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Colours and Patterns
Doodles come in a wide variety of colours and patterns! Below you can find the colours/patterns that we may have available here at Sterling Doodles. All dogs pictured on this page are past puppies or past/present parent dogs here at Sterling doodles.
Black Tri-Colour
Black tri-colour is the most widely recognized bernedoodle colour. This colour combination is what's seen in Bernese Mountain Dogs, some Australian Shepherds, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, among other breeds. This look is characterized by a black base coat, tan points, and white paws/facial blaze.
Black Phantom & Black Phantom w/ White
Black phantom w/ white (also known as abstract phantom) is exactly the same as black tri-colour, only with smaller white markings. This colour combination is characterized by a black base coat with phantom markings (tan points) and small white markings. White markings may be located on the face, chest, toes, tail tip, etc.
Black phantom is exactly the same as black phantom w/ white, only without the white markings. This colour combination is characterized by a black base coat with tan points.
Chocolate Tri-Colour
Chocolate tri-colour is very similar to black tri-colour, only with a chocolate/brown base coat. This look is characterized by a chocolate base coat, tan points, and white paws/facial blaze.
Chocolate Phantom & Chocolate Phantom w/ White
Chocolate phantom w/ white (also known as chocolate abstract phantom) is exactly the same as chocolate tri-colour, only with smaller white markings. This colour combination is characterized by a brown base coat with phantom markings (tan points) and small white markings. White markings may be located on the face, chest, toes, tail tip, etc.
Chocolate/brown phantom is exactly the same as chocolate phantom w/ white, only without the white markings. This colour combination is characterized by a brown base coat with tan points.
Blue Merle Tri-Colour
Blue merle tri-colour is identical in appearance to a black tri-colour, only the base coat is replaced with blue merle instead of black.
Blue Merle Phantom & Blue Merle Phantom w/ White
Blue merle phantom w/ white is identical in appearance to a black phantom w/ white, only the base coat is replaced with blue merle instead of black.
Blue merle phantom is identical in appearance to a black phantom, only the base coat is replaced with blue merle instead of black.
Chocolate Merle Tri-Colour
Chocolate/brown merle tri-colour is identical in appearance to a chocolatel tri-colour, only the base coat is replaced with chocolate merle instead of chocolate.
Chocolate Merle Phantom & Chocolate Merle Phantom w/ White
Chocolate/brown merle phantom w/ white is identical in appearance to a chocolate phantom w/ white, only the base coat is replaced with chocolate merle instead of solid chocolate.
Chocolate/brown merle phantom is identical in appearance to a chocolate phantom, only the base coat is replaced with chocolate merle instead of solid chocolate.
Red tuxedo & Apricot/Cream tuxedo
Red w/ white bi-colour consists of a red base coat with white tuxedo or parti markings.
Apricot/cream w/ white bi-colour consists of a cream or apricot base coat with white tuxedo or parti markings
Red/Apricot/Cream & Red/Apricot/Cream w/ white
Red consists of a red base coat with no other markings. Some red doodles may have small white spots on their chin, chest, toes, etc.
Cream/apricot consists of a cream/apricot base coat with no other markings. Some cream/apricot doodles may have small white spots on their chin, chest, toes, etc.
Blue Merle
Blue/black merle consists of a blue merle base coat with no other markings. Some blue merle doodles may have small white spots on their chin, chest, toes, etc.
*We do not commonly have this colour available, although there may be rare exceptions*
Solid Black
Solid black consists of a black base coat with no other markings. Some black doodles may have small white spots on their chin, chest, toes, etc.
*We do not commonly have this colour available, although there may be rare exceptions*
Coat Textures and Types
Coat Type: Unfurnished
Unfurnished doodles have short plush coats like a Bernese mountain dog. Unfurnished coats aren't common in doodles as an unfurnished doodle must inherit two copies of the "Ic" gene in order to lack furnishings. This coat type is ideal for families who want a lower maintenance coat, as unfurnished doodles generally don't require much grooming compared to their furnished counterparts. Unfurnished doodles are more prone to shedding compared to their furnished counterparts.
Coat type: Furnished
Furnished doodles have classic "teddy bear" coats. This coat type is what most people think of when they imagine a doodle. Furnished bernedoodles have a long ever-growing coat that is present on all parts of the body (including the face and the legs). This coat type is ideal for families who want the classic "teddy bear" doodle look. Furnished doodles are also less prone to shedding compared to their unfurnished counterparts.
Coat Texture: Curly
Curly coated dogs have two copies of the curl gene. The curl gene acts as an incomplete dominant, which determines the texture of a dog's coat. Dogs with two copies of curl typically have ringlets, similar to a poodle, spanish water dog, or a Bichon. Brushing and blowdring a curly coated dog will make their coat look more volumous, and their ringlets will no longer be noticable.
*Please note that despite popular rhetoric, not all curly dogs are allergy friendly, the curl gene affects the dog's coat texture, not whether they are allergy friendly. Many curly coated dogs happen to also be allergy friendly, but this isn't always the case. Families with especially severe allergies should always choose a double furnished F/F puppy, or they should come to meet the dogs in person prior to bringing one home*
Coat Texture: Wavy
Wavy coated dogs have one copy of the curl gene and one copy of the straight gene. The curl gene acts as an incomplete dominant, which determines the texture of a dog's coat. Dogs with one copies of the curl gene typically have loose wavy coats, similar to a wavy coated Portuguese water dog, an old English sheepdog, most F1 goldendoodles, and most F1 bernedoodles. Brushing and blow-drying a wavy coated dog will make their coat look more straight.
*Please note that many wavy coated dogs are allergy friendly, many families with allergies can tollerate a "strongly" furnished wavy dog. Families with especially severe allergies should always choose a double furnished F/F puppy, or they should come to meet the dogs in person prior to bringing one home. Allergies are always individual, so it is impossible to guarantee whether a dog will or will not cause an allergic reaction with a specific person*
Coat Texture: Straight
Straight coated dogs do not carry for the curl gene. Dogs with no copies of the curl gene typically have loose wavy coats or pin straight coats, depending on as of yet untestable genes. Examples of straight coated dogs include: Afghan hounds, Shih Tzus, Bernese mountain dogs, Maltese, and Tibetan terriers. Brushing and blow-drying a straight coated dog doesn't tend to affect the texture quite as much as wavy or curly coated dogs.
*Please note that many straight coated dogs are allergy friendly, many families with allergies can tollerate a "strongly" furnished straight coated dog. Families with especially severe allergies should always choose a double furnished F/F puppy, or they should come to meet the dogs in person prior to bringing one home. Allergies are always individual, so it is impossible to guarantee whether a dog will or will not cause an allergic reaction with a specific person*
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