Other Colors & Patterns of the Russian Salon Dog

While Red, Fawn, and Cream make up an important part of the Russian Salon Dog color palette, the breed is recognized in a remarkably diverse range of additional colors and patterns.

These include the base colors:

• Black

• Brown

• Blue

• Lilac

as well as the patterns:

• Tan

• Brindle

• Merle

These colors and patterns may also occur in combination with one another and with white.

Color can vary considerably in shade and intensity. A dog's final appearance is the result of several different genetic factors working together, including base pigment, dilution, pattern, and white spotting.

Black

Black Russian Salon Dogs have black eumelanin pigment expressed throughout the coat.

At the B locus, the presence of at least one dominant B allele allows eumelanin to appear black rather than brown.

A black-pigmented dog may genetically be:

B/B — black pigment; does not carry brown

B/b — black pigment; carries brown

The B locus establishes the dog's pigment color, while genes at other loci determine where and how that pigment is expressed in the coat.

Dominant Black vs. Recessive Black

A solid Black Russian Salon Dog can achieve its black appearance through more than one genetic pathway.

Dominant Black is associated with the K locus, where dominant black allows eumelanin to be expressed throughout the coat.

Recessive Black is associated with a/a at the A locus. A dog must inherit the recessive black allele from both parents in order to express recessive black.

A dominant Black dog and a recessive Black dog may appear essentially identical. The genetic pathway responsible for the color therefore cannot be reliably determined from appearance alone.

Both are registered simply as Black.

For breeders, however, the distinction is important. Dominant and recessive Black dogs have different underlying color genetics and may produce different color outcomes depending upon the genetics of their breeding partner.

When determining the genetic basis of a Black dog for breeding purposes, genetic color testing should be used rather than phenotype alone.

Shades of Black

Black may vary in intensity from a softer matte black to a deep blue-black.

A clean, rich black appearance without undesirable brown discoloration is preferred.

Brown

Brown occurs when eumelanin that would otherwise appear black is modified to brown.

At the B locus, a brown dog is:

b/b — brown pigment

Brown affects more than the coat. The nose, lips, eyelids, paw pads, and other eumelanin-pigmented areas will also be brown rather than black.

Shades of Brown

Brown may occur in many shades, ranging from deep chocolate to lighter chocolate and coffee tones.

The shade may also change with maturity, and some dark brown puppies become noticeably lighter as their adult coat develops.

Blue

Blue is a diluted expression of black eumelanin.

It may range from deeper slate or steel tones to much lighter gray-blue.

The dilution also affects the dog's other eumelanin pigmentation, including the nose, lips, eyelids, and paw pads.

A clean blue-gray appearance is desirable.

Lilac

Lilac is the diluted expression of brown eumelanin.

The original Russian material sometimes translates this color as "purple." For RSDCA terminology, Lilac is used.

Lilac can vary considerably in shade, from deeper muted taupe or gray-brown to much lighter diluted tones.

The nose, lips, eyelids, paw pads, and other pigmented areas reflect the corresponding diluted brown pigmentation.

Tan Point Colors

The Russian Salon Dog recognizes four primary tan-point colors:

• Black-Tan

• Brown-Tan

• Blue-Tan

• Lilac-Tan

Tan-point patterning is associated with the at allele at the A locus.

The dog's eumelanin pigment determines whether the base color appears Black, Brown, Blue, or Lilac.

Where Are Tan Points Found?

Characteristic tan markings may occur:

• on the muzzle

• on the cheeks

• above the eyes

• inside the ears

• on the throat

• as two areas on the front of the chest

• on the lower portions of the legs

• beneath the tail

Ideally, the tan pattern is clearly recognizable in these characteristic areas.

However, the amount of tan can vary considerably.

Restricted Tan

Some dogs have very limited tan markings.

One or more of the expected areas may be reduced, and in some dogs the tan can become so restricted that the dog initially appears almost entirely Black, Brown, Blue, or Lilac.

When tan is suspected, small amounts of red pigment may be found between the toes, beneath the tail, inside the ears, or in other characteristic tan-point areas.

Even a small amount of red hair in these locations can help identify the underlying tan pattern.

Extensive Tan

Tan may also be considerably more extensive.

It can cover much of the muzzle, extend higher on the legs, merge across areas of the chest, or extend farther beneath the tail.

The amount and distribution of tan may therefore differ substantially between individual dogs.

Tan Color

Tan is produced by red pigment and can range from very pale fawn or cream tones to rich brick-red.

The intensity of the tan may change as the puppy matures.

Tan-point dogs may also express a mask, which can partially obscure the tan normally visible on the muzzle. The presence of a mask does not change the registered color.

Brindle

Brindle produces darker striping over areas of red pigment.

It is associated with the kbr allele at the K locus.

The darker stripes reflect the dog's underlying eumelanin pigment and may therefore appear Black, Brown, Blue, or Lilac.

The red background can range from rich red to pale fawn.

Brindle Can Look Very Different Between Dogs

Brindle stripes may be broad or narrow.

A heavily brindled dog may appear predominantly dark with only small areas of red visible between the stripes.

A lightly brindled dog may appear predominantly red with scattered darker streaks.

Brindling may occur across much of the dog or be concentrated in particular areas.

Brindle Changes With Coat Length

Brindle is often easiest to recognize in newborn and young puppies.

As the long adult coat develops, individual stripes may become less distinct because the hairs overlap and blend visually.

For this reason, brindle patterning can sometimes be much easier to see in a shorter coat.

Brindle may also occur in combination with Tan, Merle, and White.

