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Great Pyrenees Badger Marks

September 1, 2015 47 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. You won't pay a penny more, but you'll help keep It's Dog or Nothing running (websites are expensive!) and the floofs fed (they're even more expensive - as you well know) ;)

What are badger marks on Great Pyrenees and how do they change?

I often hear people say something like, “I saw a dog that looked like a Great Pyrenees the other day, but it wasn’t pure white. It must have been a mix.” They are then surprised when I tell them that all Great Pyrenees aren’t pure white! Some pyrs have colorations called “badger marks”.

Badger marks come in several variations of badger, gray, or shades of tan. They are most commonly seen on the head and base of the tail. Per the breed standard, badger marks may cover no more than 1/3 of the dog’s body. That means a pyr can have a significant amount of coloration!

The most interesting thing about badger marks is that they change throughout the dog’s life. Dark badger marks on a puppy will gradually lighten over time; tan marks typically fade to white.

What some people don’t realize is that badger marks can lighten and darken. Mauja had light tan badger marks that seemingly disappeared only to reappear just recently.

Why do their badger marks change? Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s been hypothesized that the dark marks helped to disguise them among the rocks when they were born in the mountains long ago. The puppies were then less susceptible to predators.

However, that’s only a guess!

Since Mauja’s badger marks are extremely faint and Atka doesn’t have any at all, I polled the pyr community to get some pictures. I received so many amazing pictures and it was hard narrowing them down, but here are some great examples of the changes (or lack of changes) in badger marks.

Good luck handling the cuteness! 😉

How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Wende Beeson’s beautiful Alice
Carol Masters Beckman’s Roxy. Check them out on Facebook at Beckman’s Great Pyrenees of Vaughn Hill!
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Image credit: Grace Farm
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Shelly Kipp’s stunning Koda
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Shana Mumper’s Princess <3
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Carol Masters Beckman’s Bella. Check them out on Facebook at Beckman’s Great Pyrenees of Vaughn Hill!
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Tanya Michael’s Sampson
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Image credit: Kayte Whitmer. These badger marks barely faded at all!
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Sandy McManus’ Chaos
How badger marks change on Great Pyrenees
Angela Cook Quintana’s Justice
Debby Takacs Woodward's Izabella at 8 weeks and 7 months. When badger marks fade, they typically fade quickly!
Debby Takacs Woodward’s Izabella at 8 weeks and 7 months. When badger marks fade, they typically fade quickly!
Shauna Turnbull's pyrs at approximately 8 weeks, 6 months, and 4 years. They started dark, lightened, and then darkened again.
Shauna Turnbull’s pyrs at approximately 8 weeks, 6 months, and 4 years. They started dark, lightened, and then darkened again.
Cassie Mason Hawkins-Hubbard's Gabriela. On Facebook at White Mountain Pyrenees of Halo Acres!
Cassie Mason Hawkins-Hubbard’s Gabriela. On Facebook at White Mountain Pyrenees of Halo Acres!
Tami Fischer's handsome boy. Mask went from dark, to light, back to dark!
Tami Fischer’s handsome boy. Mask went from dark, to light, back to dark!
Tina Marie Wells' Sophia. On Facebook at Wells' Providence
Tina Marie Wells’ Sophia. On Facebook at Wells’ Providence
Tanja Paasonen's Viljo - One of the coolest changes I've seen so far!
Tanja Paasonen’s Viljo – One of the coolest changes I’ve seen so far!
Alexandra Holmes' Samson
Alexandra Holmes’ Samson
Wendy Freedman Blumberg's Rose
Wendy Freedman Blumberg’s Rose
Wendy Freedman Blumberg's Sebastien
Wendy Freedman Blumberg’s Sebastien
Tara Pollock's Hank
Tara Pollock’s Hank

As you can see, Great Pyrenees are very unique in not only their markings, but how their markings change over time. Many, many thanks to everyone who submitted photos for me to use! The pyr community is truly wonderful 🙂

Do you have or have you seen a pyr with badger marks?

Filed Under: Pyr Paw Around, What's New Tagged With: dogs, great pyrenees

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pamela says

    September 1, 2015 at 11:52 am

    Wow, that’s a whole lotta Pyr beauty.

