Colors & Markings
Pomeranian’s come in many different colors and patterns. The following is a list of AKC recognized colors and markings for pomeranians (AKC.org, 2019). The description of colors are listed below (americanpomeranianclub.org, 2019).
| Color Description | Type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver | S | 349 |
| Black | S | 007 |
| Black & Tan | S | 018 |
| Blue | S | 037 |
| Blue & Tan | S | 044 |
| Blue Merle | S | 050 |
| Blue Sable | S | 481 |
| Chocolate | S | 071 |
| Chocolate & Tan | S | 072 |
| Cream | S | 076 |
| Cream Sable | S | 348 |
| Orange | S | 133 |
| Orange Sable | S | 137 |
| Red | S | 140 |
| Red Sable | S | 155 |
| Tri-Colored | S | 380 |
| White | S | 199 |
| Wolf Sable | S | 230 |
| Beaver Sable | A | 519 |
| Black & Brindle | A | 008 |
| Blue Brindle | A | 056 |
| Brindle | A | 057 |
| Chocolate Merle | A | 496 |
| Chocolate Sable | A | 350 |
| Marking Description | Type | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Brindle | S | 051 |
| Irish Marked | S | 115 |
| Mask | S | 128 |
| Merle Markings | S | 035 |
| Parti-Color | S | 038 |
| Sable | S | 026 |
| Tan Markings | S | 012 |
| Tri Color Markings | S | 024 |
| White Markings | S | 014 |
Color Description
Beaver- Beaver is a dilute form of brown (chocolate) with shades ranging from a cream-beige to an orange-brown. In previous standards it was referred to as biscuit. One distinguishing feature is self-colored beige/brown pigment on nose, lips, eye rims, and foot pads.
Black- A black is generally pictured as “coal black”, completely devoid of any white, red or brown hairs. The guard hairs are consistently the same color all over the dog’s body although some reddening, or “sun burning” of the coat may appear in those dogs which spend time outdoors. The undercoat may be lighter in color particularly prior to shedding. The points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) are black.
Black & Tan- Black & Tan poms are black poms with tan or rust. The undercoat of the base color should be a lighter shade of the base color and the points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be black. In Black & Tan dogs of equal quality, darker rust markings are preferred over lighter tan markings (for more information see Tan Points).
Blue- Blue is a solid color which is actually light to dark grey and often has a bluish cast. The undercoat is also grey. Blue puppies are born the color of silver or appear black before developing a silvery grey undercoat and a darker slate blue top coat.
Blue & Tan- Blue & Tan poms are blue poms with tan or rust. They should have blue points, the darkness of the points should be in keeping with the darkness of the base coat color (for more information see Tan Points).
Blue Merle- This is the classic gray/black pattern. The blue merle is actually a blue, black, or black & tan dog with the dilution gene acting upon the black areas of the coat. The points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) are black or blue. One or both eyes genetically may be blue, have blue flecks or be brown.
Blue Sable- Blue shaded throughout with three or more colors. This shading must be as uniform as possible with no patches of self color.
Chocolate- Brown is more milk chocolate, occasionally appearing with lighter shadings. Some reddening, or “sun burning” of the coat may appear in dogs which spend time outdoors. The points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) are brown.
Chocolate & Tan- Brown & Tan, referred to as Chocolate & Tan, are chocolate poms with with tan or rust. They should have brown points, the darkness of the points should be in keeping with the darkness of the base coat color.
Cream- Cream is a very pale orange, liver or yellow color. A cream is an even self color throughout with no white breechings. Due to the harsher texture of the guard hairs, the top coat may appear slightly deeper in color than the undercoat. Creams must have black points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads).
Cream Sable- Cream sables are cream variations with black tips.
Orange- A proper orange colored coat is a bright, clear orange and varies from a light orange to a deep rich orange. Orange Poms must have black points (eye rims, nose, lips, and pads) according to the Standard. Poms that appear orange (phenotype) as adults may be of two genetic types
(genotypes). Newborn puppy appearance will reflect this genetic
difference. More commonly a puppy is born smutty (with black hairs)
and the coat will become progressively more orange and less smutty as
the dog matures until it is bright orange. Otherwise the puppy is born
clear (without any black hairs). This is the result of being homozygous for the orange gene (both genes at that locus have the allele for orange “ee”). Homozygous oranges can still range from the palest creamy-orange to the darkest Irish Setter red; however, the pigment of their points is often not as dark as those carrying a sable gene.
Orange Sable- An orange sable has a light orange or creamy undercoat with deeper orange guard hairs ending in black tips.
