What color is he?

[Red.Apricot]

So, when my boyfriend's dog, Zobby, was born 5.5 years ago, we thought he was black and white. He's half peke for sure, and probably half pit-type-dog, since that's the only intact male seen hanging around his mom--he was mostly white, with some black ticking. Venus, Zobby's dam is solid black with a reddish black undercoat.

The back-story on Zobby is: my boyfriend's mom got Venus when she was 2, and was told that she was spayed. Her entire life, she's been a master of escape, and has had semi-regular jaunts around the neighborhood. When Venus was 12, she gained some weight and was acting lethargic. They took her to the vet, who said she was in liver failure and they could either put her down or take her home and make her comfortable. They chose the second option, and she had a puppy. They went back to a different vet, her liver is fine, and when Zobby was four months old, they were both actually fixed for realzies this time. Venus is now almost 18, and is still going strong.

Anyway, even up until Zobby was 2, he still looked black and white:

By the time he was four, we realized that he isn't--first, he had just a couple of brown hairs on his cheeks, but now he's got brown all over, mixed in with the black--mostly on his cheeks and thighs, but some is up over his back. His blaze has also extended down his nose a little.

Current photos (from newest to oldest):

And here's an in-between photo from like 8 months ago:

So anyway, it's not important, but he's obviously not black and white. Is he seal? I'm not sure if it matters, but Zobby has a single, hard coat, and the hairs on his back are maybe 2.5 inches long.

What color is this dog?

 

[MericoX]

I'm now sure what it is, but Charlie's black around her face and eyes has turned the brownish color that Zobby is. But the rest of her body (at least the black spots) are still pure black. I'm interested to know too!

 

[Red.Apricot]

I'm now sure what it is, but Charlie's black around her face and eyes has turned the brownish color that Zobby is. But the rest of her body (at least the black spots) are still pure black. I'm interested to know too!

Is Charlie the black and white dog? They have similar faces, her and Zobby.

Is hers mixed in like that? Because I've seen pictures of hounds where the black is replaced by tan, but it looks different, y'know?

 

[MericoX]

Yep, she's the black and white one. Definitely not turning tan, but it's like a brownish/black in some spots? I wonder if its due to being in the sun and it bleaching the black? Not entirely sure though.

 

[pitbullpony]

Seal, brindle or calicoing; my vote is brindle that wasn't visible before.
Seal tends to be apparent on the flanks and behind the jaw and the armpits.
Calico is when a black and tan face turns more tan; and it can creep onto the body.

 

[~WelshStump~]

Remind me a lot of a Brindle tan point Cardigan! I was once told that there is no such thing as a "Black and white" Cardigan (think, Border collie, who are mostly just black white by genetics), and that those who look that way are just so heavy in Brindle that they appear to be solid black/white, but genetically they are not. That would be my guess, as the dog ages the tan recedes, so you see more of it, think German shepherd puppies. But with the brindle on top, it takes longer, if at all, to see the tan points. I've only seen one Black/White Cardi in person who I couldn't find a brown hair on his face.