Dog Colour Genetics HELP

[Frances144]

Question:

If you have a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel bitch with four puppies, can the puppies be one of each colour, ie tricolour, black & tan, ruby (ginger) and Blenheim (tan and white)?

Is this genetically possible?

And what colour would the bitch have to be?

(This is for a sculpture my mother wants to make.)

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Spaniels have the most diverse colour genetics. I have seen a little of Cocker spaniels with solid colours, dilutes, spots, roans and particoloured.

To help your mother, here's a quote from a Cavalier website:

"Blenheim bred to Black and Tan can produce all four colors with some white
mismarking’s possible on the whole color puppies. While this would not be ideal for show
standards it can be adorable on pet puppies. White mis-markings are normally found
on the chest, center of face and paws and may diminish with age."

I am ashamed to admit that I don't know what "bred to"means, ie whether the black & tan is the dog or the bitch. No doubt someone else will!

 

[Frances144]

Many thanks. A huge help. Xx