    I’m not surprised to think of puppies having markings that fade. But I’m surprised to hear about them reappearing in an adult dog.

    Any speculations on why that could be? And do any other Pyr people you know have dogs who have regained their badger spots?

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      September 1, 2015 at 11:59 am

      Mauja’s badger marks are showing up again recently. She had light tan ears that faded to white by about 4 months of age. In the past few months I’ve noticed them reappearing. They’re much lighter than the ones she was born with, but darker than a year ago!

      I’ve met a couple people with marks to fade and then reappear in adulthood. I have absolutely no idea why! Definitely an interesting topic though.

      Reply
    • Jules says

      April 8, 2017 at 12:50 pm

      We adopted our 3-year-old Great Pyr gal on 1/1/17. She is pretty much pure white, a little bit of pale gray and tan on her ears. We’ve noticed lately that she is starting to show more very faint color: tan on her rump above her tail, more tan on her head between her ears, and even a big, very light tan spot on her side! She has been starting to blow her coat – wondering if that’s making the color show more.

      Whatever colors she decides to wear, we adore our sweet girl. 🙂

      Reply
      • Kim says

        March 21, 2019 at 12:46 pm

        I have noticed this to be true, as well. In my experience the badger marks can fade or darken when coat is renewing.

        Reply
      • Rae says

        August 9, 2020 at 10:19 am

        We also adopted our Great Pyr girl at 3 yrs, 5 months. She has an adorable tan oval spot on her back near her rear that looks like someone spilled a latte coffee on her. So cute!

        Reply
    • Bonnie says

      July 10, 2017 at 5:15 pm

      If both mom and dad are all white will the puppy’s have markings?

      Reply
      • Haylee says

        November 27, 2020 at 10:37 pm

        It depends on genetics. It’s not just about what the parents look like, the grandparents or great grandparents could have had markings their whole life and just passed it down to the grand/great grand pups through genes. It’s a very mysterious world we live in, but it can be very cool at times 😉😀

        Reply
    • Lillian Friedman says

      December 24, 2018 at 3:02 am

      My aunt and uncle have 3 pyrs. I don’t know this for fact but my speculation is that pyrs have two coats, so I wonder if the under coat is more like their skin and baby coat (this includes the badger markings). I wonder if it has to do with shedding and what coat is showing through. Perhaps that’s why it changes over time. Any other ideas?

      Reply
  2. Leslie Topf says

    September 1, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Officially the Blair markings are referred to as “Blaireau” in French meaning wolf or badger markings. I happen to be partial to the masks of Blairs and find them quite beautiful.
    .

    Reply
    • Suzannah Rodriguez says

      September 14, 2017 at 12:36 pm

      You just saved me the time of typing the same explanation – thanks, Leslie!

      Reply
  3. Jody Miller-Young says

    September 2, 2015 at 10:31 am

    Really interesting, Kelsie! And so much cuteness, yes! I had no idea Great Pyrenees were anything but white and you can see from the first set of pics, that sometimes those puppy badger marks do get darker with age. Wow!

    Reply
  4. April says

    September 2, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    I’ve never met a Pyr yet, but I did see a Leonberger recently. I’ve never seen such a tall dog.

    Dogo’s can have interesting markings and pigmentation as well. I love all of the Pyr pictures, such a gorgeous, loving breed.

    Reply
  5. MyDogLikes says

    September 2, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    These pictures are ridiculously cute. I didn’t know that Great Pyrenees can have these markings or that they are called badger marks! It reminds me of our kitten Lucas who was nearly all white when he came home with us and later developed various markings of tan and brown.

    Reply
  6. Tenacious Little Terrier says

    September 2, 2015 at 10:16 pm

    I thought they were all white too. A little bit like Yorkies, they’re super dark as puppies and get lighter.

    Reply
  7. Kama says

    September 3, 2015 at 7:59 am

    Wow, that’s so interesting! I never knew Pyrs had coloration called Badger Marks. I would have been that person assuming the dog was a mix. I love to learn new things. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Paula says

    September 11, 2015 at 7:33 am

    My Sheena stayed all white until she passed at 14. I love the Badger marked babies. Sorta reminds me of the Corgi breed. You can pick a puppy for color, but that doesn’t mean that they will still be the same color when they are 2 years old. My son picked a corgi that was basically black and tan. Pippa is basically white and tan with one small black spot now at 2 years.

