Just for fun, let’s talk about color names/titles. Because different breeds call the same colors or patterns by different names; including Poodles and Cavaliers! Sometimes we use one or the other in labeling our Cavapoo colors. There’s no wrong or right way to do it when we’re talking about a mixed breed made up of two purebred breeds.

There are many more colors in the dog world but today we’re mostly talking about dogs with two or more colors. And I’m no expert on color or genetics, so this is just my layman’s explanation of things.

Let’s start with the basics. This is Flower, a black and white Poodle. But technically she is called a black parti Poodle. If she were a Cavalier she would be black and white.

What is a parti Poodle? Parti is a base coat of white with another color added in patches or spots. And the spot or patches can be any number of colors!

If we look at Dickens next, we know in Cavalier terms he is called a Blenheim.

But if we had a Poodle with the same colors/markings it would be a red parti Poodle.

If we have Cavalier that is black with tan markings like our sweet Glory she is called a “black and tan” Cavalier.

But if we have a Poodle with the exact same coloring, it would be called a black phantom. (those poodle people have to be “extra” with their names ;P )

Rumor’s tan is lighter than Glory’s, but still tan. I know it looks almost white here.

Same markings; different name because it’s a different breed. Oh, and one more thing. If you see a black and tan dog with a white spot on it’s chest, that doesn’t make it a tricolor! Those are what we call mismarks.

Now what happens if we add another color to those two?

If we have a black and white Cavalier and we add brown/tan “points” we would call it a tricolor Cavalier.

Noah-tricolor Cavalier

But remember our black and tan Poodle that we called black phantom? Well if we give it a white base with black patches and tan points (like our tricolor Cavalier), it would be called a black phantom parti.

Baby Bonus-a black phantom parti Poodle (aka tricolor)

Am I confusing you yet? Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz at the end of this. I just wanted to try to explain the color terms a bit. But like I mentioned since we are dealing with Cavapoos who’s parent breeds use different color terms, I will use whatever term is easier for people to identify with.

A black and tan Cavapoo is just that. A white puppy with red/apricot patches is a blenheim. A black, white and tan puppy is a tricolor.

Now, let’s throw in these cutes! A merle is kind of a marbled pattern; usually grey with specks or patches of black mixed in. (Merles can also be with a base coat of red; aka red merles).

Lyric is a merle Poodle. (Some people will argue that Poodles don’t come in this color and someone way back in time added it with another breed. I’m not here to argue about that.)

Sterling is a merle parti (white with merle patches of color)

Silver is a merle phantom parti (see the added brown points; eye brows, cheek patches, etc?) That’s the phantom in the name description.

So hopefully this post has been more fun and informative than confusing. Whatever color they are, dogs are beautiful!