Dog color
Gray
An even gray. In horses the graying gene's color, which whitens with age (see the graying pattern); the wild color of cockatiels and African gray parrots; the gray to near-black eggs Cayuga ducks lay early in the season.
118 Dog breeds list Gray. It is in a club standard for 100 breeds. At least one club disqualifies it in 22 breeds.
Breeds whose standards accept Gray
| Breed | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affenpinscher | Not recognized | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“Grey shading occurs”) | Not recognized |
| Alaskan Klee Kai | No ruling | Standard (“Gray & White”) | Standard (“gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Alaskan Malamute | Standard (“light grey through intermediate shadings”) | Standard (“Gray & White”) | Standard (“light gray through the intermediate shadings”) | Standard (“light grey through intermediate shadings”) | Standard (“light grey through intermediate shadings”) |
| American Hairless TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“gray is preferred”) | Standard (“a dark gray eye with gray eye rims is preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| American Leopard Hound | No ruling | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“mouse color”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Anatolian Shepherd | No ruling | Standard (“Gray Fawn”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable”) | Standard (“Grey Fawn With Mask”) | No ruling |
| Azawakh | Disqualifying | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying |
| Barbet | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“grey”) | No ruling |
| Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Standard (“reddish grey as the winter coat of a deer”) | Standard (“reddish grey as the winter coat of a deer”) | Standard (“reddish grey”) | No ruling | Standard (“reddish grey as the winter coat of a deer”) |
| Bearded Collie | Standard (“all shades of grey”) | Standard (“a born black may become any shade of gray from black to slate to silver”) | Standard (“puppies that are born black begin graying”) | Standard (“all shades of grey”) | Standard (“all shades of grey”) |
| Beauceron | Standard (“harlequin: grey, black and tan”) | Standard (“Gray Black & Tan”) | Standard (“gray, black and tan, in a pattern of blue-gray patches”) | Standard (“grey and black patches”) | Standard (“harlequin: grey, black and tan”) |
| Belgian Laekenois | Disqualifying | Standard (“grayish tones”) | Standard (“all the gamut of colors through beige to gray”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying |
| Belgian Malinois | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“all the gamut of colors through beige to gray”) | Standard (“all shades of red, fawn, grey, with black overlay”) | Disqualifying |
| Belgian Tervuren | Standard (“grey with black overlay”) | Fault (“Gray & Black”) | Standard (“all the gamut of colors through beige to gray”) | Standard (“all shades of red, fawn, grey, with black overlay”) | Standard (“grey with black overlay”) |
| Bergamasco Sheepdog | Standard (“solid grey or with grey patches of all possible shades”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“solid gray or with gray patches”) | Standard (“solid grey, or with patches of all shades of grey through to black”) | Standard (“solid grey or with grey patches of all possible shades”) |
| Berger Picard | Standard (“grey which generally remains dark”) | Standard (“brindle may be any shade of base color from almost black to light grey or fawn”) | Standard (“gray, gray-black, gray with black highlights, gray-blue, gray-red”) | Not recognized | Standard (“grey that generally remains dark”) |
| Black Russian Terrier | Standard (“black with insignificant intermingling grey hair is permissible”) | Standard (“black with scattered gray hairs”) | Standard (“Black with insignificant, scattered gray hair”) | Standard (“black with intermingling grey hairs”) | Standard (“black with insignificant intermingling grey hair is permissible”) |
| Border Collie | Standard (“variety of colours permissible”) | Standard (“all colors or combination of colors and/or markings”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“variety of colours permissible”) | Standard (“variety of colours permissible”) |
| Borzoi | Standard (“grey (from ashy to yellowish-grey)”) | Standard (“Any color, or combination of colors, is acceptable”) | Standard (“Any color or combination of colors is acceptable”) | Standard (“Grey”) | Standard (“Grey (from ashy to yellowish-grey)”) |
| Bouvier des Flandres | Standard (“usually grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“Grey Brindle”) | Standard (“usually grey”) |
| Briard | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“various shades of gray”) | Standard (“may also be slate grey”) | Standard (“grey”) |
| Cairn Terrier | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“grey”) |
| Cane Corso | Standard (“lead-grey (blue), slate-grey (blue), light grey (blue)”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“all shades of grey”) | No ruling | Standard (“lead-grey (blue), slate-grey (blue), light grey (blue)”) |
| Carpathian Sheepdog | Standard (“wolf-grey”) | Standard (“Wolfgray & Black”) | Standard (“wolf grey”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Standard (“Any solid colour”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Agouti gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“Any solid colour”) |