Merle

Merle is a pattern that modifies eumelanin, producing irregular areas of lighter and darker pigmentation.

Merle is associated with the M locus.

The registered Russian Salon Dog color list recognizes:

• Red Merle

• Fawn Merle

• Cream Merle 

• Black Merle

• Brown Merle

• Blue Merle

• Lilac Merle

• Brindle Merle

The amount and distribution of merling can vary considerably.

Some dogs have large, obvious areas of mottling, while others may have much less visible expression.

Merle May Not Always Be Obvious

Merle should not always be identified by coat appearance alone.

The visible pattern may sometimes be subtle or difficult to recognize. This becomes particularly important when a dog has known Merle ancestry.

Genetic color testing can therefore be an important tool for establishing a dog's M-locus status when the phenotype is uncertain.

Merle & Eye Color

Merle can affect pigmentation of the iris.

A Merle Russian Salon Dog may have:

• brown eyes

• blue eyes

• one brown and one blue eye

• brown eyes containing blue areas

• blue eyes containing brown areas

The degree of blue pigmentation can vary considerably.

A dog may also display merle-associated eye pigmentation even when the merle pattern in the coat is difficult to see.

Merle-Tan

Merle may occur together with the tan-point pattern.

The recognized combinations are:

• Black Merle-Tan

• Brown Merle-Tan

• Blue Merle-Tan

• Lilac Merle-Tan

In these dogs, the merle pattern affects the eumelanin portions of the coat while the characteristic tan-point areas remain based in red pigment.

The visibility and intensity of both patterns can vary considerably.

Breeding Merle

Merle Russian Salon Dogs should only be bred to genetically non-merle partners.

Because merle expression may sometimes be subtle, genetic testing is especially important when planning a breeding involving a Merle dog or known Merle ancestry.

A dog should not be assumed to be genetically non-merle solely because an obvious merle pattern cannot be seen in the coat.

Cream Merle — Important Genetic Consideration

Cream Merle cannot be reliably identified by coat appearance alone.

Cream Russian Salon Dogs are genetically recessive red (e/e). Because recessive red prevents eumelanin from being expressed in the coat, the visible merle pattern may be completely masked.

As a result, a genetically merle Cream dog may appear to be an ordinary Cream dog.

Cream Merle status must therefore be established through genetic color testing.

This is particularly important when making breeding decisions. A Cream dog should not be assumed to be genetically non-merle based solely upon the absence of visible merle patterning, especially when Merle is known to occur in the pedigree.

For breeding purposes, the dog's M-locus test result should be used to determine Merle status.

White With Other Colors & Patterns

White spotting may accompany the colors and patterns described on this page.

As with Red, Fawn, and Cream dogs, small areas of white may occur without White becoming part of the registered color.

When white is sufficiently extensive to be included in the registered color, the RSDCA registration terminology reflects the dog's predominant visible color.

When White is predominant, White is listed first.

Recognized White combinations include:

White With Base Colors

• White-Red

• White-Fawn

• White-Cream

• White-Black

• White-Brown

• White-Blue

• White-Lilac

• White-Brindle

White With Merle

• White-Red Merle

• White-Fawn Merle

• White-Cream Merle

• White-Black Merle

• White-Brown Merle

• White-Blue Merle

• White-Lilac Merle

• White-Brindle Merle

White With Tan

• White-Black-Tan

• White-Brown-Tan

• White-Blue-Tan

• White-Lilac-Tan

White With Merle-Tan

• White-Black Merle-Tan

• White-Brown Merle-Tan

• White-Blue Merle-Tan

• White-Lilac Merle-Tan

Understanding White in the Registered Color

White spotting is considered separately from the dog's underlying color and pattern.

For RSDCA registration purposes, the predominant visible color is listed first.

For example, a dog that is predominantly Black with a smaller amount of White would be described with Black first.

When the same color combination occurs on a dog that is predominantly White, the registered color begins with White:

White-Black

The same principle applies when additional patterns are involved.

For example:

White-Black-Tan

describes a predominantly White dog displaying Black and Tan coloration.

And:

White-Black Merle-Tan

describes a predominantly White dog whose colored areas express both Black Merle and Tan.

This system allows the registered color to communicate both the dog's underlying coloration and its overall visible appearance.

Understanding the Russian Salon Dog Color System

A Russian Salon Dog's complete color may be created by several genetic components working together.

When evaluating color, it can help to consider each component individually.

1. Base Pigment

Is the dog's eumelanin:

Black • Brown • Blue • Lilac

2. Pattern

Does the dog express:

Tan • Brindle • Merle

or a combination of these patterns?

3. White Spotting

Is White present in sufficient quantity to become part of the registered color?

4. Predominant Color

Which color covers the greatest portion of the dog?

The predominant color is listed first when determining the appropriate RSDCA color description.

A Note for Breeders

The wide variety of colors found in the Russian Salon Dog results from the interaction of multiple color genes.

Dogs that appear similar may carry very different color genetics, while dogs with related genetic backgrounds can sometimes look dramatically different.

For this reason, breeders should consider:

Phenotype — what the dog visibly expresses

Genotype — the color genetics the dog carries

Pedigree — colors and patterns known to occur behind the dog

Genetic Testing — particularly when identifying dilution, recessive colors, or Merle status

Understanding all four provides a much clearer picture than appearance alone.

Color is one of the beautiful and distinctive characteristics of the Russian Salon Dog, but it should always be considered alongside health, temperament, structure, movement, and overall breed type when making breeding decisions.

To learn more on other color genetics in Russian Salon Dogs Click Here