Color Testing Results

Agouti (A Locus) The Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene interacts with the MC1R gene to control red (phaeomelanin) and black (eumelanin) pigment switching in dogs, affecting amount, type, and distribution of the two pigments. Brown (B Locus/Chocolate/Liver) The Brown gene dilutes eumelanin (black pigment) to brown but does not affect phaeomelanin (red/yellow pigment). Dilute (D Locus/Blue) Several gene variants are known to produce dilute coloration in dogs. Colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades as a result of the variants' effects on pigmentation. The Dominant Black gene (K Locus) affects pigment switching between eumelanin (black) and phaeomelanin (red or yellow) by interacting with the Agouti and MC1R genes. Piebald/White Spotting (S Locus) White spotting patterns that occur in many dog breeds do not have a uniform genetic basis, and the genetics are complex. In piebald/parti/random white spotting, the extent of white pattern expression varies, and markings are often asymmetrical.

Agouti- A Locus

The Agouti Signaling Protein (ASIP) gene interacts with the MC1R gene to control red (phaeomelanin) and black (eumelanin) pigment switching in dogs, affecting amount, type, and distribution of the two pigments

ay ay- Full Fawn/Sable

ay aw- Fawn, carries wild sable

ay at- Fawn, carries black and tan

ay a- Fawn, carries recessive black

aw aw- Full wild sable

aw at- Wild sable, carries black and tan

aw a- Wild sable, carries, carries recessive black

at at- Full black and tan

at a- Black and tan, carries recessive black

a a - Full recessive black

Haplotype Combinations:   ASIPDY = Dominant Yellow  ASIPSY = Shaded Yellow  ASIPAG = Agouti  ASIPBS = Black Saddle  ASIPBB1= Black Back, diplo type 1  ASIPBB2 = Black Back, diplo type 2  ASIPBB3 = Black Back, diplo type 3  ASIPa = recessive black

Dominant Yellow (DY): Dogs with ASIPDY genotype will have a clear yellow base coat (yellow to red with minimal to no black-tipped hairs) in the absence of Dominant Black (K locus). 

 • Dogs with ASIPDY/ASIPDY genotype will transmit this Dominant Yellow variant to all of their offspring. 

• Dogs with ASIPDY/ASIPSY, ASIPDY/ASIPAG, ASIPDY/ASIPBS, ASIPDY/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3, or ASIPDY/ASIPa genotype will be Dominant Yellow and are carriers of other ASIP haplotype combinations. They will transmit this Dominant Yellow variant to 50% of their offspring.

Shaded Yellow (SY): Dogs with ASIPSY/ASIPSY, ASIPSY/ASIPAG, ASIPSY/ASIPBS, ASIPSY/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3, or ASIPSY/ASIPa genotype will have a shaded yellow base coat (yellow to red with some dorsal black-tipped hairs) in the absence of Dominant Black (K locus). 

'• Dogs with ASIPSY/ASIPSY genotype will transmit this Shaded Yellow variant to all of their offspring. 

• Dogs with ASIPSY/ASIPAG, ASIPSY/ASIPBS, ASIPSY/ASIPBB1, ASIPSY/ASIPBB2, ASIPSY/ASIPBB3, or ASIPSY/ASIPa genotype will be Shaded Yellow and are carriers of other ASIP haplotype combinations. They will transmit this Shaded Yellow variant to 50% of their offspring.

Agouti (AG): Dogs with a ASIPAG/ASIPAG, ASIPAG/ASIPBS, ASIPAG/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3, or ASIPAG/ASIPa genotype will have an Agouti base coat (banded hairs of yellow and black) in the absence of Dominant Black (K locus).  

• Dogs with ASIPAG/ASIPAG genotype will transmit this Agouti variant to all of their offspring. 

• Dogs with ASIPAG/ASIPBS, ASIPAG/ASIPBB1, ASIPAG/ASIPBB2, ASIPAG/ASIPBB3, or ASIPAG/ASIPa genotype will be Agouti and are carriers of other ASIP haplotype combinations. They will transmit this Agouti variant to 50% of their offspring.

Black Saddle (BS): Dogs with a ASIPBS/ASIPBS, ASIPBS/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3, or ASIPBS/ASIPa genotype will have a black saddle (black-pigmented hair primarily restricted to the dorsal region with red in the rest of the coat) in the absence of Dominant Black (K locus). 

