Genetics of Coat Color and Coat Length in the Chinook
copyright 2012
Veterinary Genetics Services of Ann Arbor, Michigan is offering DNA testing for certain coat traits in the Chinook. Breeders may use these tests to help identify coat color and coat length in the sire and dam of a potential breeding, allowing them to better predict coat traits in the offspring. As new information is learned, additional testing may become available but for now the following tests are offered: “E” series, “A” series, dilution, and short or long coat length. The series listed are in order of dominance:
E Series:
Em = Melanistic (Black) Mask
E = Allows black to be expressed, but with no masking
e = Can not express black in the coat, resulting in a white/cream to yellow coat in Chinooks
VetGen identified Chinooks with normal masking: “Em” and can test for this. There were a few Chinooks who have black masking the length of their lower jaw, black outlining the lips, with noses “dipped” in black who tested as NOT carrying for masking. Some other mutation is involved here that currently can not be tested for. Some degree of masking may still be found on a Chinook who does not have Em. (See photo example.)
A Series:
Ay = Tawny to Fawn
At = Black and Tan
a = Recessive Black
* Recessive black is a rare form of black coat, found in some herding breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd and the German Shepherd Dog. The Labrador Retriever carries dominant black.
B Series:
B = Black not brown (black nose and pads)
b = Brown (chocolate or liver nose and pads)
* All Chinooks tested were BB and this trait could be fixed in the breed. If your Chinook has a brown nose, please contact the Health and Genetics committee for a free coat color test kit for your Chinook.
Dilution Series:
D = Coat color is not diluted
d = Diluted pigmentation where black is diluted to gray or blue. Red is not affected. Em can be diluted.
Coat Length:
S = Short coat. Dominant to long coat
L = Long coat (for both Chinook long coat mutations)
VetGen identified two distinct coat length mutations in the Chinook; one is found in Akitas and Siberians and now in the Chinook, the other is rarer still and has only been identified in the Chinook breed. Note that DNA coat trait testing may be performed at various labs, but if you test your Chinook for coat length at another lab facility, you may not receive information on both coat length mutations - a Chinook carrying the rare long coat mutation may test there as carrying for a short coat.
Thanks to VetGen for funding this research and to all the Chinook owners who participated and helped us further our knowledge of the genetics of the Chinook breed. You may order cheek cell brush sampling kits from the VetGen website
E Series:
Em = Melanistic (Black) Mask
E = Allows black to be expressed, but with no masking
e = Can not express black in the coat, resulting in a white/cream to yellow coat in Chinooks
VetGen identified Chinooks with normal masking: “Em” and can test for this. There were a few Chinooks who have black masking the length of their lower jaw, black outlining the lips, with noses “dipped” in black who tested as NOT carrying for masking. Some other mutation is involved here that currently can not be tested for. Some degree of masking may still be found on a Chinook who does not have Em. (See photo example.)
A Series:
Ay = Tawny to Fawn
At = Black and Tan
a = Recessive Black
* Recessive black is a rare form of black coat, found in some herding breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd and the German Shepherd Dog. The Labrador Retriever carries dominant black.
B Series:
B = Black not brown (black nose and pads)
b = Brown (chocolate or liver nose and pads)
* All Chinooks tested were BB and this trait could be fixed in the breed. If your Chinook has a brown nose, please contact the Health and Genetics committee for a free coat color test kit for your Chinook.
Dilution Series:
D = Coat color is not diluted
d = Diluted pigmentation where black is diluted to gray or blue. Red is not affected. Em can be diluted.
Coat Length:
S = Short coat. Dominant to long coat
L = Long coat (for both Chinook long coat mutations)
VetGen identified two distinct coat length mutations in the Chinook; one is found in Akitas and Siberians and now in the Chinook, the other is rarer still and has only been identified in the Chinook breed. Note that DNA coat trait testing may be performed at various labs, but if you test your Chinook for coat length at another lab facility, you may not receive information on both coat length mutations - a Chinook carrying the rare long coat mutation may test there as carrying for a short coat.
Thanks to VetGen for funding this research and to all the Chinook owners who participated and helped us further our knowledge of the genetics of the Chinook breed. You may order cheek cell brush sampling kits from the VetGen website