| A Few Basics Melanin is the protein that is responsible for the pigment which creates the color found in a dog's coat. There are two distinct types of melanin, (eu)melanin and (phaeo)melanin. Melanocytes, found in the skin and hair root, create these two types of proteins,most frequently eumelanin, which is responsible for nose leather as well hair and skin color. Pigment is not added at a constant rate, however, thus resulting in the darker tips often seen in the dog. The production of phaeomelanin results in colors from red through yellow, but does not affect skin color. The different color tones in dog hair are due to a combination of these two biochemical structures acted on by color genes. These genes govern just how much eumelanin and pheomelanine is manufactured in the dog's body while others determine where these colors are deposited. There are eight known locations (loci called A, B, D, E, H, K, M, S) and several suspected loci (G, and T)* containing multiple genes or alleles that determine the color and pattern in the dog's coat. The only color gene that is thought not to be part of the Havanese gene pool is the M or Merle frequently found in Shelties and Austrailian Shepherds. By pass the introduction to genetics and go directly to color genetics OR Genetics 101 |