I was really curious about the AKC standards for nose and lip color so I contacted a Judge I have been in contact with for information. This is the reply I got.
Lisa,
Concerning your question about the liver nose, lips,etc. The AKC breed standard reads as follow:
Color
The coat is an even and solid color at the skin. In blues, grays, silvers, browns, cafe-au-laits, apricots and creams the coat may show varying shades of the same color. This is frequently present in the somewhat darker feathering of the ears and in the tipping of the ruff. While clear colors are definitely preferred, such natural variation in the shading of the coat is not to be considered a fault. Brown and cafe-au-lait Poodles have liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, dark toenails and dark amber eyes. Black, blue, gray, silver, cream and white Poodles have black noses, eye-rims and lips, black or self colored toenails and very dark eyes. In the apricots while the foregoing coloring is preferred, liver-colored noses, eye-rims and lips, and amber eyes are permitted but are not desirable. Major fault: color of nose, lips and eye-rims incomplete, or of wrong color for color of dog.
Therefore, considering the dog is red, which in my opinion falls into the brown lines, liver is acceptable.
As for Checking out a litter of puppies, I would be more than happy to evaluate them for you.
Hope this helps,
Ray
