COATS AND COLORS

Cocker Spaniels have a richer variety of colors than perhaps any other breed. Genetically, black is dominant to all other colors, which is why vivacious tricolors such as black, white and tan or blue roan and tan are relatively uncommon.


WIDE-RANGING COLORATION
Cocker coats are classified into solid and parti-colors. Included in solids are black, chocolate, deep autumn red, liver, and light cream; black-and-brown-and-tan also comes under this grouping, with tan points on specific areas of the body, such as in spots over the eyes. Parti-colors are coats of two or more distinct colors, one of which is white; these are subdivided into ticked, roaned, mixed, and tricolors. A ticked coat is primarily white with one or two colors through its hair; a roan has more evenly blended; a mixed dog has two well-broken colors, one of which is white; and tricolors have three solid blocks of color. Breeders rarely cross solids with parti-colors.

COAT LENGTH AND TEXTURE
American Cockers usually have longer coats than their English cousins because they are bred primarily as show dogs rather than working dogs. In terms of texture, the darker the color the denser the coat. Light colored coats are silkier than the darker colors; parti-colored and tan dogs will have a mixture of dense and fine hair. Ticked coats are also silky and have less feathering than dark coats. Some breeders feel that the solid chocolate coat has a tendency to be woolly.


Here are some types of colors:

Blue Roan - This is a popular mix of black and white. Roans also occur in orange, lemon, and liver.





Solid Colors - Black dominates all solids - if one parent is black, there is a 50 percent chance of each puppy in the litter being black. Chocolate was developed as a solid color quite recently.
















Orange-and-White - Mixed colors actually predate solid colors, and existed in Spaniels well before Cockers were recognized as a distinct breed.

Black-and-White - The striking contrast between black and white in this American Cocker's luxuriant coat makes it a popular parti-color for breeders.

Tricolored - This is genetically one of the most complicated coat patterns.

Buff Coat - This is a recent color in terms of Cocker evolution, with a wide range of shades to choose from.

Brown-and-Tan - For showing purposes, tan should be 10 percent or less of the color.


PUPPY PAW COLORS
It is sometime possible to tell the adult color of puppies born with light coats by looking at the color of their pads. For example, newborn puppies with black pads and noses are likely to become blue roans as adults. Puppies born with pink- or pink-and-black-flecked pads and noses may develop black-and-white coats or even black-and-white ticked coats later in life.