As a puppy, he exhibited a darker color down his back and on his tail (as did his brother Cider -- see him on the "Mismarked" page).
He began to lose this odd coloration around 4 or 5 months old.
When he shed his winter coat, the black hair re-appeared.
The picture doesn't do him justice; because his color is beautiful --- his coat hair color is an array of cream, sorrel, orange, butterscotch, brick red looking hair color.