Red- A true red is not dark orange, but a deep rusty red. Red poms must have black points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads).
Red Sable- In red sables the base colors have red hues with black tips.
Tri Colored- An & tan parti color is a dog who is displays both the “& tan” pattern and parti-colored pattern (a tan pointed parti). The color of the points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be in keeping with the points required for the color of the coat patches (i.e., orange, red, black, cream, sable, red merle, blue merle and brindle parti’s should have black points, blue, and blue sable parti’s should have blue points, and brown (chocolate), brown (chocolate) merle and beaver partis should have brown points).
White- White is a solid color. The guard hairs are the same color all over the dog’s body. The undercoat is also white. The points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) are black. White poms should not have a yellow tint to their fur.
Wolf Sable- A wolf sable has a light grey undercoat with a deeper shade of steel grey guard hairs ending in black tippings. There must not be cream or an orange cast to the base color. The points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) are black.
Beaver Sable- Beaver sables are coats that are shaded throughout with three or more colors. This shading must be as uniform as possible with no patches of self color.
Black & Brindle- The Black & Brindle pattern consists of stripe overlays on a black. It may appear in conjunction with another coat pattern such as Parti or Black & Tan (the stripes will show in the tan areas). The undercoat and points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be black. The stripes may be broad or thin and may extend the entire width of the body or only part of the width. Because adult Pomeranian coats become longer than their puppy coats, the stripes may appear broken in the adult coat. Some Brindles may have a dark dorsal stripe.
Blue Brindle- The Blue Brindle pattern consists of stripe overlays on a blue. It may appear in conjunction with another coat pattern such as Parti or Black & Tan (the stripes will show in the tan areas). The undercoat and points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be blue. The stripes may be broad or thin and may extend the entire width of the body or only part of the width. Because adult Pomeranian coats become longer than their puppy coats, the stripes may appear broken in the adult coat. Some Brindles may have a dark dorsal stripe.
Brindle- The Brindle pattern consists of stripe overlays on a base color. The base color is gold, red, or orange brindled with strong black cross stripes. It may appear in conjunction with another coat pattern such as Parti or Black & Tan (the stripes will show in the tan areas). The undercoat and points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be correct for the base color. The stripes may be broad or thin and may extend the entire width of the body or only part of the width. Because adult Pomeranian coats become longer than their puppy coats, the stripes may appear broken in the adult coat. Some Brindles may have a dark dorsal stripe.
Chocolate Merle- A chocolate dog with the dilution pattern acting upon it. This dog will have a chocolate nose and pigment and the pattern will be chocolate and silvery chocolate. One or both eyes may be genetically blue, have blue flecks or be brown.
Chocolate Sable- Shaded sables are coats that are shaded throughout with three or more colors. This shading must be as uniform as possible with no patches of self color.
Marking Description
Brindle- Dark cross stripes on any solid color or allowed pattern.
Irish Marked- Color on the head and body with white legs, chest and collar.
Mask- The coat pattern that gives the appearance of a mask on the dog’s face.
Merle Markings- Merle is a dilution gene. Merle can dilute black and chocolate each time it occurs including: black, black and tan, chocolate and tan, dilute black (blue), blue and tan and dilute chocolate (beaver), sables, brindles. Merling can occur in the color areas of parti-colored dogs. Other colors (red, orange, cream) show little visual effect. One or both eyes genetically may be blue, have blue flecks or be brown.
Parti Color- White base with any solid color or allowed pattern. A white blaze is preferred on the head. Ticking is undesirable.
Extreme Piebald: White with patches of color on head and base of tail.
Piebald: White with patches of color on head, body, and base of tail.
Sable- Shaded sables are coats that are shaded throughout with three or more colors. This shading must be as uniform as possible with no patches of self color.
Tan Markings- Any solid color or allowed pattern with markings sharply defined above each eye, inside the ears, muzzle, throat, forechest, all lower legs and feet, the underside of the tail and skirt. The richer the tan the more desirable. Tan markings should be readily visible.
Tri-Colored Markings- an “& tan” parti color is a dog who is displays both the “& tan” pattern and parti-colored pattern (a tan pointed parti). The color of the points (eye rims, nose, lips and pads) should be in keeping with the points required for the color of the coat patches (i.e., orange, red, black, cream, sable, red merle, blue merle and brindle parti’s should have black points, blue, and blue sable parti’s should have blue points, and brown, brown merle and beaver partis should have brown points).
White Markings- White markings that are not enough to be a parti (Irish, Piebald, or extreme piebald) are parti-factored but not a full parti.