Some purebred dogs have hidden coat colors—and in some cases, other traits—that have been lurking all along, according to new research.
The researchers looked at a dozen different genes in 212 dog breeds. They analyzed data that industry partners at Wisdom Health collected via Wisdom Panel for the development of canine DNA tests.
“These are purebred dogs with traits that their breed clubs say they’re not supposed to have,” says Kari Ekenstedt, an assistant professor of anatomy and genetics at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine whose research program focuses on canine genetics. “The message of this paper is, ‘Hey, these gene variants exist in your breed, and if a few dogs are born with these traits, it’s not caused by accidental breeding and it’s not a mutt; it’s a purebred showing this known genetic potential.'”
via Whisker Therapy