Colours

[Roughquest]

Why do they term the following colours differently to horses and dogs ?

Grey = White (for a horse) Blue (for a dog)
Dapple = Grey
Blue = Grey

[Clanad]

Here in the western U.S. the colors of dog's and horses is always of interest. Grey for horses seems to have originated in the fact that there are, rarely, any true white horses outside of albinism. Many truly white horses, at least here, have pink eyes and other traits denoting albinism. Therefore, grey tends to be amore descriptive title. In fact, many noted military leaders, again, here in the U.S., organized the regiments of cavalry into similar coated horses to be easily recognizable on the smoky battlefield. General George A. Custer had a regiment of "Greys" as well as others.
Blue for a descriptive of dogs is well known here in the mixed cattle and sheep country, especially with the Australian Shepherd. Many owners name their dogs "Blue". It's caused by a two layer coat of the affected dogs. The under coat is a lighter black color, somewhat dappled with grey while the protective over coat is deep black. It's sometimes called Blue Merle. This produces, usually in certain sunlight, a deffinite blue cast.
The etymology of "dapple" is interesting in that it appeared in the English language in the mid-1400's; This from Online Etymology Dictionary: c.1400 (dappled), perhaps a back-formation from dapple-grey "apple-grey" (c.1386), by resemblance to the markings on an apple (cf. O.N. apalgrar "dapple-gray"), or, as it was used of gray horses with round blotches, perhaps of apples themselves.

Interesting question!

[horsestache1]

In the UK all white horses except the Lippizana, are called grey. Lippizana's are the only true white horses, they have black eyes. Incedentally they are also born black.

Dapple is a lighter and darker grey with a dappleing effect, this again lightens as the horse gets older.

Blue in horses is called blue roan, and is a beautiful blue/grey colour.

A blue/gray dog in the UK would probably be a wimerranner (sp??)

As to why they are called these colours, I have not idea, but hopr this helps

[lankeela]

In dogs, blue and blue merle are totally different. Blue is what most people would call grey and blue merle is a silvery colour, splashed and marbled with black (as in Rough and Smooth Collies, Shelties, Cardigan Corgis, Aussie Shepherds, etc.). There is also red merle, which ranges from a chocolatey brown colour to almost pink. Australian Cattle Dogs come in blue speckle (hence 'Blue Heelers' ) and red speckle.

As with horses, there are very few actual white German Shepherds, most are a cream colour.

There are some fascinating name for colours in dogs, such as Pepper and Salt in Schnauzers, Orange/Lemon/Blue Belton in English Setters,
Grizzle in Border Terriers.

Greyhounds and other dogs can be brindle, blue brindle, red brindle - brindle is a mix of black hairs with hairs of a lighter colour, gold, brown or grey, usually striped. We also have roan, a mixture of coloured hairs alternating with white - blue roan, orange roan, lemon roan, liver roan. Sable is where the hairs are tipped with black on a background of silver, gold, grey, fawn or tan.

Perhaps one of the most unusual is Blaireau, which is 'badger' coloured markings found in Pyrenean Mountain Dogs. Deadgrass can be straw to bracken coloured. Sedge is red gold. Wheaten is pale yellow or fawn.
Dudley is liver, brown or putty coloured. Liver is also known as brown or chocolate, and there is also Puce. Harlequin is blue or black patches on white (as in Great Danes). Isabella is a fawn colouring found in Dobermann Pinschers. Landseer is black and white as in Newfoundlands (in other countries the Landseer is a separate breed).


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