What is the Poodle Fading Gene?
Breeders and owners may refer to a ‘Poodle fading gene,’ but the truth is things are a little more complicated than that. Rather than a single part of the genetic code being responsible for the color of your pup, or indeed any color changes that occur during their lives, it is, instead, the result of a complex interplay of several different genes.
Two primary pigments account for coat color: eumelanin (which covers the black spectrum) and phaeomelanin (which covers the red spectrum). These are the two foundation blocks for every other color seen in these dogs.
It was initially thought that a single ‘dilution’ gene (the D Locus) was responsible for the intensity of a Poodle’s color. If the dog inherits a dominant D Locus from each parent (DD), then they won’t fade from the original black or red. However, if the genes, or even just one of them, is recessive, then the color would be (or become) less intense.
These days, though, experts also speak of Poodles having a ‘progressive graying’ gene (the G Locus) and even a dominant silver (V) gene. So, if the Poodle puppies inherit either of these, they too will fade.
If a Poodle’s color is going to change, it will usually occur within the first two years of their life. At this point, they will have come into their adult coat.
However, in some situations, a dog may have a second phase of fading, which happens somewhere between the ages of two and three.
Also, in some instances, a dog may ‘hold’ their original color in certain areas, such as around their ears. This may eventually catch up to the rest – or not.
The majority of Poodles do fade as every color in the Poodle spectrum is susceptible except truest Black. White dogs don’t often fade much either as there is nothing for them to fade to, but you may notice that apricot and cream tones around the ears, for instance, disappear over time.
Naturally, the darker the dog is born, the more the scope for drastic change. Owners who have purchased a black or red puppy might find that their pup is unrecognizable as the same dog by the time they are two years old.
As Doodles inherit genes from their Poodle parents, they are, in theory, also susceptible to color fading. However, changes are less likely than in purebred Poodles and are also likely to be slightly more subtle.
Suppose though that your Dood has more of a Poodle curly coat. In that case, they may be more likely to fade, compared with if they have inherited a straight or wavy coat type. This is especially the case if they are pretty dark, to begin with.
Genetic testing of the MFSD12 gene will reliably determine the number of copies of the intensity gene Mutation that a dog carries. Phaeomelanin dilution associated with mutations of the MSFD12 gene is known to be inherited in an Autosomal Recessive manner in dogs. Carrier dogs (I/i) do not display an extreme phaeomelanin dilution, but when bred with another dog that also is a carrier (I/i), there is a 25% chance of having pups with light cream or white coat color (if also e/e at the E Locus). Reliable genetic testing is important for determining breeding practices. Dogs that are not carriers of an i mutation have no increased chance of having pups with a light cream or white coat color.
The I Locus (Intensity) corresponds to the MFSD12 gene that is important in determining the shade of the light pigment (phaeomelanin) in dogs. Mutations in this gene modify the expression of the phaeomelanin (reds, yellows and creams) in the hair resulting in an extreme lightening of the coat color of dogs. Canine coat color determination is complex due to interactions of multiple genes responsible for both color and anatomic placement of the color. A dog with two mutant copies of the MFSD12 gene will have an extremely light phaeomelanin that will cause a dog that is e/e at the E locus to have a coat color that is light cream or white.
Dogs with I/I and I/i genotypes typically have an unmodified (yellow to red) phaeomelanin pigment. Dogs with an i/i genotype typically have a less intense, cream or white phaeomelanin pigment. However, there are other, unknown genes that influence the final shade of phaeomelanin; genes responsible for the red shade of phaeomelanin are still unknown. Dogs that carry at least one copy of the i Allele can produce light cream or white dogs if bred to another dog that is also light cream or white (i/i) or a Carrier of light cream or white (I/i). The color of the dog’s nose and footpads is still dependent on the B locus; there is no evidence that the I Locus impacts the nose and footpad color.
The I Locus (Intensity) coat color test evaluates the MFSD12 gene to determine the I locus genotype for the dog. This Mutation has been associated with the extreme dilution of the light, yellow to red pigment (i.e., phaeomelanin) in many breeds, associated with an e/e genotype at the E locus. The phaeomelanin pigment can also be seen in dogs with a dark coat color that express their A locus (Agouti) genotype; for example, a dog with tan (phaeomelanin) points (ky/ky and at/at) or the light base color of hairs on sable/fawn (ky/ky and Ay/-) dogs.
How Poodle Fading Affects Their Final Color
Solid color poodles are far more numerous than two-toned versions, and many of the two-toners are actually poodles whose fading process is ongoing or otherwise incomplete. Here are the common colors of poodles:
There are in-between shades that defy categorization, but the vast majority of poodles fall into one of the above colors. Below are some poodle color groups and how fading affects each over time:
Apricot – The color range of apricot poodles is fairly wide, from shades that are close to tan to shades that are close to cream. Apricot poodles tend to have small black spots on their skin.
Blue – Blue isn’t really blue, but a transformed shade of black. Blue poodles have hairs that are dark at the end but duo-toned near the root. There often is a second phase of fading around middle age that transforms the color to a yet lighter shade.
Brown – Brown poodles are dark to medium brown. They fade from a deep, rich brown to a slightly lighter shade, but the color doesn’t stray from the original very much.