COAT COLORS WHITE, BLACK and TAN (TRICOLOR)

WHITE, BLACK & TAN (TRICOLOR) Although registered by the AKC as white, black, and tan, this color is generally referred to as tricolor by Papillon fanciers. We will use the terms tricolor and white, black and tan interchangeably. Throughout this website we refer to the various shades of pheomelanin pigment as red. However, because the tricolor is called "white, black and tan", we will refer to their tan spots as "tan" and not red. It should be understood that tan includes all the various shades of color that pheomelanin pigment can produce. Why are tricolors referred to as "white, black and tan" and not "white, black and red"? The reason is simple. . . someone long ago started it and it stuck.  There are three variations of tricolor. There is the classic tricolor, the hound tricolor, and the minimal tricolor. All three variations have solid black body spots and tan under their tail. What differentiates them is the amount of tan on their face. All three should be registered as white, black & tan with the AKC. As stated previously, tricolors have tan under their tail. Interestingly, this tan is always accompanied by black hairs. Sometimes, tricolor Papillons will not have black under their tail. . . which means that they also won't have tan. Instead, they will have all white hairs under their tail. So, if tricolors can have solid white under their tail, or black and tan under their tail, can they have solid black with no tan under their tail? The general answer to this question is no. Below you will find pictures of all three variations along with a description of each.

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All tricolors have solid black body spots and tan under the tail. Above is a picture of a tricolor Papillon's tail. Typically, there will be tan directly under the tail and black on the sides. If there is no black, there will also be no tan.

This is another example of the tan and black under a tricolor's tail.

BELOW ARE PICTURES OF CLASSIC TRICOLOR PAPILLONS AND PHALENES. . .

The classic tricolor is the most common variation. Classic tricolor Papillons have solid black body spots and black heads with very specific tan points. The tan points, or pips, are restricted to the inner ears, above the eyes "eyebrows", on the cheeks, and under the tail. Regardless of shade, the points are traditionally referred to as "tan". Above CH Clearlake Bluebonnet illustrates a classic tricolor.

Above is Starstruck Sparkle Plenty AX AXJ, another beautiful example of a classic tricolor. Notice how the tan points are very distinct; the tan spots are located above the eyes (eyebrows), on the cheeks, and in the ears.

BELOW ARE ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF CLASSIC TRICOLOR PAPILLONS AND PHALENES. . .

Above is Maypole Cherry Blossom at Nouveau illustrating the tan areas on the face of a classic tricolor.	Above is JoCo's California Jewel illustrating the tan areas on the face of a classic tricolor.

Above is Eng CH Lordsrake Very Classy From Lordsrake illustrating the tan areas on the face of a classic tricolor who has no blaze.	Above is an Elite puppy illustrating the tan areas on the face of a classic tricolor as well as the black body spots.

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BELOW ARE PICTURES OF HOUND TRICOLOR PAPILLONS AND PHALENES. . .

The hound tricolor varies from the classic tricolor only in the amount of tan on the face. The hound tricolor still has solid black body spots and tan under the tail. However, instead of specific areas of tan, the hound tricolor has a mostly tan face. Above CH Clearlake Chiffon Amica illustrates a hound tricolor.

Above is the same bitch illustrating the tan face of a hound tricolor.	Above is the same bitch illustrating that the body spots are solid black in color.

Above is CH Gail's On Thin Ice of CL.  He is another excellent example of a hound tricolor.  Notice how his body spots are solid black. He has no red/tan hairs interspersed throughout the spots on his body. Also, notice how his face is primarily tan. Although not visible in the picture above, he does have tan under his tail.

Above is another picture of CH Gail's On Thin Ice of CL. Comparing the tan markings on his face to those of a classic tricolor, the dog above has a tan face. A classic tricolor, on the other hand, would have specifit tan points.

BELOW ARE ADDITIONAL PICTURES OF HOUND TRICOLOR PAPILLONS AND PHALENES. . .

Above is Matanzas Goodwill Hunting illustrating the tan face and black body spots of a hound tricolor.	Above is Nor & Swe CH Tankan's Rambling Rose illustrating the tan face and black body spots of a hound tricolor. Also notice the tan under the tail.

Above, Bindi shows a tan head and a body with solid black spots.	Above is Caro, who is illustrating a tan head, black body spots, and tan under the tail.

Above is CH Clearlake Helen Wheels illustrating a hound tricolor whose entire face is tan.	Above is Clearlake Ferris Wheel illustrating a hound tricolor whose face is mostly tan. He is not a classic tricolor because the tan on his face is one large area of tan instead of specific areas of tan.

