Miniature Schnauzer Colors
Where Do All these Colors Come From? Are They Purebred, & Can You Register Them With AKC?
Black
AKC Registration Color Code: 007
Born with solid black bodies. It is common for black schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.
Blue
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 007
(Diluted Black) Born with solid blue bodies. It is common for blue schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, blue pads, and a blue nose.
Black & Silver
AKC Registration Color Code: 016
Born with black bodies and white on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have dark brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.
Blue & Tan
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 016
(Diluted Black & Silver) Born with blue bodies and tan on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have dark brown or hazel-looking eyes, blu pads, and a blue nose.
Black & Tan
This is a rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 016
Black & Rusts are born with a Black base coat and have orange or rust-colored eyebrows, beard, chest, and, patch under the tail. Black & Rusts are born in many different shades of orange/rust, the darker the orange/rust, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as a Black & Silver through AKC and typically have brown eyes; black pads and a black nose.
Why is Phantom Used In Different Colors? What Does it Mean? Is It Also A Purebred?
They are NOT two separate colors, and yes they are still purebred Miniature Schnauzers. We also use this term in Liver & Tans and sometimes others as well.
Liver
AKC Registration Color Code: 123
Liver (brown) schnauzers are born with solid brown bodies. Some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes are common. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, chocolate pads a chocolate nose.
Lilac
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 123
Lilac (diluted brown) schnauzers are born with solid lilac bodies. Some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes are common. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, lilac pads a lilac nose.
Liver & Tan
Liver & Tan
Liver & Tan Phantom
AKC Registration Color Code: 124
Born with solid chocolate bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, chocolate pads & a chocolate nose.
Lilac & Tan
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 124
Born with solid lilac bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, lilac pads & a lilac nose.
Liver & Rust
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 124
Liver & Rust's are born with a liver base coat and have orange or rust-colored eyebrows, beard, chest, and, patch under the tail. Liver & Rusts are born in many different shades of orange/rust, the darker the orange/rust, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as a Liver & Tan through AKC and typically have brown, hazel, OR green eyes; brown pads, and a brown nose.
Are White Schnauzers Considered a “defect” or an “albino?”
No, they are not. Albino is a term that many people find confusing. A true albino has an absence of color throughout its entire body meaning it will have pink/red eyes, pink skin, pink pads pink eyelids & pink lips. Some think it is a synonym for white, and refer to any dogs that are white as an “albino” which is entirely incorrect.
So just to be clear White Schnauzers are NOT a defect, and they are NOT albino’s.
White Schnauzers are extremely popular, healthy & live long lives. The colors white, Cream, and Red are created by what's called ee on the dog's e locus of the dog's genetic coat color pannel.
White
AKC Registration Color Code: 199
White Schnauzers are born with solid white fur. Their skin has a gray/black tint to it. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.
White Chocolate
AKC Registration Color Code: 199
A true White Chocolate Schnauzer is born solid white. The skin underneath their hair is usually pink. They typically have brown, hazel, OR green eyes; brown pads, and a brown nose.
Red
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 224
Reds are born in many different shades of orange/red, the darker the color, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.
Rust
This is an extremely rare color.
AKC Registration Color Code: 224
Reds are born in many different shades of orange/red, the darker the color, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.
Cream
AKC Registration Color Code: 224
Creams are born in many different shades. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.
Sable/Fawn
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
AKC Registration Color Code: 224 or 167
This is another rare colored schnauzer as well. They are registered as a Salt & Pepper or wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel, or green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose. Sable is on the same "a" locus as salt and pepper are.
Salt & Peppers
AKC Registration Color Code: 167
Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light. No matter how dark or light the puppy is, Salt & Peppers usually always have a tan shade on the sides of their body at birth. Salt and peppers have banded hairs of gray that almost always turn silver/gray as adults. If you aren’t familiar with “banded hairs” that just means each strain of their hair has three shades of color on it instead of only one solid color. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.
Platinum Silver / Silver
Sorry, I don't have an example of a true platinum silver at this time.
