ASD Colour Genetics
Black Gene In Anatolian Dogs
All official standards for Anatolian Sheperd dogs accept all colours.
AKC
All color patterns and markings are equaly aceptable
FCI
Colour. All colours acceptable
UKC
All colors are acceptable
ANKC
All colours acceptable
NZKC
All colours acceptable
Black Gene is documented to occur in Anatolian Shepherds
In all its variations, black is a realitively rare colour in Coban Kopegi for several reasons.
There are two main Loci in this breed, which control Black as seen in the dogs pictures below.
*On the K Locus, you find dominant Black and also a sort of 'Stuttering' mutation of dominant Black-called Brindle.
These forms of black can be avoided absolutly in a foundation genepool, smply by just choosing not to import dogs that exhibit this type of black in their coats., or promote the gene by intentioanally adding it to your genepool.
For many decade, people avoided importing brindles, and until recently, have avoided importing any black dogs. while these choices understanably personal, others may be misinformed and unaware that black exists in the genetics of the Native Working Anatolians in various dominant and recessive forms. These choices have resulted in the breed standard being overruled with personal beliefs or preferences, which are prejudicial to the gene pool and historical accuracy.
* The other type of Black is Recessive Black. Recessive Blacks are on an A Locus. There are two main varieties of recessive black in the Agoti Locus. Tan Point (maerked like a Rottweiller with Tan accents) and recessive black , where the dog is an overall black.
Recessive Blacks can sneak up on you after generations of ;Pure Breeding' fawn dogs. Thats the nature of recessives; You dont know which dogs carry them until that sub-population begins to increase so there are more chance of recessive pairing up. For example, this can happen in Labrador Retrievers. In Anatolians, some Tan points have began to appear.
* Note; PROBLEM, AKC dog registration forms do not provide a place to accept black as body color, but with knowledge and more understanding of the breed and its genetics the issue will hopefully in the near future be corrected.