Liver
Liver Colored Shih Tzu
Overview
Liver (AKC color code S 123) is a gorgeous color seen with the Shih Tzu breed. Like blue (though not as rare), liver is based on skin pigmentation, not coat color. The skin points (eye rims, nose, lips, and paw pads) will be liver. Liver itself is a type of brown that ranges in hue from a light brown with a shiny pink overlay to a deep dark chocolate brown.
Let's take a look at some facts about liver Shih Tzu dog and then see some adorable examples.
Facts about Liver Shih Tzu Dogs
Here are some interesting and helpful facts about livers:
- This is an official and accepted AKC color with the Shih Tzu breed. The color is standard (not alternate) with liver being S 123 and liver and white being S 125
- No matter what color a Shih Tzu's coat is, if his skin points (nose, eye rims, lips and paw pads) are liver, he is a genetically a liver.
- With many Shih Tzu, it is the nose that will be the most obvious area to notice that liver color.
- Though the coat of a liver Shih Tzu can be almost any color, most often it will be shades of browns and golds; this can range from very light cream all the way to a deep dark chocolate. And this includes solids (with or without markings), double colors, and tri-colors.
- Some colors such as black will never be seen with a liver nose.
- If a breeder is inexperienced, a pup may be registered incorrectly. For example, if a Shih Tzu has a gold and white coat but a liver nose, he should be registered as a liver; if one did not know to do this, he could be registered as a gold and white. Though this would technically be his coat coloring, the designation would be incorrect.
- Liver is found with other breeds including Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels and Dalmatians, though sometimes it goes by a different name (such as 'beaver' with the Pomeranian breed).
- In regard to color genes, liver occurs on the B locus.
- A Shih Tzu that is outwardly liver will be a bb.
- A Shih Tzu can carry, but not show liver. If a Shih Tzu only carries liver, he is a b (not bb) and if he does not carry liver he is a B (black), or more specifically, a Bb.
- Liver is recessive to black. This means that in order for a Shih Tzu to be liver one of the following three scenarios must occur: 1) Both parents are liver 2) One parent is liver and the other is a carrier or 3) both parents are carriers. This means livers can be produced by a sire and dam that do not appear to be liver at all.
- If dogs carrying liver are paired together and bred, the resulting litter may consist of both black and liver pigmented pups. For example, if both sire and dam are Bb or bB (black is dominant), the dogs will have black skin points (B) but carry liver (b), this may produce some pups with bb (liver) and some with Bb (black but carrying
liver).
- The liver allele affects the B gene (black) and turns all areas of the coat that would otherwise be black, to liver. Since this is an 'all or nothing' process, liver dogs genetically cannot have even 1 black hair.
- If a Shih Tzu has liver type colors in the coat, this does not classify the dog as a liver. Colors such as beige, gold, all shades of tan and browns can appear in non-liver dogs.
- Livers and non-livers can have the same coat colors. Let's take a look at examples below:
A liver Shih Tzu
(see photo below). There are liver colors (tans and browns) in the coat and
the nose is liver. So, this Shih Tzu is an liver.
Nugget, Photo courtesy of C. Veasey, Panama City Florida
Not a liver (see photo below). There are liver type colors in the coat (tans and browns), but
the nose is black. This Shih Tzu is not a liver.
Eva, at 1 year old
Photo courtesy of Andie & Bob Kosko
- The base of liver is black and is a variation of the eumelanin (black pigmentation).
- Though the Shih Tzu breed should have dark eyes per the AKC standard, lighter eyes with livers and blues is deemed correct. This is referred to as self-coloring. Sometimes the gene that causes black to be liver can affect eye color, making dark brown eyes into a lighter brown, amber, hazel or green which are all beautiful.
- There are no particular skin or coat conditions that are seen more in liver Shih Tzu than other colors. It is simply a skin pigmentation and is not connected to health or any elements regarding being predisposed to conditions.
- Livers, along with other colors, can have quite dramatic color changes as they mature.
Examples of Liver Shih Tzu Puppies and Dogs
You will notice that in all of these photos, the nose is liver (brown, ranging from light to dark), while the there are lots of different coat colors.
This liver Shih Tzu has a full chocolate brown coat with a tint of red.
Misty, photo courtesy of Carolyn Hammond & Steve Vienneau
This Shih Tzu has lovely brown hairs on the cheeks and ears.
Vivienne Grace, at 9 months old, photo courtesy Meg
This little cutie has a soft brown coat with dark liver nose. Some would refer to him as chocolate, though this it is not an official Shih Tzu color.
Bama's Jaxon Tide
Photo courtesy of Tami Ingram
Look at this rich brown in contrast to the crisp white.
Zoey, at 16 months old,
photo courtesy of Tammy Barber
A wonderful close-up showing a perfect liver nose and how this looks so nice alongside the soft beige in the coat.
Leo Biga, at 2 years old,
photo courtesy of Monica Hernandez
A great example of a liver Shih Tzu; it's interesting to note that this Tzu had a chocolate brown
coat when a young pup and it has lightended dramatically.
Dierks, at 8 months old,
photo courtesy of Katie
Though rare yet just as lovely, there can be a very dark liver such as with this princess with green eyes.
Sophie, 1 year old,
photo courtesy of Donna Kirkpatrick
A beautiful liver and white Shih Tzu with green eyes. Some might refer to this Tzu as a gold and white, but the nose makes her a liver.
Barock, 3 years old,
photo courtesy of Theresa Owens
Look at the adorable way that color falls on this liver and white Shih Tzu, with a liver eye patch. Though it does not happen all the time, his nose color and coat color are very much the same.
Gizmo, 4 years old,
photo courtesy of Wendy
Changes with Liver
Like most Shih Tzu colors, there is often a color change from puppy to adult. And with liver, the change can be dramatic. Let's look at a before & after.
This is Buddy, photos courtesy of Shelly C. On the left is Buddy as a young pup. And to the right is Buddy at 4 years old. What a transformation!
Diluted Liver
What happens if you take liver and dilute it?
Well, unofficially, it gives you a lavender Shih Tzu and officially the dog would be registered as a 'regular' liver. This is exceptionally rare and as you can see, quite beautiful. With so much dilution, the eyes are typically a very light amber or green as with this cutie pie.
Frankie, at 2.5 years old, photo courtesy of Linda P.
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