Dog color
Liver
The dog fancy's word for brown eumelanin, a reddish chocolate, and for the brown nose and pads that go with it.
198 Dog breeds list Liver. It is in a club standard for 158 breeds. At least one club disqualifies it in 32 breeds.
Breeds whose standards accept Liver
| Breed | FCI | UKC | KC | KUSA | AKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan HoundNose | Standard (“liver permissible in light-coloured dogs”) | Fault (“Nose any color other than black”) | Standard (“liver permissible in light-coloured dogs”) | Standard (“liver permissible in light-coloured dogs”) | No ruling |
| AkbashNose | No ruling | Standard (“solid dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Akita | Not recognised | Standard (“any color including white (Akita)”) | Standard (“any colour (Akita)”) | Not recognised | Not recognised |
| AkitaAmerican | Disqualifying (“liver color”) | Standard (“any color including white”) | Standard (“any colour”) | Disqualifying (“liver color”) | Disqualifying (“liver color”) |
| AkitaNose | No ruling | Standard (“liver color is permitted on white Akitas”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“a lighter colored nose ... is acceptable (white Akitas)”) |
| AkitaAmerican · Nose | No ruling | Standard (“liver color is permitted on white Akitas”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“a lighter colored nose ... is acceptable (white Akitas)”) |
| Alaskan Klee KaiNose | No ruling | Standard (“liver-colored for dogs whose coat colors are shades of red”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“shades of red with white have a nose that is liver/brown colored”) |
| Alaskan MalamuteNose | Standard (“brown is permitted in red dogs”) | Standard (“in the red dogs, where brown pigment is acceptable”) | Standard (“in red and white dogs when it is brown”) | Standard (“brown is permitted in red dogs”) | Standard (“brown is permitted in red dogs”) |
| American Cocker SpanielNose | Standard (“in other colours it may be brown, liver or black”) | Standard (“In other colors it may be brown, liver or black”) | Standard (“black or brown in buffs, browns, brown and tans, roans and parti-colours”) | Standard (“in other colours it may be brown, liver or black”) | Standard (“in other colors it may be brown, liver or black”) |
| American Eskimo DogNose | No ruling | Standard (“The nose leather is black to dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Nose pigment is black to dark brown”) |
| American Hairless TerrierNose | No ruling | Standard (“chocolate ... with self-colored nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| American Leopard HoundNose | No ruling | Standard (“Red merle-colored dogs have brown or liver colored noses”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| American Pit Bull Terrier | No ruling | Standard (“Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | Standard (“liver not to be encouraged”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“liver not to be encouraged”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| American Water Spaniel | Standard (“Colour either solid liver, brown or dark chocolate”) | Standard (“Solid liver or dark chocolate”) | Standard (“Brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Liver”) |
| American Water SpanielNose | Standard (“Dark in colour, black or dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Nose dark in color, black or dark brown”) |
| Anatolian Shepherd | No ruling | Standard (“liver-colored dogs”) | Standard (“All colours”) | No ruling | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Anatolian ShepherdNose | No ruling | Standard (“except in liver-colored dogs, where it is brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“solid black or brown”) |
| Appenzeller SennenhundNose | Standard (“in havana-brown dogs brown (as dark as possible)”) | Standard (“black or brown, depending on the color of the coat”) | No ruling | Standard (“in havana-brown dogs, brown (as dark as possible)”) | Standard (“in havana-brown dogs brown (as dark as possible)”) |
| Australian ShepherdNose | Standard (“red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on the nose”) | No ruling | Standard (“shades of brown in red merles and reds”) | Standard (“red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on the nose”) | Standard (“red merles and reds have liver (brown) pigmentation on the nose”) |
| AzawakhNose | Standard (“Black or dark brown colour is obligatory”) | Standard (“generally either black or brown”) | Standard (“either black or brown”) | Standard (“Black or dark brown colour is obligatory”) | No ruling |
| BarbetNose | Standard (“black or brown depending on the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“Black or brown in color, depending on the color of the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Basset Fauve de BretagneNose | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Basset HoundNose | Standard (“in light-coloured hounds, when it may be brown or liver”) | Standard (“in light-colored hounds, where it may be brown or liver”) | Standard (“in light-coloured hounds when it may be brown or liver”) | Standard (“in light-coloured Hounds, when it may be brown or liver”) | Fault (“A deep liver-colored nose ... is permissible but not desirable”) |
