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From chalk to raven, red to parti — understanding the range of Australian Cobberdog coat colours.
Australian Cobberdogs come in a beautiful range of coat colours and patterns. Understanding the colour palette can help you identify your preferences – though we always encourage flexibility, as the right temperament match should come first.
Parti – A base colour (such as chocolate, red, or black) with irregular white patches or splashes. No two parti dogs look alike. Parti patterns are caused by the piebald gene and vary widely in expression.
Phantom – A base colour with distinct tan or caramel ‘points’ on the eyebrows, cheeks, legs, and under the tail. Similar in pattern to a Dobermann or Rottweiler. Less common in the breed.
Merle – A marbled pattern caused by the merle gene. This colour pattern requires careful breeding ethics as double merle pairings can cause health issues. Reputable breeders will never breed two merle dogs together.
Yes, you can express a colour preference on your application. However, we cannot always guarantee colour availability – it depends on the specific litter genetics and what puppies are produced.
When completing your allocation form, you identify a primary preference (size, gender, or colour). Your primary preference carries the most weight in the allocation process, but the right temperament match for your family always comes first.
For some litters – particularly rainbow litters where a wide variety of colours are expected – we ask applicants to be flexible on colour. This is noted clearly in our planned litter listings.
Yes. Many Cobberdogs – particularly those in the chocolate and red families – will lighten significantly as they mature. A dark chocolate puppy may mature to a warm milk chocolate or silver-chocolate adult. Reds can fade to a golden or apricot tone. This is normal and does not indicate a health issue.
Check our planned litters or get in touch to discuss upcoming availability.