Red "beard" on brindle?

[Guest posting as: Darcys mom]

Hi,

For those Cairn owners who have the black/brindle colored cairns: We have a brindle/some silver/black female but her beard around her nose is beginning to come in red. I was just wondering if anyone else who have the brindle is having this hapen, and if so, is it normal? It just seems weird that she is dark all over and then she has this red on her snout. Her beard under her chin seems to still be brindle.

Thanks,

Sandy

[MikeC]

Brindles are tough to call when it comes to multiple coloration. When I got Duffy the breeder told me his color was red brindle. From the age of 10 weeks (when he came to live with us) to about 5 months he was mostly black with just some red highlights. As time has gone on (he is now 14 months old) he is at least 4 different, distinct colors; a little black, a little red, lots of what I can only classify as light ash blonde and silver grey around his eyes and muzzle. While it sounds wierd his coloring is actually quite pretty. So I would say that there is no such thing as normal when it comes to coloring and Cairns.

MikeC

[ParNone]

Maddie was a Brindle and her hair color changed all through her life. The last couple of years, she use to get a moppet of Red hair on top of her head. Looked like she was sporting a toupee.

Les...

[toomanypaws]

I have 2 brindles, Kiara is a red brindle and Hannah is a cream brindle. At 3 1/2, Kiara has changed from very dark to light back to a darker shade w/ red highlights. Her face seemed to always stay dark. Hannah is a cream brindle and the breeder thought she'd lighten up to have more cream in her but she stayed on the dark side. She was very black as a newborn w/ just a few cream streaks in her. Her face stayed black for a long time but started getting some auburn in the mask. You can click on my user name to go to my profile and see my cairns webpage (which needs updating.) Scroll down and you'll see just how dark Hannah was. Here's a picture of her now at 8 1/2 mths. Look at all the red in her muzzle! It's no telling what color she'll end up. I think she may go a little lighter and than dark again, we'll see . . .

[Carolinasmom]

If you look at the first pic I posted under the "Carolina's Birthday" thread, you'll see she has some light gray on either side of her nose that leads to a bit of red. She doesn't even look like the same dog compared to about 4 years ago. She's much darker all over now.

[Guest Darcy's mom]

Yep, Hannah is a deadringer for Darcy. Then there is no telling what colors might come out in her. She will be 2 in March. Still young. Thanks for all the input from everyone.

Sandy

[Eliz222]

Scout was all black when we adopted her at age 10 weeks. She is now 2.5 and is a grey brindle. She has some red in her coat, so I'm not sure is she is now a red brindle or a grey brindle?

She is outside in this picture but you can see the red in her coat.

[toomanypaws]

I might be wrong Shoe, as I'm no expert, but I think Scout would be considered a red brindle being there's red in her. I don't think the grays have any red in the body.