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Coat Color Traits

Agouti (A Locus)

The A locus (Agouti) affects the distribution of black and red pigments in a dog's coat.Learn More

 Brown (B Locus)

The B Locus, controlled by the TYRP1 gene, determines whether a dog's coat color will be brown instead of black by affecting pigment production.Learn More

 Dark/Light Pigment (E Locus)

The E Locus (e) is a critical genetic site in dogs that determines the production of eumelanin (dark pigment) or phaeomelanin (light pigment) in their coat. Learn More

 Dilute (D Locus)

The Dilute (D Locus) genetic variation is a condition in dogs where mutations in the MLPH gene lead to a dilution of the coat color, resulting in shades like blue, lilac, and champagne.Learn More

 Dominant Black (K Locus)

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 Cocoa (Co Locus) French Bulldog Type

The Co locus (Co) (cocoa, French Bulldog type) is an inherited coat color mutation in French Bulldogs that results in a unique dark brown coat distinct from the common chocolate color found in other breeds.Learn More

 Hairlessness

Hairlessness is a genetic condition in dogs, particularly affecting the American Hairless Terrier, caused by a mutation in the SGK3 gene, leading to the absence of hair.Learn More

 Harlequin (H Locus) Great Dane Type

The H locus (H) (Harlequin, Great Dane type) determines the distinctive harlequin coat pattern in Great Danes through a dominant genetic variant that modifies the merle coloration. Learn More

 Intensity (I Locus)

The I Locus (IN) (Intensity) affects the expression of pheomelanin pigment, influencing the lightness or richness of red, yellow, and cream colors in a dog's coat. Learn More

 Long Hair/Fluffy (L Locus)

The L Locus (Lh) (Long Hair/Fluffy) is a genetic trait in dogs, determined by the FGF5 gene, that causes long hair when two copies of the Lh variant are present.Learn More

 Merle (M Locus)

The M locus (M) Merle is responsible for a distinctive coat pattern characterized by mottled patches of color, which can also affect eye color and skin pigmentation in dogs.Learn More

 Roan/Ticked (R Locus)

The R Locus is a genetic trait in dogs that determines the presence of roan or ticked coat patterns, characterized by interspersed colored and white hairs.Learn More

 Saddle Tan (As Locus)

The As Locus (AS) (Saddle Tan) determines the saddle tan coat color pattern in dogs, modifying the typical tan points into an expanded lighter area primarily leaving a darker back.Learn More

 Shedding (SD Locus)

The SD Locus (SD) influences shedding levels in dogs through genetic variations in the MC5R and RSPO2 genes.Learn More

 White Spotting (S Locus) Parti or Piebald

The S Locus (S) (White Spotting) genetic variation, associated with the MLPH gene, influences coat color dilution in dogs, leading to phenotypes like blue, charcoal, and lilac. Learn More