| Bearded CollieNose | Standard (“normally following coat colour in blues and browns”) | Standard (“in a born brown, the pigmentation is brown”) | Standard (“normally following coat colour in blues and browns”) | Standard (“normally following coat colour in blues and browns”) | Standard (“a born brown dog has brown pigmentation”) |
| Bedlington Terrier | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Bedlington TerrierNose | Standard (“liver and sandies must have brown noses”) | Standard (“Liver-, liver and tan-, sandy-, and sandy and tan-colored dogs have brown noses”) | Standard (“liver and sandies must have brown noses”) | Standard (“liver and sandies must have brown noses”) | Standard (“Livers, livers and tans, sandies, sandies and tans have brown noses”) |
| Bloodhound | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“Liver & Tan”) |
| BloodhoundNose | Standard (“Black or brown”) | Standard (“black or brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Black or brown”) | No ruling |
| Border CollieNose | Standard (“except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown”) | Standard (“in brown dogs where it may be brown”) | Standard (“except in brown or chocolate colour when it may be brown”) | Standard (“except in brown or chocolate colour, when it may be brown”) | No ruling |
| Border TerrierNose | Fault (“liver or flesh-coloured one not a serious fault”) | Standard (“liver or flesh colored are acceptable”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) | Fault (“liver- or flesh-coloured nose not a serious fault and tolerated”) | No ruling |
| Boykin Spaniel | No ruling | Standard (“Solid, rich liver or dark chocolate”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Boykin SpanielNose | No ruling | Standard (“Liver in color”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark liver in color”) |
| Bracco ItalianoNose | Standard (“more or less pink – to flesh-coloured or brown, depending on the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“Brown, pink or flesh colored depending on coat color”) | Standard (“pale pink to dark brown, depending on coat colour, but never black”) | Standard (“more-or-less pink to flesh-coloured or brown, depending on the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“brown or from pale pink to more or less deep fleshy red depending on the color of the coat”) |
| Braque du BourbonnaisNose | Standard (“Its colour matches that of the coat”) | Standard (“matches the coat in color”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Its colour matches that of the coat”) |
| Braque Francais PyreneanNose | Standard (“Chestnut-brown in colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Chestnut-brown in colour”) |
| Brittany | Standard (“white and liver”) | Standard (“liver and white”) | Standard (“liver/white”) | Standard (“white and liver”) | Standard (“Liver & White”) |
| BrittanyNose | No ruling | Standard (“Accepted colors include black, brown, fawn, tan and deep pink”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“shades of brown”) |
| Bull Terrier | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue or liver color”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Standard (“Any color other than white (Colored)”) |
| Bull TerrierColoured | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue or liver color”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Standard (“Any color other than white”) |
| Canaan | Not recognised | Not recognised (“liver”) | Not recognised | Not recognised | Standard (“Liver”) |
| CanaanNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“varying shades of liver, harmonizing with coat color”) |
| Caucasian Shepherd DogNose | Disqualifying (“Genetic brown nose, lips and eye rims”) | Standard (“a brown nose is acceptable in white and light fawn colored dogs”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Genetic brown nose, lips, and eye rims”) | Disqualifying (“Genetic brown nose, lips and eye rims”) |
| Cesky TerrierNose | Standard (“liver-coloured on light-coffee brown Terriers”) | Standard (“liver in the light coffee brown dogs”) | Standard (“liver in light brown dogs”) | Standard (“liver-coloured on light-coffee brown Terriers”) | Standard (“liver in coffee colored dogs”) |
| Chesapeake Bay RetrieverNose | No ruling | Standard (“Nose is fully pigmented and liver in color”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| ChihuahuaNose | Standard (“Any colour permitted”) | Standard (“Accepted nose colors include black, brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“In moles, blues, and chocolates, they are self-colored”) |
| Chinese Shar-PeiNose | Standard (“any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible”) | Standard (“In dilute-colored dogs, the nose is self-colored”) | Standard (“any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible”) | Standard (“any colour conforming to general coat colour permissible”) | Standard (“In dilute colors, the preferred nose is self-colored”) |
