Minimal Markings and Tricolors
One of the glories of Beardies is their diverse colors and markings, enhanced by fading or darkening.
Minimally Marked Beardies
The Breed Standard specifies where white markings are generally expected to appear on a Beardie’s coat: on the face, neck, chest, feet, belly, and tip of the tail. (This coat pattern is often referred to as the “Irish pattern;” it occurs in many breeds of dogs.) However, it is also perfectly acceptable for a Beardie to not have white markings, or to have minimal white markings.
Any Beardie of any coat color may also express the tricolor gene(s). A tricolor Beardie may exhibit tan markings on the eyebrows, cheeks, legs, and near the tail. Most of the time, the tan markings fade along with the rest of the coat as a puppy grows older — but occasionally, they can still be seen on an adult.