[cbrand]

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.

Therefore, considering the dog is red, which in my opinion falls into the brown lines, liver is acceptable.

This judge is incorrect. Genetically Red is in the Cream/Apricot spectrum NOT the Brown.

While liver pigment on an Apricot/Red is not a disqualifying fault, it is undesirable and frankly Poodle judges really hate to see it. One would be hard pressed to ever finish a Red or Apricot poodle who had liver pigment.