| Central Asian Shepherd Dog | Standard (“Any”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“Any colour”) |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Not recognized | Not recognized | Not recognized | Standard (“ash”) | Not recognized |
| Cirneco dell’EtnaEyes | Not recognized (“never grey, brown or yellow”) | No ruling | Standard (“ochre or grey in color”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Coton de Tulear | Standard (“slight shadings of light grey colour (mixture of white and black hairs)”) | Standard (“Gray Markings”) | Standard (“slight shadings of light gray color (mixture of white and black hairs)”) | Standard (“slight shadings of light grey”) | Standard (“slight shadings of light grey (mixture of white and black hairs)”) |
| Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Standard (“Yellowish-gray”) | Standard (“Yellow Gray”) | Standard (“Yellowish-gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Estrela Mountain Dog | Standard (“grey in all ranges of colour intensity”) | Standard (“Wolfgray”) | Standard (“wolf gray”) | Standard (“Wolf Grey”) | Standard (“grey in all ranges of colour intensity”) |
| Eurasier | Standard (“all colours”) | Standard (“Wolfgray”) | Standard (“all colors”) | Standard (“Grey”) | No ruling |
| German Shepherd | Standard (“grey with darker shading”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Sable (gray ... with black tips)”) | Standard (“all grey”) | Standard (“grey, with darker shading”) |
| German Spitz | Standard (“grey-shaded (Medium, Miniature)”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“all colors”) | Standard (“all colour varieties ... acceptable”) | Standard (“grey-shaded”) |
| German SpitzGiant | Disqualifying | Not recognized | Standard (“all colors”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Not recognized | Standard (“White & Gray”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Great Dane | Standard (“Merle: grey and black spotted”) | Standard (“Merle Color: A pale gray to dark gray merle base color”) | Standard (“Merle: A pale gray to dark gray base color”) | Not recognized | Standard (“Merle: grey and black spotted”) |
| Great Pyrenees | Standard (“patches appearing grey (badger or wolf)”) | Standard (“Gray Markings”) | Standard (“grey (badger or wolf)”) | Standard (“wolf-grey”) | Standard (“patches appearing grey (badger or wolf)”) |
| Icelandic Sheepdog | Standard (“grey shaded”) | Standard (“Gray & White”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“Grey shaded”) | No ruling |
| Irish Wolfhound | Standard (“Grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“grey ... and steel grey”) | Standard (“Grey”) |
| Jagdterrier | Standard (“greyish-black”) | Standard (“Black & Gray”) | Standard (“black and gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Jindo | Standard (“wolf grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“wolf grey”) | Standard (“Wolf grey”) | No ruling |
| Kangal Shepherd Dog | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“can appear gray when there are more dark (sable) hairs”) | Standard (“steel grey”) | No ruling |
| Keeshond | Standard (“Grey-shaded”) | Standard (“Gray & Black”) | Standard (“a mixture of gray, black and cream”) | Standard (“All shades of grey acceptable”) | Standard (“Grey-shaded”) |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | Standard (“Blue of any shade”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any shade of blue is permissible”) | Standard (“Any shade of blue”) | Standard (“Any shade of blue”) |
| Lapponian Herder | Standard (“even greyish”) | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Lhasa Apso | Standard (“smoke”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“All colors are acceptable”) | Standard (“smoke”) | Standard (“smoke”) |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | Standard (“grey, lead grey”) | Standard (“Solid coats of gray (blue)”) | Standard (“gray, lead”) | Standard (“all shades of grey”) | Standard (“Grey, lead-grey”) |
| Newfoundland | Disqualifying | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying |
| Norwegian Elkhound | Standard (“Grey, of various shades”) | Standard (“Gray & Black”) | Standard (“Grey of various shades”) | Standard (“Grey of various shades”) | Standard (“Grey, of various shades”) |
| Norwegian Lundehund | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Old English Sheepdog | Standard (“any shade of grey”) | Standard (“Gray & White”) | Standard (“any shade of grey”) | Standard (“any shade of grey”) | Standard (“any shade of grey”) |
| Olde English Bulldogge | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“grey brindle”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Otterhound | No ruling | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color or combination of colors is acceptable”) | Not recognized | No ruling |
| Pekingese | Standard (“All colours and markings are permissible and of equal merit”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“All colors and markings are equally permissible”) | Standard (“Grey Brindle”) | Standard (“All colours and markings are permissible and of equal merit”) |
