The agouti series contains four alleles: a y (sable), a w (agouti/wolf grey), a t (tan points), and a (recessive black). It affects distribution of both, eumelanin and phaeomelanin. A locusĪ locus is also known as the Agouti locus. Differing loci affect related pigments differently. Conversely alleles can differ and in these cases the dog is heterozygous from the two alleles the dominant one will be expressed. Two alleles in one locus can be the same, and in that case the dog is homozygous for that specific gene. Today’s scientists and breeders are familiar with locations on chromosomes, or loci, responsible for appropriate dog coat color, which in turn depends on the dog’s descent. The whole animal can be affected, in similar way to albinos, or it can be localized, like the white markings of coat. The white coat color in dogs is not caused by any pigment, but cells that are not able to produce any pigment. Most dogs have both eumelanin and phaeomelanin, and the way those two pigments mix is controlled by A (agouti) locus. It appears as a deep red (like Irish Setters), light cream, encompassing gold, yellow and orange. The other pigment is phaeomelanin, which is red. Depending on dog’s genes, nose can be also black, liver, isabella or blue. Eumelanin can be found also in nose and eyes (irises). Genes responsible for this change cause altering of production of the eumelanin in cells, so the cells cannot produce full-strength pigment.įor this reason, isabella and blue dogs are known as ”dilutes”. However, there are genes which cause changes in eumelanin to produce liver (brown), blue (gray) or isabella (dusty pale brown) coat color. There are two basic types of pigment responsible for the coat color, eumelanin and phaeomelanin.Įxample of dogs with different pigments: eumelanin and phaeomelanin.Įumelanin is basically black pigment and cells producing it are responsible for a black dog coat color. Today’s scientists and breeders are familiar with the locations on chromosomes, or loci, responsible for appropriate coat color, which depends on the dog’s ancestry. Dog coat color variation among early breeds was found in ancient Egyptian paintings. One of the most important traits was, and still is, the dog coat color. Even in those early ages of the first dog populations, people were breeding dogs in order to acquire desired traits. After the first domestication of dogs from the grey wolf, the number of the dog population grew quickly, matching the rising number of agrarian societies.

Hair and eye color abbreviations