This is what a lot of people are calling Platinum Silver, but this is still considered a Sable Schnauzer
AKC Registration Color Code: 167
Platinum silvers are the lightest shade of salt & pepper schnauzers you can find. They are born a very light gray color and may have banded hairs that turn into an extremely light silver, and some can even appear almost white. AKC registers Platinums as Salt & Pepper. They usually have Brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.
Liver Peppers
AKC Registration Color Code: 498
Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light just like the Salt & Pepper. Liver Peppers are the recessive are recessive to salt and pepper and have banded hairs of brown/chocolate that usually always fade out into a lighter brown/chocolate as adults. They usually have brown, hazel, OR green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.
Salt & Pepper Parti
This photo is not mine I got permission from another breeder to use it as an example for this page.
AKC Registration Color Code: 167
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Salt & Pepper Parti's possess a Salt & Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Every parti has different markings; Some have their Entire back one color and the underside white, some breeders call those "Blanket Parti's." This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Salt & Pepper Parti. Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light just like the Salt & Pepper. Salt & Pepper Partis have banded hairs of gray & white on the gray patches that usually always fade out into a lighter gray as they age. They typically have brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.
Black Parti
Black Parti "Blanket Parti"
This photo is from another breeder whose I was granted permission to use.
AKC Registration Color Code: 007
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Black Parti's possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The patches on a Black Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Some Partis have a solid color on their backs, that is why some breeders call them blanket partis. This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Black Parti. Their markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.
Black & Silver Parti
AKC Registration Color Code: 016
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Black & Silver Parti's possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Black & Silver Parti's are just the same as a black parti but have white eyebrows, white chest and white beard just like a Black & Silver would have. The spots on a Black & Silver Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Their Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.
Liver Parti
Liver Parti "Blanket Parti"
AKC Registration Color Code: 123
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Liver Parti's possess a Liver base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The spots on a Liver Parti sometimes fade out into a liver pepper color as adults. Some Partis have a solid color on their backs, that is why some breeders call them blanket partis. This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Liver Parti. Their Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.
Liver & Tan Parti
AKC Registration Color Code: 124
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Liver & Tan Parti's possess a Liver base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. They are just the same as a Liver parti but have white eyebrows, a white chest and a white beard just like al Liver & Tan would have. The spots on a Liver & Tan Parti sometimes fade out into a liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose
Liver Pepper Parti
Sorry I don't have an example at this time
AKC Registration Color Code: 498
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Liver Pepper Parti's possess a Liver Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The spots on a Liver Pepper Parti sometimes fade out into a light liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.
Roan Parti
Liver Roan Parti
Black Roan Parti
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
AKC Registration Color Code: Black (007), Liver (123)
and so on depending on the color.
Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038
Born in many different colors just like a regular parti does except where the white is, whatever color the dog's spots are will start growing in with white hair making it look smoky. It's gorgeous; this is also a more rare marking. One thing you need to know is that Ticked Parti markings change drastically over time. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose depending on the color of the dog.
Parti Merle's
Blue Parti Merle
Liver Parti Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
Parti Merles are just the same as Blue, Black & Silver, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Platinum silver, and Wheaten Merles except they have patches/spots of the merle marking on their body. Merle Parti can be a combination of any color above with White that goes over the top line of the dog. Usually, they will have mostly White legs too. Eye and nose color will follow suit of the dog's base color. If they are Blue, Salt& Pepper, Black & Silver, or Silver Parti Merle they usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. If they are Liver, Liver Pepper, or Liver & Tan Parti Merles, then they will have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.
Blue Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Blue Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas all over their body. Blue Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. They come in many shades. But you will never see banded shades together if it is pure. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.
Black & Silver Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Black & Silver Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same as the blue merle, but it has white eyebrows, a white chest, and white under the tail just like a black and silver Schnauzer. Black & Silver Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.
Black & Red Merle
This is a rare color.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Black & Red Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same as the blue merle, but it has red eyebrows, a red chest, and red under the tail just like a black and red Schnauzer. Black & Red Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.
Salt & Pepper Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
This color Merles base coat is Salt & Pepper with diluted gray colored areas all over their body. Salt N Pepper Merle is the same as a true Salt N Pepper Schnauzer, banded shades of gray with Black Spots. As in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Salt N Pepper's can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Some breeders are calling their dogs Salt N Pepper Merles when in fact they are Blue Merle. To know the difference, look for the banded hair. They usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose.
