Coat Patterns
Roan Australian Labradoodle Puppies in Anderson, IN | Unique Coat Pattern
A roan Australian Labradoodle has colored hairs mixed into the white parts of the coat, which gives a flecked look. Roan only shows where there is white, so you see it most on parti dogs like our Sarge.
What is the difference between roan, ticking, and parti?
| Pattern | What it looks like | Where it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Parti | Mostly white with solid patches of color | The whole coat |
| Roan | Even flecking of color mixed into the white | Only in white areas |
| Ticking | Small, distinct spots of color in the white | Only in white areas |
So what does that mean for a puppy? A dog needs white in his coat for roan to show at all. That is why you see roan most often on parti dogs.
What causes roan?
Roan and ticking come from the same spot on a dog's DNA, near a gene called USH2A. Orivet reports it as the R locus. Roan is dominant, which means a puppy only needs one copy for it to show in his white areas.
What do our dogs carry?
Sarge is our chocolate parti roan. He has two copies of the parti gene and one copy of roan, so you can see the flecks through all of his white. Reese and Strawberry each carry one copy of roan too, so roan can show up in their puppies that have enough white. You can see every parent's full panel on our Meet the Parents page.
Do roan puppies change as they grow?
Yes. Roan puppies are often born with clean white areas. The flecks fill in over the first weeks and keep developing for months. A puppy who looks lightly flecked at 8 weeks may look much darker at a year old.
Is a roan coat harder to care for?
No. Coat type, not color, decides how much grooming a dog needs. White does show mud more, so many families keep parti and roan dogs a little shorter during the wet months.
Can you request a roan puppy?
You can tell us it is what you are hoping for. We will be honest about the odds in an upcoming litter, since roan only shows on puppies with enough white. Picks go in waitlist order, and you will see every puppy's real coat before you choose.
When is the next litter?
Puppies go home at 8 weeks old. Click here to see when our next litters are due.
Common questions about roan Australian Labradoodles
What is a roan Australian Labradoodle?
A dog with colored hairs mixed into the white parts of his coat, which gives a flecked or speckled look. Roan only shows where there is white.
What is the difference between roan and parti?
Parti means the coat is mostly white with solid patches of color. Roan is the flecking of color inside the white. A dog can be both, like our Sarge.
Are roan puppies born with their flecks?
Usually not. Roan puppies are often born with clean white areas, and the flecks fill in over the first weeks and months.
Do roan or parti dogs cost more?
No. Every puppy is priced the same whatever the color or pattern. See our pricing and details.
Do white coats need special grooming?
No. They need the same brushing and grooming as any other coat. White just shows dirt more.
Want to see a roan in person?
Meet our parent dogs and see their genetic panels.
Related reading: which coat color is hardest to find? and tricolor and phantom Labradoodles.
Sources
- Brancalion L, et al. (2021). Roan, ticked and clear coat patterns in the canine are associated with three haplotypes near usherin on CFA38. Animal Genetics.
- Our parent dogs' Orivet genetic panels, listed on our Meet the Parents page.