| Chow ChowNose | Standard (“cream and near white, in which case a lighter coloured nose is permissible”) | Standard (“cream and near white Chow Chows, in which case a lighter colored nose is permissible”) | Standard (“cream and near white in which case a lighter coloured nose permissible”) | Standard (“cream and near-white, in which case a lighter-coloured nose permissible”) | Standard (“Cream chows may have a range of nose color, from dark black/brown solid pigment”) |
| Cirneco dell’EtnaNose | Standard (“light to dark flesh-colour to brown, depending on the intensity of the coat colour”) | Standard (“ranging from flesh colored through to dark chestnut”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Clumber SpanielNose | No ruling | Standard (“Acceptable colors are shades of brown, to include beige, rose and cherry”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“colored shades of brown, which include beige, rose and cherry”) |
| Coton de TulearNose | Standard (“brown is tolerated”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“brown is tolerated”) | No ruling |
| Curly-Coated Retriever | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Curly-Coated RetrieverNose | Standard (“brown in livers”) | Standard (“brown in the liver dogs”) | Standard (“brown in livers”) | Standard (“brown in livers”) | Standard (“brown on liver dogs”) |
| DachshundNose | Standard (“brown, in dogs with brown base colour”) | Standard (“brown or black for chocolate dogs”) | Standard (“brown (chocolate/tan and chocolate dapple)”) | Standard (“brown (chocolate/tan and chocolate dapple)”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Dalmatian | Standard (“liver spotted variety with brown spots”) | Standard (“In liver-spotted dogs, the spots are liver brown”) | Standard (“liver spotted, liver brown spots”) | Standard (“liver-spotted dogs, liver brown spots”) | Standard (“White & Liver Brown”) |
| DalmatianNose | Standard (“The colour must be in accordance to the colour of the spotting”) | Standard (“brown in liver-spotted dogs”) | Standard (“in liver variety always brown”) | Standard (“in liver variety always brown”) | Standard (“brown in liver-spotted dogs”) |
| Deutscher WachtelhundNose | No ruling | Standard (“Color is brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Doberman PinscherNose | Standard (“in brown dogs, corresponding lighter shades”) | Standard (“dark brown in red dogs”) | Standard (“solid dark brown in brown dogs”) | Standard (“in brown dogs, corresponding lighter shades”) | Standard (“dark brown on red ones”) |
| Dogue de BordeauxNose | Standard (“Brown mask: The nose is brown”) | Standard (“brown on brown-masked dogs”) | Standard (“Brown mask - nose and eye rims are brown”) | Standard (“Brown mask: The nose is brown”) | Standard (“Brown Mask - Pigmentation of the nose ... will also be brown”) |
| Drentsche PatrijshondNose | Standard (“brown”) | Standard (“It is brown in color”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“brown”) |
| Drever | Disqualifying (“liver brown colour”) | Standard (“All colors with white markings are acceptable ... solid liver brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“liver brown colour”) |
| English Cocker Spaniel | Standard (“liver (chocolate)”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver (chocolate)”) | Standard (“liver (chocolate)”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| English Cocker SpanielNose | No ruling | Standard (“brown in liver and liver parti-colored dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“except in livers and parti-colors of that shade where they will be brown”) |
| English Setter | Standard (“liver and white (liver belton)”) | Standard (“liver and white; liver belton”) | Standard (“liver and white (liver belton)”) | Standard (“liver and white (liver belton)”) | Standard (“Liver Belton”) |
| English SetterNose | Standard (“black or liver, according to colour of coat”) | Standard (“black or dark liver in color”) | Standard (“colour of nose black or liver”) | Standard (“black or liver, according to colour of coat”) | Standard (“black or dark brown”) |
| English Springer Spaniel | Standard (“Liver and white”) | Standard (“Liver and white”) | Standard (“Liver and white”) | Standard (“Liver and white”) | Standard (“Liver & White”) |
| English Springer SpanielNose | No ruling | Standard (“liver or black, depending on the color of the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“liver or black in color, depending on the color of the coat”) |
| Eurasier | Standard (“all colours”) | Not recognised (“with the exception of ... liver”) | Not recognised (“liver ... unacceptable”) | No ruling | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Field Spaniel | Standard (“Liver”) | Standard (“liver, golden liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Field SpanielNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“light to dark brown or black as befits the color of the coat”) |
| Finnish LapphundNose | Standard (“black or brown, according to coat colour”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“black or brown, according to coat colour”) | Standard (“brown dogs will have dark brown pigmentation”) |
