Panda Shepherd and foxes in captivity - Page 1

 There was an artice written about an experiment trying to domesticate silver foxes and found that after 8 generations of breeding for tameness, with inbreeding kept to a minimum, coat color began to change. The Foxes were producing offspring with various shades of white from small spots to markings like a border collie.

"Belyaev’s hypothesis was supported in this experiment that selection for tameness alone led to the unusual coloration and coats in domestic animals as well as their increased reproduction."

Do you think that in some cases this may be true for the "Panda" Shepherd? 



Taken from the Article Domesticating the Silver Fox, Breeding for tameness changes animals behaviorally and physically. By Scottie V. Westfall

http://mammals.suite101.com/article.cfm/domesticating_the_silver_fox 

I remember reading about this, and found it very interesting. Could be you have a point there! 

 I can't believe I had intelligent brain function before I finished my first cup of coffee. I think in "some" instances this is a viable possibility. In others I believe they are crosses with another breed, possibly by some individuals trying to cash in on the "Panda" phenomena.

This is not about is it right or wrong because it's against breed standard, and I personally would never own one or specifically breed for "designer" colors. But the how and why it may have happened.

Melissa

OH YEAH I READ THAT TOO MELISSA. IT IS QUITE WEIRD, AND I DO HAVE A HINT IN MY MIND ABOUT THIS.

 In my view, I would much more likely suspect a spontaneous mutation than anything else, because it happens every day in real life, and would not be  an unusual circumstance.

Cash in ?? My friend and I use the term "friend" lightly ,, still has a litter of 6 Panda Shepherds that are over 3 monthes old .She still has every one . I saw a photo of one the other day ,It is the uglyest pup I ever saw . I told her last time she bred the two dogs and pandas popped out not to bred those two dogs together ever again . She did not listen .Now look what she has to deal with . She has gotten rid of the mother of the pups who is a black and tan . I bet she keeps a pup . YUCKY .

The breeding of ranch foxes came up with many more color mutations than just the one you describe, and this was done many years ago.
I do not believe it has anything to do with Panda Shepherds at all.

 So can you without a doubt say this is not a possibility, and why not? What is stopping it from happening? Why would it happen in one animal and not others? Are foxes not related to dogs? Are we not breeding and selecting for certain traits? I'm by no means trying to start a fight, but this is something that fascinates me.

Yes, cash in. I am sure there are those dishonest people out there with no regard for anything but $$$ who decisive people into believing that this is some new and "rare" color/breed. As long as there are naive people out there they will get what they want for their pups. 

I SAW AN EARLY EDITION OF A BOOK YELLOW ROSE POSTED A FEW PICS FROM . SEEMS THEIR WAS SOME PANDA MARKINGS IN THE BEGINNINGS OF THE GSD BREEDING STOCK.   I THINK WHEN THE GENE HITS THE RIGHT TWO DOGS IT COULD SHOW UP ALL THESE YEARS LATER.      JMO

Its been twenty plus years since I raised foxes,  I think the original experiments were done if Finland but I can't swear to it.
Somewhere I have articles in industry magazines but I'm not going to try to find them to answer your questions regarding Panda Shepherd mutations.
By selecting one trait they did see new mutations, multiple.
And the selections weren't made for the purpose of creating new mutations, they were trying to raise animals that were easier to handle and more adapted to ranch conditions.
I know nothing of Panda Shepherds and have forgotten most of what I once new about foxes.
I do know if you inbreed an animal long enough anything can pop up.