Hairlessness

Genetic testing of the SGK3 gene can determine whether a dog is a genetic carrier of the hairlessness trait. Hairlessness is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that a dog must inherit two copies of the mutated gene (one from each parent) to exhibit the hairless phenotype. Dogs that inherit only one copy of the mutated gene are carriers and do not show signs of hairlessness, but they can pass the mutation to their offspring. When two carriers are bred, each puppy has a 25% chance of being hairless and a 50% chance of being a carrier of the mutation. Reliable genetic testing is crucial for breeders to identify carriers and manage breeding programs effectively to avoid producing puppies with hairlessness, unless that is a desired trait. Ensuring informed breeding practices helps maintain the health and welfare of both the parents and offspring in breeding lines. It is also important to recognize that the presence of the hairlessness gene does not exclude the potential for other genetic conditions that may require additional genetic screening.