| Flat-Coated Retriever | Standard (“Black or liver only”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Black or liver only”) | Standard (“Black or liver only”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Flat-Coated RetrieverNose | No ruling | Standard (“brown in the liver dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“brown on liver dogs”) |
| French BulldogNose | Disqualifying (“never brown”) | Disqualifying (“never brown”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“never brown”) | Standard (“creams or fawns without black masks, where a lighter colored nose is acceptable”) |
| French SpanielNose | Standard (“Brown, well pigmented”) | Standard (“The pigment of all outer mucous membranes is brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Brown, well pigmented”) |
| German Longhaired PointerNose | Standard (“Brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Nose brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Brown”) |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | Standard (“Solid brown, without markings”) | Standard (“solid liver”) | Standard (“Solid liver”) | Standard (“Solid liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| German Shorthaired PointerNose | Standard (“Basically brown”) | Standard (“solid brown in liver-colored dogs”) | Standard (“Nose solid brown or black depending on coat colour”) | Standard (“Nose solid brown or black depending on coat colour”) | Standard (“brown on a liver dog”) |
| German SpitzNose | Standard (“the nose of brown Spitz dogs is dark brown”) | Standard (“in other colors it matches the color of the coat”) | Standard (“in other self colours, nose compatible with coat colour”) | Standard (“the nose of brown Spitz dogs is dark brown”) | Standard (“the nose of brown dogs is dark brown”) |
| German Wirehaired Pointer | Standard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”) | Standard (“Solid liver”) | Standard (“solid liver”) | Standard (“Brown with or without white chest patch”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| German Wirehaired PointerNose | Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“Dark brown in liver dogs”) | Standard (“Nose liver or black”) | Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“The nose is dark brown”) |
| Grand Basset Griffon VendéenNose | Standard (“except for white and orange coats where a brown nose is tolerated”) | Standard (“except in white and orange coats, when it may be brown”) | Standard (“white/lemon, white/orange coats where brown is tolerated”) | Standard (“except for white and orange coats, where a brown nose is tolerated”) | Standard (“white/orange and white/lemon coats where brown is accepted”) |
| Greyhound | Not recognised | Standard (“Immaterial”) | Not recognised | Not recognised | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Hanoverian ScenthoundNose | Standard (“rarely dark brown”) | Standard (“occasionally dark brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“rarely dark brown”) | Standard (“rarely dark brown”) |
| HavaneseNose | Standard (“Black or brown”) | Standard (“true chocolate-coated dogs, which have dark brown/liver colored pigment”) | Standard (“for brown shades the pigment may be brown”) | Standard (“Black or brown”) | Standard (“chocolate dogs which have solid brown pigment”) |
| Icelandic SheepdogNose | Standard (“dark brown on chocolate brown and some cream dogs”) | Standard (“dark brown in chocolate and some cream-colored dogs”) | Standard (“dark brown on chocolate brown and some cream dogs”) | No ruling | Standard (“dark brown on chocolate brown and some cream dogs”) |
| Irish Red and White SetterNose | No ruling | Standard (“Black or dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Irish SetterNose | Standard (“dark mahogany, or dark walnut or black”) | Standard (“Black or chocolate”) | Standard (“dark mahogany, dark walnut or black”) | Standard (“dark mahogany, dark walnut or black”) | Standard (“Nose black or chocolate”) |
| Irish Water Spaniel | Standard (“A very rich puce liver”) | Standard (“Solid liver in color”) | Standard (“Rich, dark liver with purplish tint or bloom peculiar to the breed”) | Standard (“A very rich puce liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Irish Water SpanielNose | Standard (“of dark liver colour”) | Standard (“Liver colored”) | Standard (“dark liver colour”) | Standard (“of dark liver colour”) | Standard (“dark liver in color”) |
| Italian GreyhoundNose | No ruling | Standard (“may be brown or blue in harmony with the color of the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“brown or in keeping with the color of the dog”) |
| JagdterrierNose | Standard (“when the colour of the coat is dominantly brown, a brown nose is also permitted”) | Standard (“unless the dog's main color is brown, when a brown nose is acceptable”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“when the colour of the coat is dominantly brown, a brown nose is also permitted”) |
