A Simple Guide to Australian Labradoodle Coat Color Genetics

Australian Labradoodles come in a beautiful range of coat colors—from creamy whites and apricots to rich chocolates and deep blacks. While color genetics can get very complex, the basics are actually quite simple. Understanding a few key genes helps explain why certain puppies appear in a litter. 

Australian Labradoodle color genetics largely follow the same color principles found in Labradors and Poodles, particularly two major color genes:

• E locus (Extension gene) – controls whether a dog expresses cream/apricot or a darker pigment

• B locus (Brown gene) – controls whether dark pigment appears black or chocolate

By combining these genes, we can predict the most common Labradoodle colors. Here is a simple visual:

The Two Key Color Genes

1. The E Gene – Cream, Apricot, and White

The E gene determines whether the coat expresses red/cream tones or darker pigment.

Alleles	What it Means	Resulting Coat
ee	Blocks dark pigment	Cream, Apricot, Red, White
Ee	Can produce dark pigment	Depends on other genes
EE	Full dark pigment allowed	Black or Chocolate

Important: All cream, apricot, red, and white Labradoodles are genetically ee.

Think of ee as a pigment mask. Even if the dog carries black or chocolate genes underneath, the coat will appear cream/apricot.

2. The B Gene – Black vs Chocolate

If the dog is not ee, the B gene determines the color of the dark pigment.

Alleles	Pigment Color	Visible Coat
BB	Black pigment	Black coat
Bb	Black pigment (carries chocolate)	Black coat
bb	Brown pigment	Chocolate coat

Simple Color Outcome Chart

E Gene	B Gene	Visible Coat Color
ee	BB / Bb / bb	Cream, Apricot, Red, or White
EE or Ee	BB	Black
EE or Ee	Bb	Black (carries chocolate)
EE or Ee	bb	Chocolate

Visualizing the Genetics

STEP 1: Look at the E gene
EE or Ee  → Dark coat allowed
ee        → Cream/Apricot/White

STEP 2: If dark coat allowed, check B gene
BB or Bb → Black
bb       → Chocolate

Simple Examples

Example 1: Two Apricot Dogs

Genotype: ee × ee

All puppies receive ee

Result:

• 100% Cream/Apricot/Red/White puppies

Example 2: Chocolate Labradoodle

Genotype: bb

If the dog is bb and not ee, the coat appears chocolate.

Example genotype:

Ee bb → Chocolate

Example 3: Black Labradoodle Carrying Chocolate

Genotype:

Ee Bb

Result:

• Dog appears black

• Carries the gene for chocolate puppies

Why Two Apricot Dogs Can Produce Chocolate Puppies

Sometimes people are surprised when cream or apricot dogs produce darker puppies. This happens because the ee gene hides the underlying pigment.

For example:

Parent 1:

ee Bb

Parent 2:

ee Bb

Both dogs appear apricot, but both carry chocolate.

If a puppy inherits:

Ee bb

The puppy could express chocolate instead of cream.

Why Responsible Breeders Study Color Genetics

Understanding color genetics helps breeders:

• Predict possible puppy colors

• Avoid unexpected results

• Maintain healthy breeding programs

• Plan pairings responsibly

However, it’s important to remember that health, temperament, and structure always come first. Color is simply one small piece of the puzzle when breeding wonderful family companions.

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