The Magic behind Your Dog’s Colouration

Pigments and genetics are the winners when it comes to the colour of your dog’s coat. The two pigments responsible for your dogs colour are called ‘Phaeomelanin’ and ‘Eumelanin’.

Eumelanin is responsible for black fur, black markings and black noses. It has a slight variation that results in the blue/grey and liver colours but this occurs where there is an introduction of the pigment Phaeomelanin. Liver-coloured dogs will tend to have their nose and eye colour affected as well. The tone of the colour is modified by types of genes which in a sense dilute the Eumelanin.

If your dog’s coat is heading for the red tones (including oranges, tans and yellows) it means there is some Phaeomelanin at work. This pigment only affects coat colour and is very obviously in a breed such as the red setter.

When a dog’s coat is white, she still carries genes relating to Eumelanin and Phaeomelanin but the pigments are weaker.

Real albino’s have a white coat and red eyes however more commonly lesser traits such as spots of white, blue eyes with a pink nose present themselves. Any coat colour can contain spots of white.

Of course when it comes to describing dogs there all manner of names to name colour or markings… merle, fawn, harlequin, Isabella, brindle, lilac and the list goes on. What we know for sure is that your dogs’ coat no matter how she is bred, is unique.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)