Dilute Colored Beagles

This dog is a dark Blue Tri-color. Blue occurs as a dilute of the normal Tri-color gene, but can be changed in color depth by the same modifier genes which govern the depth of color on the Reds from Lemon to Mahogany. Quite often such dilutes will have lighter eyes, some even almost yellow, although this too is influenced by modifying genes just as in the normal tri-color dog. Notice the slight bluish cast to the brown areas of the coat. This dog would be described as Brown, Blue and White.

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To the left is a head shot showing the slate blue nose common to this dilute color. Oftentimes, especially as puppies, this is the only indicator the dog is a blue rather than a tri-color.

Occasionally, a dog that is born blue will turn so dark that he is indistinguishable from a normal tri, including having what appears to be a black nose. When put next to a true tri-color, however, the difference will be barely distinquishable.

Another Blue Tri-Color, this one a Shaded, exhibiting much lighter tan areas than the dark blue above.

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To the left is a litter of Blue and normal Tri-color puppies. Three are blue

Chocolate: Usually a tri-color where the black has diluted to Dark brown and the nose is also dark brown or liver.	Liver: A tri-color which has more modification toward the liver range of the spectrum.

Lilac: A Tri-color not only having the Liver or Chocolate Factor but the blue dilute factor as well giving a bluish cast to the blanket.	Here is a litter of a wide range of color variation beginning with the Lilac at the top, then a normal Tri, a possible Tan & White and a Chocolate Tri.

	Yet another Chocolate, this one a puppy about 6 weeks old. Quite often in the dilute colors of chocolate and blue the color will sometimes deepen as the puppy gets older
These are a normal colored tri and a liver or chocolate tri, shown side by side so you can see the difference in color
	Same two dogs with closeup of heads. Liver dog is on the right, normal tri on the left. Notice the obvious liver coloration of the nose.
The puppy at right is a heavily ticked chocolate tri-color, or what some people might call a chocolate ticked or liver ticked hound. Notice the rather greenish color of the eye. This is also common in other liver ticked or colored breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer. The eyes will quite often darken to a hazel with age.