Longcoat Genetics question - Page 1

Sorry, this is a German Shepherd

If a dog has two allels of the longcoat gene, he is a longcoat.
Some longcoats have less hair than other longcoats, it´s the same like the shortcoats.

Can you post a picture of her?

I have a feeling that with so many variations, there must be more then one gene responsible for coat length. Different genes cause different lengths over different parts of the body. What do you think?

 Til is correct. Two copies of the LC ALLELE means the dog is a LC. I have seen dogs with only longer hair around the ears, or feathers on the legs, or plenty who are in between and are clearly LC. With experience, one knows better what to look for. However, if there is a genetic test done, assuming there is no mix up in whose results are whose, the dog is a LC.

Photos are always helpful, although you will likely get some incorrect interpretations. Do you know that the SV in Germany has now admitted LCs back into the breed books, although separate books? So LC can now be shown in conformation. Of course, they could always participate in dog sports.

I dont have a photo as its not my dog, thinking of purchasing her though. Based on your info, it sounds like she is a coat.  Thanks so much, Jan ;-)

The gene responsible for coat length is designated as FGF5 (fibroblast growth factor-5). It is an autosomal recessive gene. Recessive genes remain "hidden" unless two copies are inherited. There are two variants of the gene for coat length, called alleles. Each parent contributes one allele. One possible allele is given the designation "L" (for short coat) and the other "l" (for long coat). The "L" form is the dominant allele, meaning coat length in an animal would be short coated if both inherited alleles OR a single copy of the "L" allele are inherited by the offspring.  In order for the coat to be long or fluffy both inherited copies must be the "l" allele. Obviously, a dog may be either "LL" or "Ll" or "lL" or "ll". The dog with the latter allele pair will be long coated, while the others will all have short coats. However, the "ll",  "Ll" or "lL" allele pattern means that these dogs are carriers of the allele for long coat and may, if bred to another dog who possesses an "l" allele, result in progeny who are long coated. Dogs who are "LL" are short coated and even if bred with another dog who possesses the "l" allele will produce only short coated dogs because the "L" allele is the dominate allele.

At least two other genes have been identified for coat texture, such as "satin" or "curly", but these are not the same as the gene responsible for coat length. The two I mention are autosomal dominant, meaning only a single copy need be present in the animal for it to show the given trait.

Hodie I have a question for you.
I have a male with close to 200 progeny. NONE are longcoated, even when he was bred to a longcoat and they produced 11 puppies! I have never tested him because there is no need. I know he does not carry longcoat. BUT he had a longcoat brother!!  I guess that proves that siblings can and do have different allele's right? Interesting to me! I would like to hear your comments on the subject.
Thanks!
Debby

I'm not Hodie, but it happens.  In the Malinois world (long coat is an autosomal recessive in Mali's like in GSD) there is a well known stud dog named Turcodos.  Who has a long haired brother.  But Turcodos has never produced a long haired pup, even when bred to a long haired female.

When you breed a dog that carries coat to a dog that carries coat, statisically you will get 25% of the offspring with long hair, 50% with short coats but carriers of long hair, and 25% who don't have the long hair gene (actual number do vary from litter to litter).  So your dog is probably just one of that last 25%