An interesting thing to note about the hound tricolor is that the tan areas on the face tend to get larger with age. By adulthood, the tan areas have spread to cover most, if not all, of the face. Above are two pictures of Paco Lovey, showing how he had much less tan on his face as a puppy than he does as an adult.

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BELOW ARE PICTURES OF MINIMAL TRICOLOR PAPILLONS AND PHALENES. . .

Minimal tricolor Papillons have very tiny areas of tan on the face. Sometimes they have no tan or missing tan areas. For example, they may have tiny tan eyebrows but no tan on their cheeks or in their ears. Like all tricolors, minimal tricolors have solid black body spots and tan under the tail. Sometimes the tan markings will be more pronounced during puppyhood and will gradually fade. If so, this is still a minimal tricolor and should not be registered as a white & black. There is sometimes confusion between w/blacks and minimal tricolors. The easiest distinguishing factor is that minimal tricolors have tan under their tail (assuming of course there is black under the tail). Also, the tan points on their face, no matter how faint, show that it is a tricolor Papillon. Minimal tricolors produce like tricolors and not like w/blacks.

Above is Jolie Wilcox, illustrating a minimal tricolor. Notice how tiny the tan areas above her eyes are and how she has no tan on her cheeks or in her ears.	Above is Beauty Fly Jessica The New Wave. Notice the tiny pips of tan in her ears, above her eyes, and on her cheeks.

Above is Merlin. Notice how he has a small tan ring around his eyes.	Above is Buttons. Notice the tiny pips of tan above her eyes, but no tan elsewhere on her face.

Above is Havsvindens Cassiopeia illustrating a minimal tricolor. She has small tan pips on her cheeks.	Above is Eng CH Lorah's Spellbinda. If you look very closely, you can see she has tiny pips of tan above her eyes and tan behind her tail.

Above is CH Denzel The Risktaker illustrating a minimal tricolor. He has tiny tan areas above his eyes and on his cheeks. You can also see the tan under his tail.	Above is CH Haremet's Nickname. Notice the tiny pips of tan on his cheeks and how he has no tan anywhere else on his face.

Above is Int/It/Fin/Swe/Dk CH Apple Pie demonstrating how minimal tricolors may have such tiny tan spots, that they are virtually unnoticeable. Yet, when you look under their tail, you will see tan, as in the picture to the right.	Above, Int/It/Fin/Swe/Dk CH Apple Pie shows how minimal tricolors will have tan under their tail (as long as they have black). Remember, if any tricolor (classic, hound, or minimal) has no black under the tail, s/he also won't have tan.

Minimal tricolor Papillons are produced in one of two ways. The first is they carry the genes for the color. The second is that they are classic tricolors with a black mask. The mask is better illustrated on a dog with a red face such as the dog above. However, tricolors may have black masks as well, but on them, the mask is camouflaged. Sometimes, in bright sunlight, you may be able to see that the mask is darker black in color than the rest of the face, but usually, you cannot. The mask, on a classic tricolor, may hide the tan points. Picture a classic tricolor dog literally putting on a black mask. The mask may be small so that the tan points are not hidden, or the mask may be large and hide much of of tan points.

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BELOW ARE PICTURES OF ANOTHER VARIATION OF THE TRICOLOR. . .

Above, Beautyfly Sydie-Magic Fly demonstrates a variation of the tricolor that is rare. This is when the face of the dog has classic tri markings but there is red behind the head. As with all tricolors, the body spots are black and there is tan under the tail if there is also black.

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BELOW ARE PICTURES OF TAN EXTENSIONS. . .

Tricolor dogs may have tan "extensions" on their legs. These dogs are not sables because they have solid black spots on their body. Keep in mind that many other breeds (Doberman Pinchers, Rottweilers, etc.) have tan on their legs. Papillons normally don't have tan on their legs because they have white legs and the white color hides the tan markings.

Above, Sw/DK CH Haremet's Remakable Blue demonstrates a classic tricolor with tan extensions.	Above, Am/Can CH Blairwynn's Sweet As Sara Lee illustrates a hound tricolor with tan extensions.
Above Riegel Lyndylore The Wanderer illustrates a classic tricolor with tan extensions.	Above CH Denzel Luxxor Kid Classic illustrates a classing tricolor with tan extensions.
Above Mardi Gras illustrates a minimal tricolor with tan extensions..

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