Minimal Markings and Tricolors

One of the glories of Beardies is their diverse colors and markings, enhanced by fading or darkening.

Minimally Marked Beardies

The Breed Standard specifies where white markings are generally expected to appear on a Beardie’s coat: on the face, neck, chest, feet, belly, and tip of the tail. (This coat pattern is often referred to as the “Irish pattern;” it occurs in many breeds of dogs.) However, it is also perfectly acceptable for a Beardie to not have white markings, or to have minimal white markings.

Minimally marked brown puppy

Minimally marked black adult. This dog actually has gray markings, rather than white ones.

Tricolor Beardies

Any Beardie of any coat color may also express the tricolor gene(s). A tricolor Beardie may exhibit tan markings on the eyebrows, cheeks, legs, and near the tail. Most of the time, the tan markings fade along with the rest of the coat as a puppy grows older — but occasionally, they can still be seen on an adult.

Black tri puppy in profile. Note the tan eyebrows and cheeks.	A litter of tricolor puppies, blacks and browns.	Two black tri puppies
Two brown tri puppies	Black tri puppy with noticeable tan on eyebrows and legs	Black tri puppy from the front
Black tri puppy		Fawn and black tri puppies
		Brown tri puppy
Note the tan markings on the back legs.	Fawn tri puppy in profile	Fawn tri from the front
Fawn tri puppy	Fawn tri puppy	Tan markings under the tail are unmistakable.