Yup- I've been asked all the above and many many more. I remember
when Bella was a youngster and we were at a dog show with the Aussies.
Everytime I pulled her out and had her on the table I'd notice the
handlers in the corner sorta pointing staring, and whispering. Now some
people would think this was bad right? Nope at the end of the weekend
one finally came up "What IS she?" because you see no one here had SEEN a
standard poodle with the phantom coloring. Bella was the first to my
knowledge in this province. The first. the only. And actually may
still be. Usually the second sentence uttered is "WOW I LOVE IT!"
The
phantom coloring is unique. When I saw it I fell in love with it It
became my dream poodle. However at the time (2008) there were not many
breeders around And I was not willing to get a dog with out the
personality and conformation that would give me a life long friend. I
had in fact given up on getting a phantom at the time until I heard
through friends of Bella's litter. Here I had friends who let me know it
was a breeder I trusted, the dogs had great personalities and it was
going to be a Phantom litter. My dream poodle- not just personality,
but color was a possibility!
Phantom is a color
pattern. The lighter 'points' is a pattern seen in many many breeds.
When you breed Phantom to Phantom theory is (no genetic test yet for it)
that you get 100% phantom babies. However reality is they don't always
LOOK the same. Why? Other colors, dilutions and patterns come into play.
There is always a 'solid'. These are usually cream. Knowing genetics
and that Phantom is dominant these are actually Cream on Cream
phantoms. You just cant see the pattern. If bred to another phantom
they will produce phantom pups. If the parti pattern is carried you can
get Tri colored pups. That is parti colored puppies (Ie spotted
poodles, or pinto colored poodles) with the phantom markings over top.
So they have 3 colors. If brindle is carried, it can also be
expressed. Dilution genes such as those who create Blue and silver
poodles also can be present.
A great site that goes through this is here: http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/
I
look forward to seeing what this litter brings us. And how their
colors develop over time. I'm putting here pictures of Bella from birth
to current age. One noticeable thing is that her points lighten in
color. This is common for any apricot color in poodles. Her base color
has maintained a solid black. Phonsey is a blue standard- born black
his color has lightened to a steel grey almost black color. This litter
should have both blues and black puppies. We will not be able to tell
which will be blue or black as the phantom markings cover up the hints
to future color.
 |
| Bella- center- just before flying to our house. Photo courtesy Silken Poodles |
 |
| Bella 8 weeks. Points still apricot |
|
 |
| Bella 4 months. Points now a dark cream |
 |
| Bella age 2- her points are now a cream |
Color
genetics is a topic you can loose yourself in for hours! But learning
how it works helps produce puppies more towards the end goal of fabulous
quality dogs with this fabulous color pattern.