| Peruvian Inca Orchid | Standard (“The hair can be any colour or combination of colours, except merle”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“the entire range of grays”) | No ruling | Standard (“The hair can be any colour or combination of colours, except merle”) |
| Peruvian Inca OrchidSkin and scales | Standard (“the whole scale of greys (diluted black)”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“the entire range of grays”) | No ruling | Standard (“the whole scale of greys (diluted black)”) |
| Peruvian Inca OrchidHairless · Skin and scales | Standard (“the whole scale of greys (diluted black)”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“the entire range of grays”) | No ruling | Standard (“the whole scale of greys (diluted black)”) |
| Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Not recognized | Standard (“White & Gray”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Plott Hound | No ruling | Standard (“Gray Brindle”) | Standard (“Any shade of brindle”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Standard (“all colours and patches are acceptable”) | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“Grey”) | Standard (“all colours and patches are acceptable”) |
| Pomeranian | Standard (“grey-shaded”) | Standard (“all colors ... are allowed”) | Standard (“any solid color”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Poodle (Miniature) | Standard (“Grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) |
| Poodle (Standard) | Standard (“Grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) |
| Poodle (Toy) | Standard (“Grey must be uniform, deep, neither blackish nor whitish”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) | Standard (“All solid colours”) |
| Portuguese Podengo | Not recognized | Standard (“Gray”) | Not recognized | Standard (“Grey”) | No ruling |
| Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Not recognized | Standard (“Gray”) | Not recognized | Standard (“Grey”) | No ruling |
| Portuguese Sheepdog | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“grey”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Puli | Standard (“grey in any shade”) | Standard (“all shades of gray”) | Standard (“all shades of gray”) | Standard (“grey in various shades”) | Standard (“grey in any shade”) |
| Pumi | Standard (“grey in various shades”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“varying shades of grey”) | Standard (“Grey – in various shades”) | Standard (“grey in various shades”) |
| Pyrenean Mastiff | Standard (“medium grey”) | No ruling | Standard (“medium grey”) | Standard (“medium grey”) | No ruling |
| Pyrenean Shepherd | Standard (“grey, lighter or darker”) | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“light to dark grey”) | Standard (“grey, lighter or darker”) |
| Pyrenean ShepherdSmooth-Faced | No ruling | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“light to dark grey”) | No ruling |
| Rafeiro do Alentejo | Standard (“wolf grey”) | Standard (“Wolfgray”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Rat TerrierEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Gray eyes are acceptable in blue or blue-fawn dogs only”) | Standard (“a dark gray eye with gray eye rims is preferred”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Standard (“solid grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“solid gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Russian ToyEyes | No ruling | Standard (“Blue and Tan dogs have eyes and eye rims that are slate grey”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | No ruling | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Saluki | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours is permissible”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color or combination of colors is permissible”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) | Standard (“Any colour or combination of colours permissible”) |
| Schapendoes | Standard (“Preference is given to blue-grey to black”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“preference is given to blue-grey to black”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Scottish Deerhound | Standard (“darker and lighter greys”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“darker and lighter greys”) | Standard (“darker and lighter greys”) | Standard (“darker and lighter greys”) |
| Shih Tzu | Standard (“All colours permissible”) | Standard (“All are permissible”) | Standard (“All colors and markings are acceptable”) | Standard (“Grey & White”) | Standard (“All colours permissible”) |
| Siberian Husky | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray & White”) | Standard (“all colors, from black to pure white”) | Standard (“Light Grey & White”) | Standard (“grey”) |
| Silky Terrier | No ruling | Standard (“Gray & Tan”) | No ruling | Standard (“Grey Blue & Tan”) | No ruling |
| Skye Terrier | Standard (“dark or light grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“dark or light gray”) | Standard (“dark or light grey”) | Standard (“dark or light grey”) |
| Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Standard (“brown shaded sable (said “grey”)”) | Standard (“Gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“grey of any shade”) | Standard (“brown-shaded sable (said “grey”)”) |
| Spanish Mastiff | Standard (“wolf colour”) | Standard (“Wolfgray”) | Standard (“wolf or deer colored”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Swedish Vallhund | Standard (“grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“any shade of gray”) | Standard (“all shades of grey”) | Standard (“grey”) |