 • Dogs with ASIPBS/ASIPBS genotype will transmit this Black Saddle variant to all of their offspring. 

• Dogs with ASIPBS/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3genotype will have Black Saddle and are carriers of other ASIP haplotype combinations. They will transmit this Black Saddle variant to 50% of their offspring.  

• Dogs with ASIPBS/ASIPa genotype will have Black Saddle and are carriers of Recessive Black. They will transmit this Black Saddle variant to 50% of their offspring.

Black Back: Dogs with any combination of the three variants associated with Black Back (ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3), or ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3/ASIPa genotype will have a Black Back or black-and-tan base coat (black dorsal hairs and tan hair on cheeks, eyebrows, and undersides) in the absence of Dominant Black (K locus).  

• Dogs with any ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3/ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3 combination genotype will be Black Back and transmit a Black Back variant to all of their offspring.

 • Dogs with ASIPBB1,BB2,BB3/ASIPa genotype will be Black Back and are carriers of Recessive Black. They will transmit this Black Back variant to 50% of their offspring.

Recessive Black (a): Dogs with ASIPa/ASIPa genotype will have an all-black base coat; overall appearance of the dog also depends on interactions with other genes including those at the E Locus (MC1R). They will transmit this Recessive Black variant to all of their offspring.

Brown / Chocolate -B Locus

The Brown gene dilutes eumelanin (black pigment) to brown but does not affect phaeomelanin (red/yellow pigment). 

B B- Full color, no brown gene present

B b- Carrier, 1 copy of brown present

b b - Full brown. Black pigment, if present, will be diluted to brown

Phenotype: Black pigment (if present) is diluted to brown; red/yellow dogs have brown noses and brown foot pads.  Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive  

Alleles: B = Full color, b = Brown  Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds  

Explanation of Results:  Dogs with B/B genotype are expected to express undiluted black pigment. They cannot transmit this brown variant to any of their offspring. Dogs with B/b genotype are expected to express undiluted black pigment and are carriers of brown. They will transmit the brown allele to 50% of their offspring. Dogs with b/b genotype are expected to express diluted black pigment. Black pigment (if present) is diluted to brown; red/yellow dogs have brown noses and foot pads. These dogs will transmit the brown allele to all of their offspring.

Dilute/ Blue -D Locus

Several gene variants are known to produce dilute coloration in dogs. Colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades as a result of the variants' effects on pigmentation. 

D D- Full color, no dilute gene present

D d- Carrier, 1 copy of dilute present

d d- Full dilute. Black pigment, if present, will be diluted to blue

Phenotype: Base coat colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades. For example, black becomes a gray-blue color (often called "blue" by breeders) and chocolate brown becomes a pale silvery red (often called "lilac" or "isabella").  Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal recessive  

Alleles: D = Non-dilute, d1 = Dilute (variant 1, common), d2 = Dilute (variant 2), d3 = Dilute (variant 3, rare)  Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds  

Explanation of Results:  Dogs with D/D genotype are not expected to display dilute coat colors; they have no known dilution variants. They cannot produce dilute offspring or transmit any of the known dilution variants to their offspring. Dogs with D/d1, D/d2, or D/d3 genotype are not expected to display dilute coat colors, but they are carriers of dilution variants. They will transmit the dilution variant they carry to 50% of their offspring. Matings between two carriers of dilute variants are expected to produce 25% puppies with dilute coat colors. Dogs with d1/d1, d2/d2, d3/d3, d1/d2, d1/d3, or d2/d3 genotype are expected to display dilute coat colors. They will transmit a dilution variant to all of their offspring.

Dominant Black- K Locus

This gene produces dominant black vs. brindle vs. fawn/sable colors-affects pigment switching between eumelanin (black) and phaeomelanin (red or yellow) by interacting with the Agouti and MC1R genes.

K K- Full dominant black This could present as Brindle or Seal and is confirmed visually 

K N-Carrier, 1 copy of Dominant Black present.

