How Do Dogs Get Their Patterns

Pigments are produced in cells called melanocytes, and the distribution and number of these cells are determined by the dog’s genetic makeup. These cells pass the pigment onto the dog’s hair, skin and eyes, and create the pattern and color.

What is a pattern on a dog?

Merle: This pattern happens when a dog’s colors are mixed in with white in spots and patches. Blue merle tricolor Australian Shepherd. Red merle Catahoula Leopard Dogs. Tuxedo: This pattern is when a dog is mostly one color, but has a white patch on its chest, a white spot on its chin, and white on its feet.

How do dogs get their coat color?

The color of a dog’s coat is basically at the mercy of his gene pool. Genes do two things that determine a dog’s appearance. They control the pigments produced (eumelanin and phaeomelanin) and where these pigments are produced.