| Tibetan Mastiff | Disqualifying (“All other colours than above mentioned e.g. ... grey”) | Standard (“blue/grey”) | Standard (“slate gray”) | Standard (“Grey”) | Disqualifying (“All colours other than above-mentioned e.g. ... grey”) |
| Tibetan Terrier | Standard (“grey or smoke”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color or combination of colors, including white, are acceptable”) | Standard (“grey or smoke”) | Standard (“grey or smoke”) |
| Weimaraner | Standard (“roe or mouse grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“mouse-gray”) | Standard (“shades of mouse or roe grey”) | Standard (“roe, or mouse-grey”) |
| WeimaranerEyes | No ruling | Standard (“gray”) | Standard (“gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Standard (“Preferably steel grey shade with brown (liver) patches”) | Standard (“Brown & Gray”) | Standard (“Steel gray with liver patches”) | Standard (“Steel grey with liver brown patches”) | No ruling |
| Xoloitzcuintli | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“grey in any shade”) | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) |
| XoloitzcuintliCoated | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“grey in any shade”) | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) |
| XoloitzcuintliSkin and scales | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“grey in any shade”) | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) |
| XoloitzcuintliHairless · Skin and scales | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) | Standard (“Gray”) | Standard (“Any color combination is allowed”) | Standard (“grey in any shade”) | Standard (“blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey”) |
| Yakutian Laika | Standard (“White and any patching (bicolour or tricolour)”) | Standard (“White & Gray”) | No ruling | Standard (“Grey & White”) | No ruling |
| Yorkshire Terrier | No ruling | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“Steel Grey & Tan”) | Not recognized |
| Yugoslavian Shepherd Dog | Standard (“The preferred shade is a greenish grey (iron grey) and dark grey”) | No ruling | Standard (“The most common color is an iron gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
Breeds where Gray is a fault
| Breed | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgian Shepherd | Fault (“grey breeches”) | Disqualifying (“Gray”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Fault (“grey breeches”) |
| Chinook | No ruling | Disqualifying (“Gray & Tan”) | Fault | No ruling | No ruling |
| Porcelaine | Disqualifying (“Orange spots ... greyish”) | Disqualifying (“Orange spots ... greyish”) | Fault (“Intermingled gray or black hairs in the coat”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Schipperke | Fault (“Grey, brownish or reddish tones in the top coat”) | Disqualifying (“Gray”) | Disqualifying (“Dilute colors such as grey, blue, or blue-cream”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Fault (“Wolf-sable and grey undesirable”) | Not recognized | No ruling | Fault (“Wolf-sable and grey undesirable”) | Fault (“Wolf-sable and grey undesirable”) |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Fault | Fault (“must never be white or carry gray other than on ears and muzzle”) | Fault | Not recognized | Fault |
Breeds where Gray is disqualified or not accepted
| Breed | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BorzoiEyes | Disqualifying (“of all shades of grey, green, blue”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“of all shades of grey, green, blue”) |
| Brussels Griffon | Disqualifying (“Any other colours than those laid down in the standard, such as grey”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Brussels GriffonRough | Disqualifying (“Any other colours than those laid down in the standard, such as grey”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Brussels GriffonSmooth | Disqualifying (“Any other colours than those laid down in the standard, such as grey”) | Not recognized | Disqualifying | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Canaan | Not recognized (“grey ... unacceptable”) | Disqualifying (“gray”) | Not recognized (“gray ... unacceptable”) | Not recognized | Not recognized (“grey ... unacceptable”) |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Not recognized | Disqualifying (“Gray & White”) | Disqualifying | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Carolina Dog | No ruling | Disqualifying (“blue/grey ... coat color”) | Disqualifying (“blue/grey”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Fila Brasileiro | Disqualifying (“mouse-grey”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“mouse-grey”) |
| Lagotto Romagnolo | Not recognized | Disqualifying (“Black or gray coat or patches”) | Not recognized | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Disqualifying (“grey in coat”) | No ruling | Disqualifying (“gray in coat”) | Not recognized | No ruling |
| Perro de Presa CanarioEyes | No ruling | No ruling | Disqualifying (“gray”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Hortaya borzaya | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
Color changes
How Gray can appear or change over an animal's life.
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive