Black but a bit brown too!

[lolajays]

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

[Saffie]

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.

[Colin]

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.

[lolajays]

Thanks Colin Ill have a look for it now!

[Tracy S]

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?

[spanielcrazy]

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!

[lolajays]

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!

[Helen]

it's likely she's shedding her winter coat which in comparison to her new summer version may appear a bit dull and brownish....

[Brimbeck(Dyllan)]

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

[lolajays]

Maudie looks fantastic

Thank you
Maudie has the most fantastic personality too! I love her to bits!

[Elisa]

She's beautiful 

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.

[ladylola]

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.

[LoveCatz]

Maudie is  Our Pepsi is solid black but she can look like she's got brown tinges in the sun or when she needs trimming.

[*Adele*]

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!

[DennyK]

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.