So depending on the genetic makeup, if black mum and black dad both have a recessive 'b' gene (i.e. they are Bb), the puppies actually have a possibility of being liver (or another colour other than black) as they could get the 'b' gene from mum and dad, making then 'bb'.
When dogs breed, the mother and father each randomly contribute one allele from each locus, giving each allele a 50% chance of being passed on to the pups. One of the alleles at each locus is dominant and determines the traits, like coat color, portrayed in the dog.
Because of segregation and recombination, no two offspring inherit the exact same chromosomes from their parents. This explains why puppy siblings can look so different from each other. One puppy may inherit a genetic variant for black fur, while another puppy from the same litter may inherit a variant for yellow fur.
The only way to know the true genetic color of these dogs and the potential coat color of the puppies they could produce is to do genetic testing. There are several resources on the Internet that can help you understand color inheritance in your dog, including poodles and other breeds.
Two brown dogs mated together will never throw black puppies because brown dogs do not have the black gene. But two chocolate dogs can produce yellow puppies, if each of the parents carries the little e gene – see the bottom right hand box below.
For example: Black is the colour commonly seen in dogs. This shows that black is the dominant gene in dogs, represented by BB. The genotypes like BB and Bb represents dominant black.
Dogs change color slightly as they get older.
During the transition from puppy fur to adult fur, lots of dogs will get a little lighter or a little darker. Others change more dramatically. How much they change depends on their breed and genetics.
When do puppies change color? Some puppies may start to change color by the time they're just a couple of weeks old, but most dogs will not develop their true adult coat until they are 1-2 years of age. It takes time for a dog's coat to grow, and time for the coat to change from the puppy coat to the adult coat.
Use a dog DNA test. The methods above may be entertaining. But if you truly want to be confident about your pup's breed make-up, there's really only one choice: a dog DNA test. This option looks past your pup's outward appearance and uses genetic clues to determine their ancestry.
Many breeds have coats that change over time. Puppies will generally be a different color than the adult dog. Medications, sunlight, nutritional status and skin disease can all be factors in changing and dog's coat color.
According to the report, "Black dogs had the least likelihood of being adopted compared to the reference coat color of black and tan." And dogs of all other colors, such as red, merle, and tricolor dogs, "were preferred only slightly over black and tan."
What exactly is “littermate syndrome” and is it real? Littermate syndrome can occur when two puppies adopted from the same litter grow up together in the same home. In some cases, these sibling puppies form such a deep bond with each other that they fail to properly socialize with people and other dogs.
When conceived, a dog receives two copies of DNA—one from the father and one from the mother. Which pieces of DNA a dog inherits from each parent is completely random. Within each strand of DNA are genes. And these genes determine traits such as coat color, ear type, tail style and more.
Some studies have even found that newborns tend to resemble their mothers more than their fathers.
Of course, this can be the simple case of genetics – sometimes two white canines can produce black puppies if they both carry the dominant “black” gene. A color from generations ago can pop up in any puppy.
If playing indoors, you can essentially choose any colour of toy that your dog can see – like blue, yellow, or purple. Now you know the answer to the question of “what is your dog's favourite colour?” — it's blue!
Whether you've had your faithful companion for years or you just brought home a puppy, there are a few reliable ways to check if they're a purebred: Compare against the AKC's breed standards. Ask your vet. Arrange for a DNA test.
Caucasian Shepherds have straight and coarse coats that stand off, with a well-developed undercoat. The head and forelegs are covered in a shorter, thicker coat, while the tail is covered with a dense coat, appearing furry and thick.
Genetics
Even perfectly healthy dogs might be genetically predisposed to early graying. In fact, even puppies can have graying hair, and it can start to become more silvery with age.
If there is not enough phenylalanine or tyrosine in the body to make the darker black pigment, eumelanin, then the pet will make the reddish-brown pigment, pheomelanin, instead, which requires less of these amino acids.
Puppies lose their puppy coats between 4-to-6 months of age, although this time frame varies widely from breed to breed and can start at 12 weeks or wait until they're one year old.
Some puppies and dogs prefer a nightlight. They find it comforting. But for others, the light can provide too much stimulation and keep them awake and busy. For those dogs, make the house dark and quiet.
Puppies Born White
The puppies will start 'colouring up' at around 1-2 weeks and look like perfectly normal puppies of their breed by three weeks of age. Patches of solid colour are present at birth.
Like humans, dogs tend to go gray as part of their natural aging process. And just like us, as dogs get older, the pigment cells responsible for color (specifically, melanin) stop being produced; this causes the strands to come out at a lighter shade, like gray or white.