| Japanese ChinNose | Standard (“deep flesh coloured, according to the coat colour”) | Standard (“In a red and white dog, nose pigment is self-colored or black”) | Standard (“in red and whites where the colour can be appropriate to markings”) | Standard (“deep flesh coloured, according to the coat colour”) | Standard (“self-colored or black in the red and white”) |
| KomondorNose | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“dark grey or dark brown nose tolerated”) | No ruling | Fault (“a dark gray or dark brown nose is not desirable but is acceptable”) |
| KromfohrlanderNose | Standard (“preferably black, brown permitted”) | Standard (“preferably black, but brown is permitted”) | No ruling | Standard (“preferably black, brown permitted”) | No ruling |
| Labrador RetrieverNose | No ruling | Standard (“liver on chocolate dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“brown on chocolates”) |
| Lagotto RomagnoloNose | Standard (“The colour ranges from light to dark brown, depending on the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“light to dark brown in color, depending on the color of the coat”) | Standard (“Pigmentation ranges from light to very dark brown depending on coat colour”) | Standard (“The colour ranges from light to dark brown, depending on the colour of the coat”) | Standard (“in shades from light to dark brown, varying with coat color”) |
| Lakeland Terrier | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Lakeland TerrierNose | Standard (“in liver-coated dogs when the nose will be liver”) | Standard (“in liver colored dogs, when it will be brown”) | Standard (“in liver-coated dogs when the nose will be liver”) | Standard (“in liver-coated dogs when the nose will be liver”) | Standard (“Liver colored noses ... are permissible on liver coated dogs only”) |
| Lancashire Heeler | Standard (“liver brown and tan”) | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“liver and tan”) | Standard (“liver brown and tan”) | Standard (“Liver & Tan”) |
| Lancashire HeelerNose | Standard (“Black or brown, in accordance to coat colour”) | Standard (“brown in the liver and tan dogs”) | No ruling | Standard (“Black or brown, in accordance to coat colour”) | No ruling |
| Lapponian Herder | Standard (“dark brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Lapponian HerderNose | Standard (“Black or brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Black or brown”) |
| LöwchenNose | Standard (“except for brown coats and derivatives ... the nose is dark brown”) | Standard (“except in the brown-coated dogs, when it is dark brown”) | Standard (“black or brown according to coat colour”) | Standard (“except for brown coats and derivatives ... the nose is dark brown”) | No ruling |
| Miniature American ShepherdNose | Standard (“red merles and reds have red (liver) pigmentation on the nose leather”) | Standard (“reds and red merles have red (liver) nose leather pigmentation”) | Standard (“brown tones in reds and red merles”) | Standard (“red merles and reds have red (liver) pigmentation on the nose leather”) | Standard (“red merles and reds have red (liver) pigmentation on the nose leather”) |
| Miniature PinscherNose | No ruling | Standard (“chocolate-colored ... dogs, which have self-colored noses”) | Standard (“chocolate ... it may be self-coloured”) | Standard (“chocolate ... it may be self-coloured”) | Standard (“chocolates which should have a self-colored nose”) |
| Mountain CurNose | No ruling | Standard (“self-colored”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| MudiNose | Standard (“for liver (brown), ash liver and its merle varieties the colour is brown”) | Standard (“Brown dogs will have brown pigmentation”) | Standard (“brown and merle where nose colour brown”) | Standard (“for liver (brown), ash liver and its merle varieties the colour is brown”) | Standard (“Brown and graybrown dogs – Brown nose”) |
| Neapolitan MastiffNose | Standard (“chestnut for brown coats”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“chestnut for brown coats”) | No ruling |
| NewfoundlandNose | Standard (“brown on brown dogs”) | No ruling | Standard (“brown in brown dogs”) | Standard (“brown on brown dogs”) | No ruling |
| Otterhound | Standard (“occasional liver, tan and liver”) | Standard (“Any color or combination of colors is acceptable”) | Standard (“occasional liver, tan and liver”) | Standard (“occasional liver, tan and liver”) | Standard (“Liver & Tan”) |
| OtterhoundNose | Standard (“a tan hound may have a brown nose”) | Standard (“Those with liver or slate pigment”) | Standard (“a tan hound may have a brown nose”) | Standard (“a tan Hound may have a brown nose”) | Standard (“black, liver, or slate, depending on the color of the hound”) |
| Papillon | Standard (“All colours are admitted on a coat with a white background”) | Standard (“white with patches of any color”) | Not recognised (“any colour except liver”) | Not recognised (“any colour except liver”) | Standard (“White & Liver”) |
