Dilution

Dilute

Dilute genes are indicated in a genotype by 'dd', this will visually alter the coat colour, and any features' appearance to a lighter shade.

Dominant Black coated canines will become 'Blue'.

Recessive Black coated canines will become 'Lilac'.

Liver coated canines will become 'Isabella'.

and Recessive Red coated canines will become 'Champagne'.

The dilutes, much like the solids, come in various shades, and can be masked by other genes.

Blue

'BBdd'

Lilac

'bedd'

Isabella

'bbdd'

Champagne

'eedd'

Blue

The shades of a dilute are dependent on a host of factors related to filtering and intensity, generally speaking, there are no right or wrong answers as the genotype to determine the colour and the dilute remains the same!

Below are 3 examples of shading intensity in 'Blue', in order of 'darkest' to 'lightest' we have; 'Charcoal', 'Slate', and 'Steel'.

All of these examples are 'BBdd'.

Lilac

These are 3 examples of shading intensity in 'Lilac', in order of 'darkest' to 'lightest' we have; 'Amethyst', 'Lavender', and 'Orchid'.

All of these examples are 'bedd'.

Isabella

These 3 examples are of shading intensity in 'Isabella', in order of 'darkest' to 'lightest' we have; 'Smoke', 'Ash', and 'Silver'.

All of these examples are 'bbdd'.

Champagne

And finally, here are 3 examples of shading intensity in 'Champagne', in order of 'darkest' to 'lightest' we have; 'Beige', 'Silk', and 'Ivory'.

All of these examples are 'eedd'.

Non-dilute

Non-Dilute is indicated in a genotype by 'DD', this means their coat colour will be determined by the regular colour genes.

Another expression of 'non-dilute' is 'Dd', where a canine has a copy of the dilute gene, but will always appear as a regular coated canine. If paired to another 'Dd' canine; there is a 1 in 4 chance of producing a dilute puppy.

Dominant Black

'BBDD'

Recessive Black

'beDD'

Liver

'bbDD'

Recessive Red

'eeDD'

cOLOUR dILUTION aLOPECIA

CDA or 'Skin Dilution Alopecia' occurs mostly in dilute blue or fawn coats. It's a genetic condition which is responsible for thinning or balding of patches of fur and flaky, sensitive or generalised irritation of the skin. In the genotype of an affected canine, it is represented by 'dl'.

A Brief rundown

-Dilutes can affect any colour of canine except for white or 'albino'.

-'dd' alleles indicate a dilute canine, 'DD' or 'Dd' does not.

-A dilute can be produced from 2 'Dd' parents but never from 'DD' x 'DD', or 'DD' x 'Dd'.

Using the first example from the colour page;

'KK-ee-BB', we can make this canine into any 'Champagne' shade we want as the canine has the 'ee' allele.
Our genotype then becomes;
'KK-ee-BB-dd'.

If the genotype above were to be 'KK-EE-BB-dd', the dilute would become any shade of 'Blue'.

Alternatively; if the genotype above were to be 'KK-EE-bb-dd', the dilute would become any shade of 'Isabella'.

To get a lilac coloured canine, your genotype MUST include;
-Any of the 'Recessive Black' genes (e.g 'kk').
-'Recessive Red' ('ee')

-Liver ('bb')
The genotype then becomes; 'kk-ee-bb-dd'.

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