Genetics

A brief guide to genetics Solid is always dominant over parti colour Roan is dominant over open marks

Solid can carry for parti colour, but parti colour cannot carry for solid

A solid carrying 2 genes for solid can only produce a solid, breeding to a parti colour will result in solid marked puppies carrying the part colour gene

Roan can carry for open marked parti colours, but open marks cannot carry for roan

Sable colour/markings

The sable gene is part of the "A" series

The specifc name is "ay" and is quite rare in English Cocker Spaniels

To produce a sable puppy you need the "ay" gene combined with the tan gene known as the "at" gene

 For instance a mating between

Sable X Black and Tan

the offspring will be Sable or black and tan

(but the black and tan offspring will not carry for sable as they have received 2 "at" genes, one from each parent)

(but the sable offspring will carry for tan as one gene will be sable "ay" and one tan gene "at")

Similarly if you breed a sable to a dog carrying the "at" tan gene, you will produce sables

This is just a basic guideline of what is possible with certain matings, ideally you need to know your dogs pedigree before a mating takes place