| Peruvian Inca OrchidNose | No ruling | Standard (“self-colored in the lighter colored dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Petit Basset Griffon VendéenNose | Standard (“the white and orange coats where a brown nose is tolerated”) | Standard (“a brown nose is acceptable in orange and white dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Pointer | Standard (“liver and white”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver and white”) | Standard (“liver and white”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| PointerNose | No ruling | Standard (“The nose leather may be black or self-colored”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“In the darker colors, the nose should be black or brown”) |
| Polish Lowland SheepdogNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“black or brown, depending on the coat color”) |
| PomeranianNose | Standard (“the nose of brown Spitz dogs is dark brown”) | Standard (“except in brown, blue and beaver colored dogs, when it may be self colored”) | Standard (“brown in chocolate-tipped sable dogs”) | Standard (“brown in chocolate-tipped sable dogs”) | Standard (“self-colored in chocolate, beaver and blue”) |
| Poodle (Miniature)Nose | Standard (“brown nose in brown subjects”) | Standard (“Nose leather is liver”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“liver-colored noses”) |
| Poodle (Standard)Nose | Standard (“brown nose in brown subjects”) | Standard (“Nose leather is liver”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“liver-colored noses”) |
| Poodle (Toy)Nose | Standard (“brown nose in brown subjects”) | Standard (“Nose leather is liver”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“dark liver nose”) | Standard (“liver-colored noses”) |
| Portuguese PointerNose | Fault | Standard (“brown on dogs with brown coats”) | No ruling | No ruling | Fault |
| Portuguese SheepdogNose | Standard (“may be liver coloured in yellow and brown animals”) | Standard (“others are acceptable as long as it is darker than the color of the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“may be liver coloured in yellow and brown animals”) |
| Portuguese Water DogNose | Standard (“In brown specimens the nose is the same colour as the coat”) | Standard (“Brown dogs have nose pigment in harmony with coat color”) | Standard (“Nose liver in brown, brown and white and brown tones”) | Standard (“In brown specimens, the nose is the same colour as the coat”) | Standard (“various tones of brown in dogs with brown coats”) |
| PudelpointerNose | Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the coat colour”) | Standard (“Strongly pigmented according to the color of the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Strongly pigmented corresponding to the coat colour”) |
| Rat TerrierNose | No ruling | Standard (“chocolate ... with self-colored nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rater ValenciáNose | Standard (“dark, according to coat color”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rhodesian RidgebackNose | Standard (“The nose should be black or brown”) | Standard (“The nose has black or brown pigment”) | Standard (“Nose black or brown”) | Standard (“The nose should be black or brown”) | Standard (“Should be black, or brown, also known as liver”) |
| Russian ToyNose | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Nose black or self-coloured”) | No ruling | Standard (“Chocolate and Tan dogs have noses that are brown to light brown”) |
| Russian Tsvetnaya BolonkaNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“All shades of solid brown pigmentation are allowed in brown dogs”) |
| SalukiNose | Standard (“Black or liver brown”) | Standard (“black or liver”) | Standard (“Nose black or liver”) | Standard (“Nose black or liver”) | Standard (“Nose black or liver”) |
| SamoyedNose | No ruling | Standard (“a brown, liver, or Dudley nose is acceptable”) | Standard (“may be brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“brown, liver ... nose not penalized”) |
| SchipperkeNose | No ruling | Standard (“self-colored on the brown dogs”) | Standard (“Nose may be black or dark brown”) | Standard (“Nose may be black or dark brown”) | No ruling |
| Shih Tzu | Standard (“All colours permissible”) | Standard (“All colors and markings are acceptable”) | Standard (“Liver”) | Standard (“All colours permissible”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| Shih TzuNose | Standard (“dark liver in liver or liver marked dogs”) | Standard (“on liver-colored dogs, when it is liver”) | Standard (“dark liver in liver or liver marked dogs”) | Standard (“dark liver in liver or liver-marked dogs”) | Standard (“liver on liver pigmented dogs”) |
| Siberian HuskyNose | Standard (“liver in red dogs”) | Standard (“liver-colored in copper dogs”) | Standard (“liver in copper dogs”) | Standard (“liver in red dogs”) | Standard (“liver in red dogs”) |
| Small Munsterlander PointerNose | Standard (“Whole coloured brown”) | Standard (“Brown in color, fully pigmented”) | Standard (“Nose solid brown”) | Standard (“Whole-coloured brown”) | Standard (“Nose is solid brown”) |
| Spanish Water DogNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Beige or white dogs may have either black or brown pigment”) |
| Spinone ItalianoNose | Standard (“brown in the liver roan subjects”) | Standard (“chestnut brown in brown (roan to chestnut) dogs”) | Standard (“brown in brown roans”) | Standard (“brown in the liver roan subjects”) | Standard (“brown in brown-and-white or brown-roan dogs”) |
