Eye Colour In Dogs

[WoofnHoof]

Dark pigment in eyes is dominant.

A lighter colour means the dog carries a recessive gene.

Some The lethal genes are recessive.

The dominant traits are the more hardier characteristics.

The Maremma can have a colour which the Italians call 'Castanya'(sp!) which is solid black.

Fixed

ETA plenty of recessive genes are harmless, chestnut is one of the most common coat coat colours in horses but it is a recessive trait.

Edited January 29, 2013 by WoofnHoof

[BJean]

Dark pigment in eyes is dominant.

A lighter colour means the dog carries a recessive gene.

The lethal genes are recessive.

The dominant traits are the more hardier characteristics.

The Maremma can have a colour which the Italians call 'Castanya'(sp!) which is solid black.

This is incorrect.

Recessive genes wrt canine coat colour are often the more primitive. If these recessive traits were less hardy they would have been selected against.

Agouti: wild type sable in all its variations through to black tan pattern and recessive black are the coat colour of most wild dog populations and wolves.

This follows for morphology as well. orbital angle and stop. Flat skulls and minimal stop are 'more hardier' but they are the first traits to go in outcrossing.

Dominant traits are more often the traits which have been selected for and 'fixed' by the human hand.

Edited January 29, 2013 by lilli