along soon that know alot more than me.

Stunning woof tho you have.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Colin on April 05, 2007, 04:41:46 PM

I'm no expert in these matters but think both Black and Blue Roan can get the brownish tints, either from the sun or when they need stripping. Misty is a dark Blue Roan and her coat can sometimes look a plum colour in certain light, or at certain times of the year ( similar to Maddie in that photo.)

I think the breed standard says the measurements should be "approximately" equal. Joyce Caddy's book Cocker Spaniels Today has a good section on the breed standard, with line drawings of desirable and non-desirable characteristics - worth getting if you haven't already.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on April 05, 2007, 04:48:22 PM
Thanks Colin Ill have a look for it now!
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Tracy S on April 05, 2007, 04:50:16 PM


Louie is a Blue Roan and like Colin says, his black bits look a reddish brown in the light, he is still a puppy though and quite fluffy, How old is Maudie?
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: spanielcrazy on April 05, 2007, 04:52:27 PM
That reddish, brownish tinge is quite common and can be from a number of things: puppy coat, diet, sun bleaching, genetics. It can be seen in all colours that have black.   There are shampoos to darken blacks and put a shine on them  ;)

The breed standard describes the ideal dog and all dogs have faults. Many dogs who are showing are a bit long in the back, and Maudie certainly doesn't look too long. Don't get hung up on the measurements, it's the appearance that counts. (she's still young too, and not finished developing!)

I know Maudie is in season so you can't go to ringcraft. Try to practice stacking her in front of a mirror, there are ways you can make her appear square with stacking. Get some good books on handling to help you out.

Don't be discouraged! Remember, all the dogs in the ring have some sort of fault according to the standard, and they also have good points too. Handling is about minimizing the weak points and accentuating the good!
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on April 05, 2007, 04:59:00 PM


Louie is a Blue Roan and like Colin says, his black bits look a reddish brown in the light, he is still a puppy though and quite fluffy, How old is Maudie?
She is 10 and a bit months!
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Helen on April 05, 2007, 06:12:59 PM
it's likely she's shedding her winter coat which in comparison to her new summer version may appear a bit dull and brownish....
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Brimbeck(Dyllan) on April 05, 2007, 06:36:11 PM
Dyllan has this tint too in his puppy coat.
Dyllan's pedigree is not pure solid so it could be genetics. But for all that he is a fantastic dog, with a great nature!
He is going to be stripped next week so I'll see how "brown" he is then.

Maudie looks fantastic :luv: :luv: :luv:
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on April 05, 2007, 07:56:41 PM

Maudie looks fantastic :luv: :luv: :luv:

Thank you
Maudie has the most fantastic personality too! I love her to bits!
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Elisa on April 05, 2007, 08:48:29 PM
She's beautiful  :luv:

Harvey, 8 months has a brown tinge on the end of his coat and he is full solid  ;)  I was told it is puppy fur.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: ladylola on April 05, 2007, 09:39:57 PM
My Ellie is a solid black and looks exactly like maudie, The brown fur I would say is puppy fluff ellie has it exactly the same, it just isn,t ready to come out yet, the fur on the top of her back was the same, when I stripped it out it is a lovely shiny black, wouldn,t worry to much about her measurements either she probably isn't fully grown yet.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: LoveCatz on April 08, 2007, 02:58:13 PM
Maudie is  :luv: Our Pepsi is solid black but she can look like she's got brown tinges in the sun or when she needs trimming.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: *Adele* on April 08, 2007, 04:09:33 PM
Maudie is stunning! Chloe is just the same with the brown and after a trip to Louise at Jayzander last week she confirmed that this is puppy fluff ready to come out! After a good bit of stripping and thinning the brown is not so obvious but still there. Chloe is only 7.5 months old as well. Will try and add some pics of chloe soon as I'll be getting my grooming gear in the next couple of days so will post some before and after photos! LOL!
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: DennyK on April 11, 2007, 09:23:14 PM
Paddy (solid black, 17 months old) has these tinges too - top of legs, bit of chest area too - and I've come across two explanations.

The first is sun fading - I did see a slight lightening in these areas during last summer's warm weather, but not a massive change.

The second is genetics - most of Maudie's lineage will be solid blacks bred with solid golds - and the rusty/brownish tinge is supposed to be the result of the gold getting into the black, apparently.

Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Lee67 on April 25, 2007, 07:52:04 PM
Maudie is  :luv: Our Pepsi is solid black but she can look like she's got brown tinges in the sun or when she needs trimming.

Poppy too... ;)
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Cazzie on April 25, 2007, 08:19:36 PM
Oh she is lovely :luv: My wee one is black and is a working cocker, she too has these brown tinges, Black Labs can have this tinge to their coats too.  :blink:

Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: kate.s on April 29, 2007, 02:26:47 PM
She is beautiful. Sam has a blue roan sire and gold dam and he had tinges of brown too but too be quite honest I can't see it now so it must have been puppy coat, he is 18 months now. :D
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: cupcakebarb on September 13, 2007, 12:30:30 AM
My pup as the brown tinge as well.  He is from solid blacks but ancestors which have brown colouring.  There were two 2 choc pups in his litter.
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on September 13, 2007, 02:16:19 PM
My pup as the brown tinge as well.  He is from solid blacks but ancestors which have brown colouring.  There were two 2 choc pups in his litter.
Gosh it seems like forever ago I posted this. Maudie is now black and only black it must have been her puppy coat!
(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r29/lolajays/Picture284.jpg)
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: caro on September 13, 2007, 03:21:50 PM
She's lovely and shiny - have you shown her in the ring in the meantime?
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: Boof on September 13, 2007, 03:56:59 PM
Maudie is lovely.  :luv: Ozzy also has a 'red rinse' although he's a blue roan - though I have read other threads that have roans with a similar problem.  :blink:
Title: Re: Black but a bit brown too!
Post by: lolajays on September 15, 2007, 08:40:39 PM
She's lovely and shiny - have you shown her in the ring in the meantime?


I have shown Maudie in some companion shows and at the Bath and West show. She is beautiful but she isnt of show quality really. She does do extremely well in Companion shows though  :luv:. However we love her so much and wouldnt want to ever be without her :luv: :luv: