Which Australian Labradoodle coat color is hardest to find?
Elizabeth glanced at her phone and smiled. Another email asking about tricolors. She'd received three that week alone. "Jason," she called toward the living room where her husband was building with the girls, "we've got another family asking if we have any tricolor puppies available."
This happens constantly. Families see photos of Australian Labradoodles with three gorgeous colors and fall in love. But what most people don't know is that some coat colors are much harder to produce than others. The genetics behind dog coat colors are complicated, and certain patterns require specific combinations that don't show up in every litter.
Hardest Australian Labradoodle Colors to Find
Tricolor roans are the hardest Australian Labradoodle coat color to find. These puppies need three specific color genes to align perfectly: a phantom pattern (two colors with defined markings), white spotting (parti pattern), and roan ticking (dark specks in white areas). Red coats are also challenging to breed because the gene for deep red is recessive and often fades as puppies mature. Most breeders produce far more solid colors like cream, chocolate, and black because these require simpler genetic combinations¹.
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Why Some Colors Are Harder to Produce
Dog coat color genetics work like a recipe. You need specific ingredients (genes) in the right amounts.
At Walls Family Doodles in Anderson, we breed several colors: chocolate tricolors, phantoms, partis, and caramel reds. Each color requires different genetic combinations from both parent dogs.
Here's why some colors are rare:
Multiple genes must align. A tricolor roan needs phantom genes, parti genes, and roan genes all in one puppy. Each parent must carry certain traits. Even when both parents have the right genetics, only some puppies in a litter will inherit all three patterns.
Some genes are recessive. For certain colors to appear, a puppy must inherit the same gene from both parents. If even one parent passes a dominant gene instead, the puppy won't have that color.
Color predictions aren't perfect. We can test parent dogs to see what genes they carry. But genetics involves chance. Two tricolor parents might produce solid-colored puppies if the genes don't combine the right way.
The University of Utah's Genetics Learning Center explains that dog coat color involves multiple genes working together. The ASIP gene controls whether a dog makes black or red pigments. The MITF gene affects white spotting patterns. Several other genes determine if colors are diluted or intensified¹.
When you breed for complex patterns like tricolor roans, all these genes must cooperate. That's why they're so hard to find.
The Rarest Australian Labradoodle Colors
Based on breeding complexity and how often they appear, here are the hardest colors to find:
Tricolor Roans (Hardest)
These puppies have three colors: a base color (usually black or chocolate), tan phantom markings, and white areas with dark ticking. The roan pattern creates a speckled look in white areas.
We've produced a few tricolor roans at Walls Family Doodles. They're stunning. But even with parent dogs who carry all the right genes, we might only get one or two in a litter of eight puppies.
Red (Very Hard)
Deep, rich red coats are challenging to breed. The gene for dark red is recessive. Both parents must carry it, and even then, not every puppy will be red.
Many red puppies fade to apricot or cream as they grow. Breeders who want to maintain deep red color must carefully select breeding pairs based on genetic testing.
Lavender and Blue (Hard)
These dilute colors require specific combinations. A blue Australian Labradoodle is born black but fades to a blue-gray color over the first few years. Lavender puppies are born chocolate and develop a smoky lavender-pink hue.
These colors need dilution genes from both parents. They're uncommon in multi-generational Australian Labradoodles.
Chocolate Tricolors (Moderately Hard)
Easier than roans but still challenging. These puppies have chocolate base coats with tan phantom markings and white parti patterns.
We breed chocolate tricolors at Walls Family Doodles. They're our most requested color. Families love the rich brown combined with tan and white.
Common Australian Labradoodle Colors
Some colors show up in nearly every litter:
Cream - Light tan or off-white coats. Very common because cream genes are present in many breeding lines.
Chocolate/Caramel - Solid brown or caramel coats. Relatively easy to produce.
Black - Solid black coats with black noses. Common in Australian Labradoodles because black is a dominant color.
Apricot/Gold - Light orange-brown coats. Fairly common and often requested.
Parti (Two Colors) - Any solid color with white markings covering at least 50% of the coat. Easier to produce than tricolors because you only need two colors to align.
