Is it possible to get all 4 cav colours in one litter?

[Emma n Renco]

Hi,

This has got me really puzzled, online at a Dutch ebay type website are puppies for sale as always, and I always look at the cav puppy pictures because they are so cute.. One of the lots for sale has a ruby, blenheim, black and tan and a tri in the litter. 4 pups and all different. It obviously is possible as there are pictures proving it, but is it common? Don't think I should put the link up here, but am just curious about it??

[Aileen]

Are you sure that they are from the same litter
----Aileen was (Matties Mum)

[sallymum]

Not an expert but i dont think u can. Id say if u saw a pic of all 4 colours its not proving anything. Id say it just pups from different litters been mixed.

[Emma n Renco]

Not an expert but i dont think u can. Id say if u saw a pic of all 4 colours its not proving anything. Id say it just pups from different litters been mixed.

Yeah true you must be right, it's the way it is posted that just has 4 pups but are all different colours in a basket and I just took it as them being the same litter. It can't be possible though. I will contact them out of interest and let you know...

[Lisa_T]

I think it's possible with certain combinations- I've heard of it happening. Although I'm not sure whether the wholecolours would be totally solid- I imagine they might have some white marking on chins etc.

[inca]

TRI to RUBY can produce all 4 colours depending whats behind both pearents


I had a litter 2 years ago tri mum and ruby dad .....we had 2 black and tan boys

[Barbara Nixon]

Yes it is possible. The parents must be:

1) A black and tan, who carries both red and white, with either the same, a Blenheim, a ruby who carries white, or a tricolour who carries red.

or

2) A tricolour who carries red with a ruby who carries white.

ie BbSs with either BbSs, bbss, bbSs or Bbss

or bbss with BbSs

[*Pauline*]

I think you'll find it's possible.

[Karlin]

This explains the possible combinations depending on the dominant and recessive colour genes the parents might have (sometimes you cannot know this except by experimental breedings):

http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=8738

[Emma n Renco]

Thanks for that table, so it really could be possible. What a dream litter though - all 4 colours of the puppies!! It would be very hard not to keep them all though