.com Forum · Alpha Dog Forum

We are slowly starting the process of implementing color genetics for dogs. This will not go smoothly and there will be problems.

THIS WILL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME AND SOME BREEDS WILL NOT BE DONE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS

The first breed I'm going to start working with is Labrador Retriever due to their relatively simple genetics and large amount of users who breed them. As we start with a breed, we'll likely post in the breed forum to get information from the breed's users regarding the distribution of colors in that particular breed...

www.showdog.com/login/Breeds/philboard_read.aspx?id=106328

Please note, there's no need to waste time asking when your breed will be done, I have no clue at all. I'm not going in any particular order but breeds higher up on the popularity scale with simple color genetics will tend to be done earlier than rare breeds with tons of colors and genetic combinations.

We do not plan on this impacting the show results at this time. All colors will be acceptable colors for AKC registration. However, color doesn't impact anything on Showhorse and sometimes it seems like it's the only thing most people care about.

WOOHOO JEFF!!!! This is awesome. I am obsessed with color breeding on SH, though I am getting better. Quality over color unless it is blue roan or grulla. So I can only imagine how bad it will be here. I can help with Boxer, Doberman Pinscher and Staffordshire Bull Terrier genetics/percentages if you need.

~Morgan

Thank you! This sounds very cool!

Well, one breed is already done! Scottish Deerhounds come in gray. I know we're not very high on the popularity list, but the genetics are pretty simple. (Actually, they are all gray brindle, but the amount of brindling varies, and in any case the red/fawn color in the brindling fades to pale cream by the time the dog is 2 or 3, so they are all gray in the end.)

Yay, this is so cool =D

I can finally stop pretending what color Boxers I have now

Well @ least soon!! Thanks Jeff--making SD better all the time!!!

That's a very nice addition to the game! This doesn't affect ridgebacks, who just come in different shades of wheaten (usually red), but poodles come in many colours. and boxers come in two. So wohoo!

Are you adding simply the colours (black, red, yellow...), or white markings etc as well? So will we have for ex. flashy boxers? Will you give colour genetics to all the 2000 days old dogs in the database, or only the current dogs? And can our dogs produce dogs that have a disqualifying colour, or do you plan to do this in future?

Btw do you have any plans of readding the genetic disorders? Or are those just gone and forgotten? I'd like hereditary disorders, but I know it wouldn't be easy...

Great idea! Thanks so much, Jeff! Now I can't wait to see what I get in my litters.

Awesome, I'm looking forward to it! I know Giants aren't high on the popularity scale but the genetics are very simple and permeates through the Standard and Mini Schnauzer as well (unless you plan on implementing the black and silver which is allowable in the US and white in minis as that acceptable in the European rings... those genetics I can't recall off the top of my head but I do have a genetics chart for that if you're interested). Perhaps this way you could knock three breeds off the color list with one stone?

But why so many Pepper Salt Minis and Standards? As I understand it, that color is just more popular for those breeds and that's what gets bred for. GS breeders prefer the black color.

For Giant Schnauzers atleast it is very simple:

Black is dominant = B
Pepper Salt is recessive = b

BB, Bb, bB, bb

75% of the GS popular is black and 25% is Pepper Salt.

I'm sure you're familiar with the chi square since you're taking this project on.

Kudos! Good luck, this will be a neat side feature on the game.

~Suur
@ Suursnautseri Kennels

Well, even when Stafforshire Bull Terrier are in top 30, i guess we will be one of the last breeds to get the colors because the huge variety of them..but its ok, i already waited 3 years for this i can wait 3 more.

amazing adition!!! you made my SD day.

Awesome jeff! I have been hoping this would happen for awhile now!



-IJMB

Yeeeessss!!!

I Love this! I been hopeing for this for some while haha!

WOOHOO!! I was hoping you would add colours to the game eventually! It will make it all that much more exciting and addicting
Goldens will probably be next

Dandy

Thanks Jeff, I look forward to seeing it all finished

Jamie

Curious Jeff ... there are a few breeds that are 'seperated' in the showring due to their colour - will this also be implemented when colours have been established on those breeds??

And what about the breeding aspect ... will colour be a 'judges preference' with regards to stats??

I do like the idea of Colour being added though - it makes it much more 'real' & 'fun'.

Wow kudos to you, Jeff, for taking on such a massive, daunting task!! Very cool tho!
Smiles,
Nic

This sounds interesting!

Will already born dogs be assigned a colour, or will it be new pups onwards?

It'll be a little strange if some of my already named dogs turn out the "wrong" colour, for instance Bespoke Golden Charm was to be assigned as black, but I can live with it.

Where will the colour assigned be shown?

Some breeds are going to be difficult, for instance Bedlington terriers are a different colour at birth (although you can tell their eventual colour even then). Dalmations are not born with their spots, so do they all start out white and change later? Fiendishly tricky job you've given yourself there Jeff, good luck!

Will you be only addressing coat color or will you be looking at nose and eye colors too?

For example, Rhodesian Ridgeback coats mostly have different shades of wheaten (and a really rare case of brindle and black) but their nose and eye colors can be black or liver (brown).

The liver color is the recessive gene and some judges refuse to award them.

I'm sure there are other breeds that have different nose and eye colors.

Thanks for your hard work!

Hmmmm.... are you going to throw a recessive in the mix, for instance, throw in white in German Shepherd Dogs which will make them ineligible to show?

Just wondering

Jeri
Mystic

Even though I have Newfies here on Showdog.com, we actually own an Australian Shepherd and I know they come in a gazillion different color combinations and solids.. I'm sure that'll be fun to work on, Jeff. =)

And yea.. once you guys start implementing nose and lip pigmentation, the fun really starts..

Nice feature tho.. can't wait to see it go live.

It sounds like it would probably help if everybody started a conversation on their breed forum about percentages of the different color variations (including nose, eye, and lip pigmentations), so that when Jeff is ready to implement your breed he will have all of the information needed.

Do you need anything else from us, Jeff?