More Info

Did you know?

Many breeds that appear white are actually recessive red dogs with the Intensity variant, which is why their eye, nail, and nose pigment remains dark. Examples include Samoyeds, Poodles, and White Swiss Shepherds. Similar variants in the _MFSD12 _gene are also responsible for lighter hair and skin pigmentation in mice, humans, and other mammalian species. In ponies, this variant causes a coat color called "mushroom."

How it works

Dogs with two copies of the Red Intensity variant are more likely to show yellow, cream or white coat shades instead of deeper red shades. If the dog does not display solid red or red coat patterns, there will be no visible effect. Other genes, notably variants in the KITLG gene, are also thought to contribute to red pigment intensity variation, so some dogs may have yellow or buff colored coats.