Why Color Rarity Affects Waitlists
When you contact a breeder asking for a specific rare color, understand that they may not have one available soon.
Here's what happens at our breeding program:
We plan breedings based on our parent dogs' genetics. Our current parents include a chocolate parti roan, a tricolor, a tricolor roan, and a red. Even with these colors in our breeding program, we can't guarantee every litter will produce the rare colors families request.
If you want a tricolor roan, you might wait 6 to 12 months for a litter that produces one. Some families wait longer if they want a specific color and gender combination.
This is why most ethical breeders don't charge extra for rare colors. We currently price all our puppies at $3,200 regardless of color. However, we may charge more for tricolors in the future because demand is so high and supply is limited.
One family from Noblesville waited eight months for a chocolate tricolor male. When pickup day arrived, they were so excited they took photos with the puppy before leaving our property. That puppy now visits nursing homes as a therapy dog. His unique coat helps residents remember him between visits.
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How Breeders Produce Specific Colors
Responsible breeders use genetic testing to understand what colors their dogs can produce.
At Walls Family Doodles, we test our breeding dogs through Orivet and other genetic labs. These tests reveal:
What color genes each dog carries
Whether they have genes for patterns like phantom or parti
If they carry dilution genes that lighten colors
Health information unrelated to color
With this information, we can predict what colors might appear in a litter. But predictions aren't guarantees.
Here's an example:
If we breed a chocolate phantom female to a red parti male, puppies might be chocolate, red, apricot, parti, phantom, or tricolor. The exact combinations depend on which genes each parent passes to each puppy. Genetics involves chance, like flipping coins.
Some breeders focus on producing specific rare colors. They select breeding pairs specifically to increase chances of getting those colors. This is ethical when done alongside health testing. Color should never be prioritized over health.
Should You Wait for a Rare Color?
This depends on how important color is to you.
Some families have their hearts set on a specific look. That's fine. If you want a tricolor roan and you're willing to wait, tell your breeder. They'll add you to a waitlist.
But remember: color is just one small part of what makes a great dog.
Temperament, health, and how well the puppy fits your lifestyle matter far more than whether they're red or cream. A well-bred solid black Australian Labradoodle from health-tested parents will bring you just as much joy as a rare tricolor.
At Walls Family Doodles, we raise all our puppies the same way regardless of color. They all get Puppy Culture socialization, early neurological stimulation, and time with our family. The tricolor gets the same care as the cream puppy.
When families ask us about rare colors, we're honest. Yes, tricolors are gorgeous. But so is every other puppy we produce. We encourage families to focus on finding a healthy, well-socialized puppy from an ethical breeder rather than waiting months for a specific color.
That said, if you love a particular color and want to wait, we respect that. Just know that you might be on a waitlist longer than families who are flexible.
Why We Don't Charge Extra for Rare Colors
Some breeders charge $500 to $1,000 more for rare colors like merle, tricolor, or red.
We don't.
All our Australian Labradoodle puppies are $3,200 whether they're chocolate tricolors or solid cream. We might adjust our pricing for tricolors in the future because demand is high, but for now, we keep prices consistent.
Here's why:
Every puppy receives the same care. We spend the same amount of time, money, and effort raising a black puppy as we do a tricolor. Food, vet visits, Puppy Culture supplies, and our labor are identical regardless of color.
Color isn't a quality measure. A rare color doesn't make a puppy healthier or better behaved. What matters is health testing, socialization, and breeding ethics.
We want to discourage color-only breeding. When breeders charge significantly more for rare colors, it encourages puppy mills to breed specifically for those colors without regard for health. We don't want to contribute to that.
Our goal is breeding healthy, well-adjusted Australian Labradoodles who fit into your family. Color is a bonus, not the main event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 5: How long do Australian Labradoodles typically live?
Find out more in our Australian Labradoodle life-span article here.
References
¹ University of Utah Genetic Science Learning Center. (2025). Mutt Mixer Traits Explained. Learn.Genetics.Utah.Edu. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/change/muttmixerexplained