Coat Color Genetics Question. - Page 1

I came across these photos on a public post, and I've never seen this type of coloring on Belgian Malinois before. I was curious what people might think the color genetics were for these dogs.

 

They look like AwAw sables to me with recessive black, but the dam for a litter that produced similar colors was an Ay sable bred to a dark Mal. I think he was black. Also, they're this color from birth, so they don't lose their black color like the GSD.

I would say:

Melanistic sable (A^w) with extreme masking (E^m).

The masking gene, which requires only one copy generally extends limits itself to the muzzle and ears in most breeds, however, in some breeds, malinois being one of them it often covers the animal's entire face. It can also extend down the chest and, in the most extreme coverage, add black to the tip of the tail and toes.

The heavy E^m coverage gives these dogs black faces, chests, and the black stockings seen in the photos.

If this was a Tervern, he would be a very dark mahogany. See this color a lot in the Tervs. Makes for a very striking dog.
Fry

Dragon, these are all different dogs. I thought it was pretty cool.

JC, so you're seeing saying that the mother was (A^y/A^w) and so was the dad (possibly)? This resulted in these sable dogs with two copies of A^w, no A^y?

i am also interested in the genes involved in the coat color in the pictures, i agree with jc.carroll for the description.

i would ask if the sable gene and the masking gene are dominant or recessive?

A^y (sable) is the most dominant, so it's over A^w (wolf grey, "sable" is used to refer to wolf grey German shepherd dogs).

 

As for your masking question, I have a link you can click here.

Unless the dog is KNPV lines which are often mixed with GSD heritage in the background I'd Ay sable but with very extreme masking/black pigment. There are different varieties of Ay sable, including "shaded sables" which have more black pigment throughout their coat and along their back, this combined with extreme masking would create this appearance.The coat pattern honestly does not resemble aw wolf sable to me at all. But you'd have to do a DNA test to really say, and the hairs are a factor too. In Wolf sable the individual hairs are multi colored/banded.
http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/masks.html#extrememasking
http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/tan.html#sable