Genetically bi-color or black? - Page 1

We had a litter of three pups on August 16th.  One sable and what we thought were two black.  The two black pups had no tan on them at birth and for the first three weeks.  Now, at four weeks old, both pups have tan on the inside of their ears and in between their toes.  Under the tail is still solid black.  The sire is a black with bleed-through and the dam is sable. 

I've never seen bleed-through on pups this young.  So, do you all think they are black or bi-color?  Here are pics of the pups.  I tried to get a picture of the tan in between the toes, but good luck with that on a four week old pup!

Black male:
 
Inside ear:

Black Female:

Sable Male (just because he's so cute!):



 

Interesting. Those (black) pups have gorgeous heads

The defining characteristic between a genetically black dog, including "bleed-through" blacks, and a bicolour is the area under the tail. If the vent, the fur around the "tail hole" is not black, then the dog is genetically a melanistic bicolour. If the vent is black, the dog is genetically black. Bear in mind, some females have darker fur at the vulva. This is not part of the vent, and should not be considered in determining black versus bicolour.

Thank you Ibrahim & jc. 

So, does the vent have to have tan around it at birth or is this something that can come as the dog gets older?
 

The vent will be tan at birth, and that will never change. Oh, and you're welcome. Those are some cute little puppies 

In my experience, the puppies that have (develop) tan between their toes and in their ears will lose the tan as they get their adult coats, especially the tan in the ears.  As they age, they are much more likely to have bleed through.  They are genetically black. 

As previously stated, any tan around the vent and the dog will test to be a bi color genetically