Puppy Coat as an Indicator of Adult Coat

A Wheaten puppy is usually born mahogany or dark brown; however the color may vary from cream to black at birth. Some claim to determine mature coat color at birth. The wise breeder will usually withhold final judgement.

Here are some of the colors found in newborn puppies, from dark to light:

Black: These puppies usually retain much dark color at maturity, perhaps having light legs and head with gray or a grizzle saddle. Or, a black puppy may grow into a near white adult.
Dark Brown: This shade with black tipping is usually all right. The puppy may turn to good wheaten color but could develop gray areas later.
Mahogany: Rich dark red-brown will usually produce good adult color, although one needs to beware of black tipping and dark guard hairs in the adult coat.

At birth many puppies have a black mask, ears, feet, and tail. Some have a black streak along the spine. However, these points are usually lost as the dog matures.

These puppies were born mahogany and by five weeks had lightened a lot. Note that the "tall baby" is lighter and has lost the black mask shown on the right puppy.
Red-brown: Or cherry-wood puppies usually produce good adult coats. This shade may be a dark red, mahogany or deep rich honey shade. Puppies of this color will usually have a good adult coloration. They should have dark eyes, eye rims and noses, however.
Medium brown: Although this color is lacking in red, we can be fooled by Mother Nature. One of our best litters was uniformly sandy brown at birth. By three months, every puppy was gloriously apricot, and all developed good mature coats.
Wheaten: Honey-colored, cream or white. What darling babies they are! But, these puppies often have pink noses that turn liver rather than black. However, they make loving pets.

In our years with Wheatens, we have had four puppies born wheaten (all from different litters) and two born black. All had black noses at birth, but a female's nose turned liver at maturity. The fourth puppy was the prettiest Wheaten baby I've ever seen: cream with a coal black nose. We still have his photo. The two black puppies were littermates, and both retained a substantial black saddle. We did not repeat these breedings.