Akita Colors
Here I have listed all the colors that AKC will accept forcolor designations and patterns on the registration "blue slips". Some ofthem are listed on the blue slip. These I have are written in adifferent color: In most cases both a primary color and a supplementaldescriptor are needed for correctly describing the color of your Akita. Astime allows I will add some links to illustrate the various colors and patterns. In themeantime I hope this will be helpful.
The Primary Colors are:
Black: This is actuallya fairly rare color. In most cases there is some shading, or the undercoatis a different color. In fact most Akitas have some shading of outer or undercoat.
Brown
Red
Fawn
Silver
White
Black Brindle: This is for thebrindle who at first glance appears to be black but on closer inspection obviously has atleast a few stripes. Some black brindles are so black that the only way you knowthey are really a brindle is when the coat is shaved close. Many, especially pet, ownershave found this out only when the dog has had to be shaved for surgery or other reasons.
Brown Brindle: Black stripeson a brown background. Sometimes if the dog is heavily brindled it can look like it isbrown stripes on a black background.
Red Brindle: Black stripes ona red background or the reverse as above.
Fawn Brindle: Black stripes ona fawn background. This pattern includes what are called "blue brindles" whichcan be quite exotic looking. The background is a pale fawn and the stripes are a pastelgray blue. This is a very uncommon color.
Silver Brindle: Black stripeson a silver background. Some confuse this with with fawn brindle, but to be a true silverbrindle there should not be any fawn or reddish color to the stripes. The stripes aresilver and black. Some people confuse the silver brindle with a blue brindle. Ifthere is no hint of fawn, then it is not a blue brindle.
Brown, Black Overlay: The"overlay" colors will describe many Akitas. The base coat is brown butthere are black hair tips that give the dogs coat a darker shading. The black overlay canbe very sparse or quite heavy. If it is heavy the top of the dog including the neck, backand tail can look quite dark or black.
Red, Black Overlay: Red coatwith black tips and/or guard hairs.
Fawn, Black Overlay: Fawn coatwith black tips and/or guard hairs.
Silver, Black Overlay: Silvercoat with black tips and/or guard hairs/
Black, Brown Undercoat: Mostso called black Akitas fit into one of these categories. At first glance the dog appearsblack but when you look closely there is shading and a lighter undercoat. Manyfanciers refer to this as a "shaded black".
Black, Red Undercoat
Black, Fawn Undercoat
Black, Silver Undercoat
White, Red Shading
The following are the supplemental descriptors that may beused:
Black Mask: If your doghas no white markings, other than a very small spot on the chest, toes and/or tail tip and has a black mask, then this is the descriptor you should use along with one ofthe above colors.
Black Mask, White Markings: Avery high percentage of Akitas need this color descriptor in addition to one of theprimary colors. White markings are any markings that appear on the neck,chest, belly, legsand/or tail.
Black & White Mask, White Markings: This one is also quite common and self explanatory.
Pinto: For the Akita ofone of the primary colors that has white markings on the body, other than on the neck,legs, chest, belly and tail. The white cannot cover more than 2/3 of the body. Avery correctly marked pinto would have large evenly placed patches of color over head andmore than one third of the body. If the head is the same color as the markings onthe Akita (self masked) this descriptor is used.
Pinto, Black Mask: Most pintoAkitas would fall into this category or the next one.
Pinto, Black & White Mask
Less Than One Third Body Color: Ifthe Akita is basically white but has color on the head and perhaps some on the back, thisis the supplemental descriptor that should be used. Akitas commonly called"hooded" fall into this category.
White Mask: Most oftenassociated with reds or brindles, but not always.
White Mask, White Markings
White Markings: If theAkitas muzzle is neither black nor white but the same color as the rest of the dog (selfmasked) and the dog has white markings on neck, chest, belly, legs and or tail, this isthe supplemental descriptor to use.
Hope all this helps with describing thecolor of your Akita on registration papers and otherwise. It can be confusing but once youget the hang of it you will have no problems. Just remember that you will mostlikely need to use one choice from each category; primary and supplemental.
