Malamute Coat Color Genetics
by Nichole Royer

Blue Sables
Genetics: A-B-Cl-ddDom-E- (Agouti + Dilute)
This page was last updated: October 15, 2008
© 2007 All text and photos are copyright to Nichole Royer, and/or the photographer.
Unauthorized copying of any part constitutes a breach of copyright law.
Blue Agouti Sable


















Description:

Coat: Banded coat - dark bands gray. Light bands off white/cream/yellow

Undercoat: Off white/cream/yellow

Legs and Face: White/off white/cream/yellow

Facial Markings: May be dark enough to give the appearance of a full bar, however the color is always salt and pepper rather than solid. Markings on face often fade and can be much less extensive in adults, detectible only as rings around the eyes.

Pigment: Slate gray

Eyes: Yellow

Notes: Can be difficult to tell from Light Blue sable as an adult. Also often mistaken for Sable.

Newborn or Puppy: Born with a sooty or "dirty" looking face. Undercoat: Off white/cream/yellow. Eyes slate gray when they open.


Obviously not Malamutes, however a good example of what Blue does to Sable. On the left, Blue Sable. On the right Agouti Sable. Blue dilutes black to gray and red to cream/yellow.
Tan Point Blue
Genetics: atatB-clclddDomE- (Tan Point + Dilute)




















Description:

Coat: No banding on coat – solid gray

Undercoat: Gray/light Gray

Legs and Face: Off white/cream/yellow, however color often is pale to almost white in adult dogs

Facial Markings: Always extreme mask on face

Pigment: Slate Gray

Eyes: Yellow

Notes: Often mistaken for Tan Point.

Newborn or Puppy: Born almost solid gray. Face gray with very tiny white "eyebrows". Eyes slate gray when they open.

Light Blue Sable
Genetics: A-B-Cl-dddomdomE- (Agouti + Domino + Dilute )



















Description:

Coat: Salt and pepper coat – dark bands dove gray

Undercoat: Off white/cream/yellow

Legs and Face: White/off white/cream/yellow

Facial Markings: Markings fade in color and size, never having the appearance of a full bar, and being washed out and shadow-like instead of solid

Pigment: Gray – may appear as a gray wash and be pink on lips/mouth. Notes: Often mistaken for Sable.

Eyes: Yellow

Newborn or Puppy: Born with crisp facial markings/masking and large white eyebrows. May have little/no pigment at birth. Eyes pale slate gray when they open.

Dark Blue Sable
Genetics: atatB-Cl-dddomdomE- (Tan Point + Domino + Dilute)



















Description:

Coat: Appear Gray from a distance however most have off white/cream/yellow band at the base of the coat. Very dark individuals may be missing this band.

Undercoat: Usually off white/cream/yellow, however may be gray/light gray along topline and in very dark individuals.

Legs and Face: White/off white/cream/yellow

Facial Markings: Always crisp and clear cut includes a full bar (except in individuals with additional white spotting) that appears solid in color on the face.

Pigment: Gray – may give the appearance of a gray wash.

Eyes: Yellow

Notes: Never has the extreme masking seen on Black and White dogs. Often mistaken for Seal Sable.

Newborn or Puppy: Born with crisp facial markings/masking and large white eyebrows. May have little pigment at birth. Eyes slate gray when they open.

Artwork copyrighted to Susan Richardson, all rights reserved