    Reply
  9. Olga says

    September 21, 2015 at 8:56 am

    Around one year ago happened very interesting story. I has two Great Pyrs almost white, but anyway they have some light brown marks. During our walking with my husband and our dogs we met one grand mistress with two
    teenagers. And she asked us – what kind of breed this dogs…. Our conversation:
    – they are great pyr dogs
    – ok! I know this breed, my friend has the same, only his dog is black and without tail…
    Another without comment

    Reply
  10. glenncottage says

    November 9, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Great article! Cherokee had badger markings. At one year old they are much lighter now. I do hope he keep his dark grey ear tips. The tan near his eyes and at the base of his tail get lighter and lighter as time goes by.

    Reply
  11. Jenna,Mark “HuskyCrazed” Drady says

    November 17, 2015 at 7:52 am

    I had never heard that about badger marks before!!! Interesting!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

    Reply
  12. David Duarte says

    November 20, 2015 at 8:11 am

    The badger marks on Snowy’s head are very faint and easy to miss unless you look closely. He also has a big brown spot on his back close to his tail.

    Reply
  13. Clowie says

    December 23, 2015 at 9:37 am

    My markings covered most of my face when I was small, but they ended up looking like I’m wearing some eye shadow.

    Reply
  14. Liz says

    February 9, 2016 at 5:04 am

    Our Huey was born brown with black on his face and on most of his tail. He will be 1 in a few days and he’s more of a cream color with no black rather than the usual bright white.

    Reply
  15. R Watson says

    February 21, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    Just had our first (and most likely only) litter. 4 white/4 badger. Absolutely GORGEOUS markings.

    Reply
  16. Kylie says

    April 26, 2016 at 9:10 am

    Love the pictures of the pups! So adorable, thanks for the post!

    Reply
  17. Karma says

    May 25, 2016 at 9:42 pm

    I hear this all the time. My girl, Maggie May, is a badger marked gal with brown tipped ears and a brown patch over one eye. Most people will ask me if what she is, or if she is a Great Pyrenees mix. But she is pure GP. And beautiful. I try to briefly and kindly educate them that, no, she is full great pyr and it is called badger markings. Some of them just look at me with skepticism. But, oh well.

    Reply
  18. Glen says

    June 9, 2016 at 12:15 pm

    My Bella has the badger markings and people are always asking what she is mixed with. She has a blond spot on her tail and freckles on her back. Her ears are smokey blond. And her nose has a blond bridge.

    Reply
  19. Sommer says

    September 22, 2016 at 10:10 pm

    I adopted a 4mo old pup from a shelter that looks 100% Pyr except one thing; coat. He does have coloring on his head and tail which is normal. BUT his whole body appears to be a cream color and you can faintly see pure white socks. Can this be normal or does it suggest a mix?

    Reply
    • Kelsie says

      September 23, 2016 at 8:14 am

      Can you send me a picture of him? That would be really helpful 🙂 kelsie@itsdogornothing.com

      Reply
    • Yvonne says

      May 25, 2018 at 11:01 am

      I just adopted a 4 month old with much the same markings. Both parents are pure white. The breeder assured me she will turn pure white but I have my doubts now after reading this article. While I hope she does, I love her just the same!

      Reply
  20. Kim says

    October 19, 2016 at 9:42 am

    So adorable, thanks for the share! Love this breed of dog!

    Reply
  21. shelby mcdonald says

    December 12, 2016 at 7:22 pm

    I just had a coworker tell me that the local vet said that if a pyr dog had any color on it that it was not a pure breed.

    Reply
    • Jazzy says

      August 28, 2017 at 9:10 pm

      Turn around and run from that vet!!! They do not know your dog…

      Reply
      • lily says

        August 4, 2019 at 10:31 am

        my dog has a brother with marks, both parents are purebred, and mine is white, that vet is stupid.

