Almost all poodles colors fade, unless they come from a strong background of one particular dominant color and genes.
Most true blacks poodles are black at birth, have all their black pigment in on their toe pads and nose, and come from black parents or dark colored parents with a mostly black background. Browns and reds can produce black puppies as well, I think. Also most true blacks are born PURE black, with not a white hair or toe nail anywhere.
Silvers are born dark, and unless placed next to a true black puppy you would never know the difference. Silvers can all be different shades, with the lighter shades of silver taking the longest to fade out...some as long as 4 or more years to reach their final adult color which may fade even more in their older years.
Normally if you shave a silver puppies face down at 6+ weeks you will see a noticeable difference in the color between the shorter face and longer top knot hair.
Blue puppies are born dark like a black, but are even harder to tell from a black puppy. Many Blues are born with only a single white toe nail, or have a few white hairs...but silvers can have this as well. A blue can take on a brownish black look as they age, but normally at 4 or more years old when placed next to a true black dog the same age there is a visual difference that is not as obvious as at a younger age.
In my opinion, I think that most blacks are born all black, so if you have a young puppy with a bit of white on it, or it is missing pigment on its paw pads or has white toes...there is a good chance it is going to fade to blue or silver.
I am sure someone else can explain it better than I can or can point you to a site that has tons of pictures to show the difference.
Most true blacks poodles are black at birth, have all their black pigment in on their toe pads and nose, and come from black parents or dark colored parents with a mostly black background. Browns and reds can produce black puppies as well, I think. Also most true blacks are born PURE black, with not a white hair or toe nail anywhere.
Silvers are born dark, and unless placed next to a true black puppy you would never know the difference. Silvers can all be different shades, with the lighter shades of silver taking the longest to fade out...some as long as 4 or more years to reach their final adult color which may fade even more in their older years.
Normally if you shave a silver puppies face down at 6+ weeks you will see a noticeable difference in the color between the shorter face and longer top knot hair.
Blue puppies are born dark like a black, but are even harder to tell from a black puppy. Many Blues are born with only a single white toe nail, or have a few white hairs...but silvers can have this as well. A blue can take on a brownish black look as they age, but normally at 4 or more years old when placed next to a true black dog the same age there is a visual difference that is not as obvious as at a younger age.
In my opinion, I think that most blacks are born all black, so if you have a young puppy with a bit of white on it, or it is missing pigment on its paw pads or has white toes...there is a good chance it is going to fade to blue or silver.
I am sure someone else can explain it better than I can or can point you to a site that has tons of pictures to show the difference.
. Fun discussion about my new toy (pun intended) and new best friend, thanks very much. (when I'm on the other computer I'll post another photo, promise)
