One of the beautiful things about the Australian Labradoodle is the rainbow of colors found within the breed. However, when breeders talk about Labradoodle pigment, they aren’t necessarily talking about coat color.

Pigment refers primarily to the color we see on the nose, eye rims, lips and other areas of exposed skin.

An Australian Labradoodle pigment is one of two dominant colors:

• Black pigment — a black nose, dark eye rims and black pigmentation around the lips.
• Brown pigment — sometimes called liver pigment — a brown nose with coordinating brown pigmentation around the eyes and lips.

Both are beautiful expressions of Australian Labradoodle genetics.

Coat Color and Labradoodle Pigment Aren’t the Same Thing

This is where things get a bit complicated, though interesting.

A dog’s coat may be cream, caramel, red, chocolate, black, or another recognized color; however, pigment is determined separately.

For example, two light-colored Australian Labradoodles may look very similar at first glance, but on closer look, one has a black nose and dark eye rims while the other has a brown nose and softer brown features.

That little nose tells you about the genetics underneath the coat!

So what is happening genetically?

Black and brown pigment are forms of eumelanin. Variants in a gene called TYRP1, commonly referred to by breeders as the B locus, can change eumelanin from black to brown, affecting pigmentation of the coat, nose, eye rims and lips.

Why Does Labradoodle Pigment Matter to Breeders?

Understanding pigment genetics helps breeders predict colors and pigment combinations, at least statistically, that may appear in a litter.  Breeders can make decisions over generations.

It is one small piece of understanding the genetics behind the dogs we love.

Other genes influence coat color: fading, silvering, and patterns, including parti and white spotting. We’ll discuss these interesting influences in a later blog.

When it comes to coat color, however, good breeding practice means appreciating its beauty while keeping its importance in perspective.

The Whole Dog Always Comes First

Color and pigment can be fun and fascinating, but they should never become more important than the qualities that truly matter.

Health, temperament and sound structure come first.

A responsible breeding program doesn’t sacrifice those qualities to pursue a particular color, marking, or nose pigment.

At GALA, we believe there is room to appreciate the remarkable variety within the Australian Labradoodle while always keeping our focus on the whole dog.

Because whether the nose is black or brown, whether the coat is dark, light, solid or patterned, every Australian Labradoodle has its own special beauty. See the GALA Australian Labradoodle color guide.

At GALA, our mission is to preserve and improve the Australian Labradoodle through responsible breeding, education, collaboration, and transparency. We believe informed families make the best lifelong homes, and we hope our educational library helps you make confident decisions for both you and your canine companions.

Written by Anita Main for GALA Education

Anita is a co-founder of the Global Australian Labradoodle Association (GALA) and has bred Australian Labradoodles for more than 18 years. She is passionate about preserving the breed through responsible breeding, education, and genetic diversity.

Sources & Further Reading

• Schmutz, S. M., & Berryere, T. G. (2007). Genes affecting coat colour and pattern in domestic dogs: a review. Animal Genetics, 38(6), 539–549.
  A very useful scientific overview of the genes responsible for canine coat color and pigmentation, including brown versus black eumelanin.
• University of California, Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL). Brown (B Locus) – Dog Coat Color.
  Particularly relevant to this article. UC Davis explains how variants in the TYRP1 gene produce brown rather than black eumelanin and affect nose and skin pigmentation as well as coat color.
• National Human Genome Research Institute / Dog Genome Project. Canine Coat Color Genetics.
  Useful background on how researchers use canine genetics to understand inherited variation in coat color and other traits.
• Kaelin, C. B., & Barsh, G. S. (2013). Genetics of pigmentation in dogs and cats. Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, 1, 125–156.
  A more technical scientific reference explaining the molecular genetics responsible for pigmentation in dogs.