Description
Another nerdy personal project, but one I hope will help others as well. I have learned a lot about the genetic rules governing color and pattern in dogs, and this is a visual summery to help remind myself. More detailed explanations and photographs can be found in References. If you have suggestions for improvement or see any errors feel free to comment with them.
Written explanation of theoretical genetics to accompany visual examples [link]
Photo references
Dog Color Feature: Chocolate, Blue, Isabella, GrayThis is a supplement to my Theoretical Dog Genetics guide . I am using thumbnails from dA so that artists will get the credit that would be harder to give taking pictures from other online sources. The goal is to educate anyone who is curious, as well as to provide artists with references that will improve the realism of their work. I am still learning, and guessing the correct color can sometimes be difficult even with an ideal photo or the dog itself to examine. If you spot any mistakes let me know. If you see your picture here and don't want it to be let me know and I'll take it down. If you would like to contribute a picture for reference send me a link. Photographs need to be clear, in good lighting, and show enough of the dog to provide a good reference for markings. I will be going back and adding to this whenever I find new references. My personal goal is to improve the quality of my art and educate myself because I like to know more about the patients I me
Black (dominant black, chocolate, blue, Isabella, progressive graying)
Red (recessive red, deep red to silver)
Brindle
Merle
Agouti (sable, grizzle, tan points, recessive black)
White spotting (Irish, piebald, extreme piebald, ticking, roaning, Dalmatian spots)
Addendum (husky pattern, grizzle/domino, white trim, Boxer white, split face, lozenge) [link]
Some possible color examples
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Genotype: the genes an animal carries, including those not expressed.
Phenotype: the physical expression of the dominant and recessive interactions of genes.
Locus: a part on a strand of DNA where 2 alleles are held, though the possible available number may be higher.
Alleles: different genes on the same locus which allow for the expression of different traits.
A _ after a gene means that genes equal in dominance or recessive to the gene do not affect the phenotype. Example- B_ could be BB (black) or Bb (black carrying chocolate).
References: [link] [link] [link] [link]
Comments: 14
Leonca In reply to CourageousSam [2013-04-06 20:30:50 +0000 UTC]
The brown color is a recessive trait, so it can show up unexpectedly. He inherited the solid black color from his mother, and a copy of the gene that modifies black to chocolate from each parent.
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Xenothere [2012-01-22 03:16:01 +0000 UTC]
I wonder, with blue-eyed black dogs, maybe some of them are very light merles or cryptic merles, and the blue eyes are due to the presence of a merle gene.
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Leonca In reply to Xenothere [2012-01-22 03:51:54 +0000 UTC]
Could be possible. Many light merles with no merle around the eyes will have brown eyes though.
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Its-Wolfeh [2011-05-25 16:12:50 +0000 UTC]
Interesting, I learned something new.
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Leonca In reply to novablue [2011-04-06 06:06:40 +0000 UTC]
Weird. I wonder why water makes it look darker.
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SammyBlot [2011-04-05 21:44:26 +0000 UTC]
omg .. you are a god / king / queen / da boss / just fab!!
(pick whichever u like!)
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