The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Let me preface this by saying I know zero about cocker spaniel genetics.
I've fostered lots of red/white parti's but I can't say I remember any of them looking quite like Porter. He has some very distinct patches of dark red fur within his lighter buff color. Is the lighter coloration due to silvering? I only know genetics and color standards well for pet rats and with them silvering means 50% of the guard hairs are white, so is this similiar with cockers? If it is, that is not the case with Porter as the lighter areas are actually lighter from root to tip without being intermingled with ligther hairs. It's also not the hair length making the spots appear lighter or darker as you can see where they change color withing the same area of his body. Is this just poor coloring (poor as far as ideal color goes for this variety)? Porter is neutered and his color doesn't really matter in the long run; I was just asking out of curiosity.

I thought he was a red and white but he sure is cute.

He looks like a regular red and white to me. I think the difference in what you're seeing is undercoat vs no undercoat. The backs tend to be deeper red vs the skirt and leg color.

It may fill in all the way Dawn. Usually if there is a start to pigment it will finish. could take a couple of years but it could happen.

CUTE PUP! COOL MARKINGS! LOOKS LIKE A HAND FULL OF COCKERTUDE!

Thank you Julie, that makes sense. I can't seem to recall any of the other r/w's I've fostered having a noticeable difference in shading, but my memory is no where near what it used to be.

Kallie has the exact same coloring! It always irritated me in SF because people would look at her and say, "oh she's not a pure cocker" and things like that, and because she was adopted, obviously I didn't really know but she seemed all cocker to me. (We even did one of those DNA swipes because they were on sale and sent it off! The results said up to 99.5% pure cocker, which is what I'd thought anyhow.) But people always because of her freckles would say things like, "she must be mixed with a cavalier etc."

I always said she was sort of buff or tan and white because it seems less red than other red cockers I'd seen but this thread implies that she is a red and white parti?
Here are some photos

He is a Buff and White Parti like my Chester. Red and White Parties are much darker. Parti color varieties include; Brown and White, Red and White, Black and White, Brown White and Tan, Buff and White, and Black White and Tan. Hope this helps!

I should qualify that a Red and White can have red as light as a cream color which can make it difficult to decide if you have a Buff and White or a Red and White.

Sorry Robyn but that is incorrect. All partis are red and white, there is no buff and white. I believe they have that on the AKC registration papers but that should be reserved for mismarked buffs, not parti colors. Since as you said in your post below the color can be from the darkest red to the lightest cream, they are ALL technically considered red and whites. You can certainly refer to a dog as buff and white, but in the genetic scheme of things they are red and white.

That is good to know, because what I found was this, but it is on line and so might not be acurate when I was looking for Chester's coloring. And the AKC page at something differenct, wish they could all be consistant!

From the AKC Cocker Spaniel Breed Standard
Two or more solid, well broken colors, one of which must be white; black and white, red and white (the red may range from lightest cream to darkest red), brown and white, and roans, to include any such color combination with tan points. It is preferable (NOT required) that the tan markings be located in the same pattern as for the tan points in the Black and ASCOB varieties. Roans are classified as parti-colors and may be of any of the usual roaning patterns. Primary color which is ninety percent (90%) or more shall disqualify.

Brown & White

Red & White

Black & White


Brown, White & Tan

Buff & White

Black, White & Tan

The colors listed in the AKC Cocker Spaniel breed standard are the only acceptable colors or combination of colors for conformation showing in the United States. The breed standard specifically states that "Any other colors or combination of colors to disqualify." However, despite the limited number of colors listed as acceptable by the American Spaniel Club, there are a number of additional colors/markings/patterns that are known to exist within this breed.

I think I've heard that it's like, a mix of two coat types, that people just don't like mixing. Like solid + parti = MADNESS. Or something. But I have no idea.

People always HRMPH at my cocker's freckles. Because they're apparently silly. But, he is very silly too, so they fit well.