N N- Does not carry dominant black

Phenotype: Dogs with the Dominant Black variant display solid coat coloration in fully pigmented areas or, in some cases, display a brindle pattern.  Mode of Inheritance: Autosomal dominant  Alleles: N = No Dominant Black, K = Dominant Black  Breeds appropriate for testing: Many breeds  Explanation of Results:  Dogs with N/N genotype are expected to be able to express the Agouti gene. They may display black pigment in their coats, but they can also exhibit a variety of other colors and markings including those produced by hairs with alternating bands of color (Agouti). They cannot transmit this dominant black variant to any of their offspring. Dogs with N/K genotype are expected to be unable to express the Agouti gene or exhibit reduced Agouti expression. Dogs with this genotype are sometimes brindle. If not brindle, they are expected to display solid eumelanin pigmentation (no pigment banding in the hair shaft) in colored areas on the body. Overall appearance is also determined by genotype at MC1R (E Locus), Brown (B Locus), merle, and other loci. N/K genotype dogs will transmit this dominant black variant to 50% of their offspring. Dogs with K/K genotype are expected to be unable to express the Agouti gene, leading to solid eumelanin pigmentation (no pigment banding in the hair shaft) in colored areas on the dog's body. Their overall appearance is also determined by genotype at MC1R (E Locus), Brown (B Locus), merle, and other genes. These K/K dogs will transmit this dominant black variant to all of their offspring.

Merle

M M -Full Merle. 2 copies of Merle present

M Mc- Full Carrier. 1 copy of both Merle genes present

M N- Carrier. 1 Copy of Merle present.

Mc Mc-Full Carrier. 2 copies of Cryptic Merle present

Mc N-Carrier. 1 copy of Cryptic Merle present

N N-Non-Merle. No copies of Merle or Cryptic Merle

Phenotype: The merle pattern is characterized by irregularly shaped patches with diluted pigment while other patches on the coat are fully pigmented in color.  Mode of Inheritance: Incomplete dominance

Alleles: N = Non-merle, ### = Merle allele present, size is provided

Explanation of Results:  Dogs with N/N genotype are not expected to display a merle pattern. They cannot transmit this merle variant to any of their offspring. Dogs with N/### or ###/### (### = any number from 200-280) may display a merle pattern. This pattern varies along a continuum. The amount of dilute patches is dependent on which merle allele(s) are present AND if the dog will show black/brown pigment (eumelanin) = NOT e/e at MC1R. In brief, eumelanic dogs with two copies of smaller allele sizes (lower numbers) display little to no merle pattern often referred to as "cryptic merle". Eumelanic dogs with 1 or 2 copies of larger alleles (higher numbers) are expected to display the merle pattern. Eumelanic dogs with one or two copies of the highest numbers (~270-280) display a dramatic dilution/white pattern referred to as harlequin. This is NOT the phenotype resulting from the gene variant identified as Harlequin (H) in the Great Dane. Breeding two dogs that possess any of the merle variants may produce "double merle" offspring (homozygous) which may be prone to health problems. Double merle dogs may have auditory, ophthalmologic, skeletal, and other defects and will transmit a merle variant to all of their offspring. Dogs with N/###/### or ###/###/### (### = any number ranging from 200-280) have an additional merle allele likely resulting from the propensity of the repetitive DNA causing the merle phenotype to increase or decrease in size. Each individual cell still only has two copies. However, different cells of the body may have different sizes of alleles. The phenotypic impact of the additional allele cannot be predicted as distribution throughout the body may be variable. Similarly, it is possible for all alleles to be transmitted to offspring but depends on the alleles present in the egg and sperm cells, thus the heritability cannot be predicted.

Piebald / Parti / Random White Spotting- S Locus

N N- Non Piebald/White. No copies of piebald/white present. 

N S- Carrier. 1 copy of piebald/ white present

S S- Full piebald/white . 2 copies present 

Phenotype: The extent of white pattern expression on the dog's body varies in piebald/parti/random white spotting. The white markings are typically less symmetrical than those seen in dogs with the Irish spotting or mantle patterns.  

Mode of Inheritance: Incomplete dominance (some breeds), 

Autosomal recessive (some breeds) 

Alleles: N = Non-piebald, S = Piebald 

Explanation of Results:  Dogs with N/N genotype do not have any copies of this piebald variant and thus are not expected to display piebald patterning (though they may have other white markings caused by other genes). They cannot transmit this piebald variant to any of their offspring. Dogs with N/S genotype have one copy of this piebald variant. They may display no white patterning or some amount of white patterning (varies by breed). They may transmit this piebald variant to 50% of their offspring. Dogs with S/S genotype have two copies of this piebald variant and are expected to display some amount of white patterning. White patterning may be extensive in some breeds, with some individuals being nearly completely white. They will transmit this piebald variant to all of their offspring.