Silver Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
This color Merles base coat is Salt & Pepper with diluted gray colored areas all over their body. Salt N Pepper Merle is the same as a true Salt N Pepper Schnauzer, banded shades of gray with Black Spots. As in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Salt N Pepper's can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Some breeders are calling their dogs Salt N Pepper Merles when in fact they are Blue Merle. To know the difference, look for the banded hair. They usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose.
Liver Pepper Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Liver Pepper Merles base coat color is Liver with a Peppering gene on top, they have diluted colored areas all over the body. Just like in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Liver Pepper can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Your dark spots can also be peppered. Some breeders are calling their dogs (Liver, Chocolate, or Brown) Merles when in fact they are Liver Pepper Merles. To know the difference look for the banded hair. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.
Liver Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Liver Merles base color is Liver (brown) with diluted colored areas all over their body. Liver Merles are the primary color of a brown cream color with true Liver (Brown) spots. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.
Liver & Tan Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
A Liver & Tan Merle base coat color is Liver & Tan with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same same as a Liver Merle except it has tan eyebrows, tan beard, and, tan under the tail just like a regular Liver & Tan Schnauzer. Some Liver & Tans can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.
Sable Merle
This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.
These Photos Are From Another Breeder, These Are Not My Dogs.
My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.
Sable Merle is the hardest color for people to understand. Most breeders will mistake them at birth as another color. They come in Cream, Peach, or Apricot looking colors. Their birth spots are not true and not jet Black. Sables will most likely fade out to the Cream color by six months old due to the sable gene working like the slat and pepper since they are both on the "a" locus You will not see their Merle markings at all for the rest of their life. This is a proven fact about color. Most will call them Blue Merle at birth, but they are not Blue at all. For this color, I have posted each line with the same dog so you can see some of the significant color changes in this color. True Wheaten Merles will have black noses, black pads, and brown, or blue eyes
Merle Schnauzers
Are Merles Pure Bred Dogs?
I cannot attest to everyone else's dogs but mine in fact are. I have Daisy, Rose & Duke as well who are all purebred and I have breed certificates on them all to prove this through embark vet. If you would like to see them please ask I would be more than happy to send them to you. They test over 200,000 different genetic markers that can go back as far as 5-6 generations.
Are Merles Healthy? / Do They Shed?
Please look up Cora, Rose, Duke, Davie & Daisy's full DNA genetic vet report done on both of my merles. They have been tested for over 168 different hereditary issues that can be passed down to puppies and not a single one is affected by any issue, not even a carrier. So all this bad talk on merles is not even true, it's all made up. Words are words but evidence or proof is far more valuable!! Merles ARE healthy and are just the SAME as any other Schnauzer. I own a few, and I see nothing different about them at all, and NO they DO NOT shed.
Are Merles AKC Registered?
Yes, some are registered with AKC but the majority are MSCA, APRI, or CKC registered. Registration is just a piece of paper stating the dog is purebred. It does not matter with what registry it comes from as long as the dog is in fact registerable.
Is It True That They Have Problems with Blindness & Deafness?
No, absolutely not or we would not keep breeding them neither would any other responsible breeder. What had happened was, when merle Schnauzers first came about some breeders bred Merles to Merles, and that is bad. If people did a little research, they would find out that in just about every breed of dog that has merle coat colors, breeding Merle to Merle is a MAJOR no-no. If you breed Merle to Merle 1 in every four puppies is born with blindness or deafness. So it's simple, we NEVER breed Merle to Merle. So, therefore, there are NEVER any health issues. If you would like to see it for yourself, you are more than welcome to come here. Just give us a call, and we can schedule a day for you to come.
What Colors Do Merles Come In?
Merles come in many different colors. There are Blue, Blue & Tan, Black & Silver, Lilac, Lilac & Tan, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Silver, Sable, and Red Merles. They come in parti markings as well in the same colors. Whatever the merles base coat color is, the merle gene dilutes the coat color in different areas, that is how the Merle pattern is created