Coat color genetics of the German shepherd dog

Abstract

The coat-color genetics of the German shepherd dog conforms in most cases to the scheme proposed by Little. In the agouti series, the alleles a^y, a^w and a^t are present in the order proposed. However, the dominant black allele A^S is absent and the black dogs in this breed are due to a recessive agouti black allele, a. In the extension series, there is evidence for the two alleles E and e as proposed by Little but insufficient evidence to confirm or deny the existence of the other alleles E^m and e^br. In the albino series, the alleles C and c^ch are apparently present and behave as originally suggested. Other phaeomelanin modifiers that are present include the lljin int series and possibly polygenic modifiers. Black-and-tan dogs with patches of gray hairs invading the tan areas and some of the black areas are due to a recessive gene at a new locus. White dogs also are due to a single-factor recessive w that produces a white coat while not affecting the eye or skin pigments.