        Reply
  22. Cathy Armato says

    March 30, 2017 at 11:40 am

    I always thought Prys were pure white too. These photos are so adorable! I love these puppies with their cute little badger marks. Thanks for sharing.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

    Reply
  23. Katie says

    July 7, 2018 at 12:18 am

    Our sweet girl had tan ears and a dark spot on her bum, but now – almost 9 years old – she is virtually all white. Her bum spot still peaks out a little in the right light, but my how she is changed!

    Her siblings had lots more badger spots and they have faded/lightened with age too – though my sweet girl is the most “white” of them all. I often wondered why the siblings looked so different from one another and why their spots faded so much. Now I know! 🙂

    Reply
  24. Jamie Jackson says

    January 13, 2019 at 11:06 am

    Oh my goodness! Such beautiful puppies! I’m so glad I have found these articles, as they have helped us understand our Pyr puppy, Mika, so much more. Everytime we take her anywhere, we’re always asked what she is mixed with. Everyone is always suprised to find out that she is full Pyranese! She has tan on top of her head, and her ears are gray, tan and black, with a good mix of those colors right at her back hips.
    She is currently only 7 months old, but she definitely has her own way of doing things, her own schedule, and is a GREAT protector on our little hilltop!

    Reply
  25. Tom King says

    February 21, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Our boy is a 4-year-old rescue, and he has been in our family for a year, now (from Feb to Feb). We could swear he was all white to start, but now has striking (very obvious) tan spots on his sides (his “saddle bags”), at the base of his tail, his ears and head. His coat seems quite full at this point, so its not shedding that brought it out. I assumed that he is just so happy to have a happy home, that he is finally expressing his “true colors”!

    Reply
  26. Jerry says

    February 23, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    Can someone tell me where the name “badger” came from for the Pyr coloration?

    Reply
  27. Jami Bova says

    March 21, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    Our sweet Hattie has gray badger markings. People always ask if she’s mixed with anatolian, but she is all Great Pyr.

    https://www.facebook.com/HappyWifeFarm/photos/a.848682858634572/993658210803702/?type=3&theater

    Reply
  28. Teri says

    August 24, 2019 at 6:09 am

    I rescued my girl who was 3 1/2 at the time. Her badger markings were prominent on her face, but she had a very light tan spot on her back end.
    Over the years it appeared bigger and darker…
    I assumed…lol, that it bigger and darker because of the weather we have in PA…She was raised in S. Carolina and ended up in a rescue in Virginia and that is when I adopted her.
    My own theory…but after hearing some appear, disappear and then reappear…I must be wrong.
    She passed last year at the end of October…I miss her and all her quirky Pyrenees ways…most notably, the out I paw!

    Reply
  29. Teri says

    August 24, 2019 at 6:11 am

    Pyro paw…love auto correct!

    Reply
  30. Camille says

    August 28, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    Both of my pyrs had badger markings as pups that faded within a year. However when they got wet or had a bath, the markings darkened again for a day or two.

    Reply
  31. Kathleen says

    September 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    I have two sisters. One has badger spots that were very light tan as a puppy and now at 4 they are a darker tan on her ears, snout and one on her back that wasn’t there as a puppy. Sister ended up with a pink spot on her snout! Nice to know what the “spots” are called.

    Reply
  32. Summer Revell says

    October 22, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    Milky Way has gotten lighter, his mama is hoping he turns out all white (grandma likes the cream and latte) we shall see! The boy is about 15 weeks 37 pounds, my daughter is concerned he’s a little small for his age. Is this normal? Thanks

    Reply
  33. Callie says

    January 29, 2022 at 8:08 pm

    I knew about badger marks but did you know Great Pyrenees can be black? Met one today and researched it too. Some pure bred Great Pyrenees are Black!

    Reply
  34. April says

    February 4, 2022 at 8:28 am

    I have a liter with 3 pure whites and 3 badgers. Mom had badger markings when she was a pup but faded as she got older. Dad is pure white. The pups have the dark spots with strains of tan hair in the middle of the dark spots. Very pretty.

    Reply
  35. Steve says

    June 27, 2022 at 12:56 am

    My sisters adult Great Pyrenees Ashley’s face, typically on her right side, has been turning light brown but it has been coming and going sometimes daily this summer. I was wondering what may be causing this. It looks like make-up wondering if its allergies maybe. Be greatful if anyone has experienced this phenomenon? Thanks

    Reply

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