| StabyhounNose | Standard (“Brown in dogs with a brown and white coat colour”) | Standard (“black or brown in color, depending on the color of the coat”) | No ruling | Standard (“Brown in dogs with a brown and white coat colour”) | Standard (“Brown in dogs with a brown and white coat colour”) |
| Sussex Spaniel | Standard (“Rich golden liver”) | Standard (“rich, golden liver”) | Standard (“Rich golden liver”) | Standard (“Rich golden liver”) | Standard (“Golden Liver”) |
| Sussex SpanielNose | Standard (“liver in colour”) | Standard (“liver-colored”) | Standard (“liver in colour”) | Standard (“liver in colour”) | Standard (“liver colored”) |
| Swedish Lapphund | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Bear-brown, ... brown”) | No ruling | Alternate (“Liver”) |
| Teddy Roosevelt TerrierNose | No ruling | Standard (“self-colored corresponding with the body color”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“self-colored, corresponding with the body color”) |
| Tibetan MastiffNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“brown dogs, the darkest shade of brown”) |
| Toy Fox TerrierNose | No ruling | Fault (“Brown nose”) | No ruling | Standard (“self-coloured in chocolate dogs”) | Standard (“self-colored in chocolate dogs”) |
| VizslaNose | Standard (“The colour of the nose harmonises in a dark shading with the coat colour”) | Standard (“The nose is brown”) | Standard (“Nose brown”) | Standard (“Nose brown”) | Standard (“Nose self-colored”) |
| Welsh Springer SpanielNose | No ruling | Standard (“black or any shade of brown”) | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“black or any shade of brown”) |
| WhippetNose | Standard (“liver nose in creams and other dilute colours”) | No ruling | Standard (“Nose liver in creams”) | Standard (“Nose liver in creams”) | Standard (“dark brown”) |
| Wirehaired Pointing GriffonNose | Standard (“Always brown”) | Standard (“The nose is always brown”) | Standard (“always brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Nose color is always brown”) |
| Wirehaired VizslaNose | Standard (“The colour of the nose harmonises in a dark shading with the coat colour”) | No ruling | Standard (“The colour of the nose is harmonious with the coat colour”) | Standard (“The colour of the nose harmonises in a dark shading with the coat colour”) | Standard (“The nose color should blend with the coat color”) |
| Xoloitzcuintli | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| XoloitzcuintliCoated | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| XoloitzcuintliSkin and scales | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| XoloitzcuintliHairless · Skin and scales | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“liver”) | Standard (“Liver”) |
| XoloitzcuintliNose | Standard (“It can be brown or pinkish in bronze-coloured dogs”) | Standard (“brown or pink in bronze and blond dogs”) | No ruling | Standard (“It can be brown or pinkish in bronze-coloured dogs”) | No ruling |
| Yakutian LaikaNose | Standard (“black or brown in colour”) | No ruling | Standard (“black or brown”) | No ruling | Standard (“Black or brown”) |
| Belgian Tervuren | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognised | Disqualifying | Alternate (“Fawn & Liver”) |
Breeds where Liver is a fault
| Breed | FCI | UKC | KC | KUSA | AKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle DogNose | Fault (“Brown or flesh coloured nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Brown or flesh coloured nose”) |
| Bouvier des FlandresNose | Disqualifying | Fault (“brown ... nose”) | No ruling | Disqualifying | Fault (“a brown ... nose is a serious fault”) |
| BulldogNose | Not recognised (“under no circumstances liver colour, red or brown”) | Fault | Not recognised (“under no circumstances liver colour, red or brown”) | Not recognised (“under no circumstances liver colour, red, or brown”) | Disqualifying (“a brown or liver-colored nose shall disqualify”) |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Fault (“liver ... colours highly undesirable”) | Disqualifying | Fault (“liver ... colours highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver ... colours highly undesirable”) | Disqualifying (“Liver & White”) |
| German Shepherd | Not recognised | Disqualifying (“liver”) | Fault (“livers ... highly undesirable”) | Not recognised | Fault (“Liver”) |
| Great PyreneesNose | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Fault (“Liver or pink pigmentation highly undesirable”) | Disqualifying | No ruling |
| Irish WolfhoundNose | Fault | Fault | No ruling | Fault | Fault (“Lips or nose liver-colored”) |
| Miniature Bull Terrier | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue or liver color”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Fault (“Blue and liver highly undesirable”) | Disqualifying |
| NorrbottenspetsNose | Fault (“liver brown nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“liver brown nose is a fault”) |
| Norwegian BuhundNose | Fault (“liver ... coloured nose”) | Fault (“liver colored ... nose”) | No ruling | Fault (“liver- ... coloured nose”) | No ruling |
