Phantom Poodle Color Facts and Traits

What is a phantom poodle?

As exotic as their name might sound, phantom poodles aren’t that different from other poodles. Their color and coat markings make the difference between the two. They’re just as cute and lovable, and they make an excellent pet for families and dog lovers.

What does a phantom poodle color look like?

While there are different colors of phantom poodle coats, it is generally acknowledged that their pattern is more solid than that of parti colored poodles. Phantoms are known for having a mix of two colors on their coat, but the background is more specific.

The solid color is usually black, white, cream, silver, red, or brown, with some of them also boasting an apricot color. This base color is present on the dog’s back, neck, head, top of the tail, and ears.

The second color, which can be any of the ones we’ve already mentioned, is usually present on the pet’s throat, chin, chest, eyebrows, sides of the muzzle, and most typically under the tail, on its paws, and inner sides of the legs. The markings do not show up as the dog ages. All phantoms are born with them.

By comparison, parti poodles have markings, but not on specific areas of their bodies. They can show up anywhere from their nether region to their muzzle, their paws, and even their back.

phantom poodle sizes

If you’re finding it hard to track down a poodle that suits your needs, don’t worry! You can find a Phantom Poodle in all of the same size variations. They can be as small as a toy poodle or as big as a standard poodle. If you don’t know the size of your ideal dog, take a look at the average sizes for each variety.

Are phantom poodles rare?

Yes. You might find several breeders in your country, but you might not find any in your state, for example.

Phantoms can be phantom standard poodle, toy phantom poodle, or miniature phantom poodle, and they are all pretty rare compared to other types of dogs. That’s what makes finding phantom poodle puppies for sale more or less challenging.

Phantom poodle temperament

In general, phantom poodles are affectionate, sweet, and they love playing and spending time outdoors. However, what does make the difference between this breed and others is their capability to be in tune with their owners’ emotions.

If their human or canine family members are suffering from one reason or the other, they will also feel sad. Since they are so sensitive to stress, their health may be affected in the long run.

phantom poodle genetics

There are several genotypes that make up the phantom markings. The first and most important is the KY/KY gene. the purpose of this genotype is for other colors and non-solid black to be depicted. Next, we have the AT/AT gene, which is responsible for the tan coloration and spotting to occur, and finally, either the E or the EM gene, which helps in the brindle pattern of the coat and gives that trademark black mask color marking.

If you’re not sure that your dog has these genes, there is an amazing DNA test that can help identify them.

Phantom poodle health problems

Some of the most common medical conditions that this breed can suffer from are the following:

• Thyroid problems (hyper- and hypothyroidism)
• Volvulus (bloat)
• Epilepsy
• Addison’s disease
• Hip dysplasia

Like any other breeds, they can also develop health issues as a result of them growing old. As such, they could have arthritis, heart health problems, liver and kidney complications, and even cancer by the time they reach ten years of age. The average lifespan of a phantom poodle is 10 to 13 years.

What is a chocolate phantom poodle?

A chocolate-colored poodle that belongs to this breed has a combination of brown and apricot on its coat. It’s very rare for apricot to be the base color as it usually shows up only on the markings.

What is a sable phantom poodle?

A sable phantom poodle is a variation of color that appears in some individuals. Instead of having a homogenous coat color, even if there are two tones involved in the classic phantom poodle look, a sable phantom poodle will have one specific coat color, but the hair’s tips are going to be black.

While this might not even be noticeable for areas where the coat is black anyway, it’s going to stand out in the areas where the fur is apricot or cream, for example. The base color can also be white, so if the hairs’ tips are black, it will be a noticeable trait.

Sable phantom poodles tend to be even rarer than their standard counterparts.

What is a brown phantom poodle?

The name ‘brown’ isn’t exactly correct since phantom poodles can’t be entirely brown. These phantoms are mostly chocolate, which means that the base color is brown. Therefore, the hairs on their back, neck, head, and tail are this color, but those on the markings will be apricot.

Are phantom poodles purebred?

No. According to the AKC, phantom poodles don’t even belong to a specific breed. Moreover, phantoms are genetically related to brindle poodles, making it challenging for a breeder to predict which dogs they will get.

For example, it’s not uncommon for a pair of phantom poodles to have a litter of brindle poodles and the other way around. While in most other cases, ‘brindle’ refers to a striped coat, in poodles, it means that the puppy coat is one color (and pattern), but the hair tips are black.

How to breed a phantom poodle?

To ensure that the resulting phantom poodle puppies are going to be on par in terms of colors, you need to ensure that the parents are proper breeding material.

If you get a male and a female from the same breeder specializing in a specific color combination, you have good chances of getting puppies with that coloring. Some breeders might feel like they have all rights reserved on the colors they’ve developed, but that’s not true.

Out of all the base and markings’ colors that we have mentioned, some are fading, and some are not. Some can also lead to incorrect pigment on the hair points of the poodle puppy.

Several examples of fading colorings are blue, silver, silver beige, or chocolate. That is why, if you want to get a regular coloring and pattern in the litter, you shouldn’t mix reds, apricots, or browns with the firstly mentioned colors. You may mix browns and reds with blacks, for example, as they eliminate fading and make the poodle colors more intense — but not with silver.

How much does a phantom poodle puppy cost?

Are poodles expensive to own is a question we get asked often. It depends on the breeder and the genetic material of the dogs that you’re interested in buying. However, it’s generally acknowledged that the phantom poodle price can be on the higher end.

A phantom poodle puppy may cost anything between $1,000 and $2,000, but the price can be much higher if the parents are champions, for example.

There is no specific pattern more expensive than another. Parti poodles can be a little pricier, with some breeders selling puppies for as many as $3,000.

Standard poodles (meaning the German poodle), by comparison, may cost anything between $600 and $2,000.

Health insurance, vaccination plans, and regular checkups at the vet clinic can all add up to this sum, whether you get a phantom, parti, or standard poodle.