While it is the solid Poodle that is the most common, there is much to discuss regarding Phantom Poodle colouring (pronounced fantom), which are different to Parti’s.
Let’s take a closer look into the world of Poodle colours to help explain what these colours are and why they exist.
What Phantom Colouring Means
A phantom Poodle is not a different breed or type of dog, this is simply a term to describe a particular colouring of the dog.
This type of colouring, while extremely beautiful and preferred by many Poodle owners. This is much different than Parti coloured Poodles, even though both Parti and Phantoms have a mixture of 2 colours. This term only refers to Poodles that have specific markings on a solid background. The solid will usually be:
- Black, cream, apricot, red, white, silver or brown
- These dogs are broken down into more detailed groups:
- Black phantoms – black & apricot, black & red, black & cream, black & gray, black & brown or black & silver
- Chocolate phantoms – Brown & apricot
- Red phantoms – red & apricot
- Silver phantoms – silver & cream
The markings must occur on certain parts of the dogs’ coat. Many refer to these markings as Dobie markings (short for Doberman), however this pattern also appears on Dachshunds, certain Spaniels, Yorkies, Manchester Terriers and certain Coonhounds and Rottweilers.
These markings must be:
- Above each eye
- On the sides of the muzzle (also referred to as the side of the cheeks)
- Across the dog’s chest
- Down the legs
- Under the tail
All phantom Poodles are born with their markings. This does not occur as the dog ages.