| Pembroke Welsh CorgiNose | No ruling | Fault (“bluies ... liver or gray ... nose ... pigment”) | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“bluies ... liver or gray ... nose ... pigment”) |
| Smooth Fox Terrier | Fault (“liver markings highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver”) | Fault (“liver markings highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver markings highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver markings are objectionable”) |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Fault (“liver colour highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver”) | Not recognised (“liver”) | Not recognised (“liver”) | Disqualifying (“Liver”) |
| Swedish Vallhund | Disqualifying (“liver brown ... coat colour”) | No ruling | Not recognised | Disqualifying (“liver brown ... coat colour”) | Fault |
| Tibetan SpanielNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Liver or putty-colored pigmentation”) |
| Wire Fox Terrier | Fault (“liver ... markings undesirable”) | Fault (“liver”) | Fault (“liver ... marking highly undesirable”) | Fault (“liver ... marking undesirable”) | Fault (“liver ... objectionable”) |
Breeds where Liver is disqualified or not accepted
| Breed | FCI | UKC | KC | KUSA | AKC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biewer TerrierNose | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Liver colored nose pigment”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“liver pigmentation of eye rims or nose”) |
| Boerboel | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Liver color on any basic breed standard color”) | No ruling | Not recognised (“Only dogs with black eumelanin pigmentation are acceptable”) | Disqualifying |
| Boston Terrier | Disqualifying (“Grey or liver colours”) | Disqualifying (“gray or liver colors”) | Not recognised (“Red & White”) | Disqualifying (“Grey or liver colours”) | Disqualifying |
| Cane Corso | Disqualifying | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying | Not recognised |
| Dogo ArgentinoNose | Disqualifying (“Brown nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown nose”) | Disqualifying |
| French Bulldog | Disqualifying | Disqualifying (“liver”) | Not recognised (“Brown”) | Disqualifying | Disqualifying (“liver”) |
| Great DaneNose | Disqualifying (“Nose: Liver coloured”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Nose: Liver coloured”) | No ruling |
| Ibizan HoundNose | Disqualifying (“Brown pigment ... on nose leather”) | Disqualifying (“Dark brown pigment ... on the nose leather”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown pigment ... on nose leather”) | Disqualifying (“never black or liver”) |
| Kangal Shepherd Dog | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Dogs with a white, black, chocolate, red or liver main body color”) | Not recognised | No ruling | No ruling |
| Kangal Shepherd DogNose | Disqualifying (“Brown nose and pigmentation”) | Disqualifying (“Liver or chocolate-colored nose”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown nose and pigmentation”) | No ruling |
| Leonberger | Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (brown with brown nose and brown pads ...)”) | Disqualifying (“Off colors, such as brown (liver) with brown nose and foot pads”) | Not recognised | Disqualifying (“Faulty colours (brown with brown nose and brown pads ...)”) | Disqualifying |
| LeonbergerNose | Disqualifying (“Brown nose leather”) | Disqualifying (“Brown nose, which occurs in liver-colored dogs”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown nose leather”) | No ruling |
| Miniature Schnauzer | Not recognised | Disqualifying | Not recognised (“Liver”) | Not recognised | Disqualifying (“Liver”) |
| Parson Russell TerrierNose | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown or liver nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Liver color nose”) |
| Russell TerrierNose | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Brown or liver nose”) | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Nose any color other than black”) |
| Segugio Italiano | Disqualifying (“coffee, chestnut brown, liver”) | Disqualifying | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“coffee, chestnut brown, liver”) |
| Segugio ItalianoShorthaired | Disqualifying (“coffee, chestnut brown, liver”) | Disqualifying | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“coffee, chestnut brown, liver”) |
| Segugio ItalianoWirehaired | Disqualifying (“coffee, brown or liver colour”) | Disqualifying | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“coffee, chestnut brown, liver”) |
| Skye TerrierNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“A ... brown nose shall disqualify”) |
| Pekingese | Not recognised (“except albino or liver”) | No ruling | Not recognised (“Albino, liver or merle unacceptable”) | Not recognised (“Albino, liver or merle unacceptable”) | No ruling |
| Andalusian PodencoNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Biewer Yorkshire a la Pom-PonNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Hortaya borzayaNose | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |