Poodle Color

Question
Hi Kim,

I recently bought a poodle puppy (she is just 11 months old) and I would like your advice on her color.  She is registered as black.  The breeders normally breed silvers and whites.  In fact, her dam is silver (as is every dog behind her in a 4 generation pedigree) and her sire is white (as is every dog behind him in the pedigree).  

She does not look like a true black to me.  She is not inky, jet black, more very dark grayish, with a brown tint.  She has many silver hairs throughout her body.  These hairs very easily pull out. She also has some silver hair between her toes.

I realize that she is probably between puppy and adult coat, but do you think she might be a blue?  If so, what type of shampoo would you recommend?  The breeders recommended Chris Christiansen Black on Black, but is she is not a black, I would rather not use the color enhancing shampoo.

Thanks so much for your help!

Answer

My Blue Riot Hello Connie,
If you say that she has brown tints in her hair, this could mean that she probably IS a Blue and not a Black.  Blues tend to have brown in their hair as puppies and that brown usually goes away with the dogs first trimming.  Her legs may turn Silver and maybe on the tips of her ears and topknot (if its allowed to grow long).  Genetics are very hard to decipher if you don't know what you are doing, but I would say that since the Dam is a Silver and the Male is a White, and since Blue can come from Silver that she is probably a Blue.  

I would use the color enhancing shampoo once in a while to highlight the Black in her coat, but otherwise you can use any conditioning shampoo of your liking.  Just make sure that it has conditioners in it to help keep the hair from breaking.

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions for me or would like more information about Blue dogs, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim