Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinehaven  The reason that most Biewers have a consistent spotting pattern is do to the fact that the gene responsible for their white markings is called the Irish Spotting gene. Characteristics of this gene are white legs, chests, neck, under body and tip of tail. White markings don't cross over the back between the shoulder and tail.
Parti's white markings on the other hand, are caused by the piebald gene and extreme white piebald gene. There is no consistent pattern with these spotting genes, it's very random. Extreme white's normally have some dark markings on head and near the tail with minimal markings on body, some extreme white piebalds are almost solid white.
Another source for learning about Parti's is this website: CYTC...Party Color |
But is it really consistent?
In my personal experience and from what I have seen by the countless litters of online breeders...Biewer litters... for the most part...do not follow a consistent pattern. The Irish spotting gene is just one of the patterns associated with the piebald gene. It produces the dark color over the back and down the legs...especially the back legs...and sometimes the front.
And yes...this pattern can and does occur in Biewer's. But it does not consistently throw itself...even from parents that both carry those markings. Here is a great link that explains why.
White spotting on Cardigans, Collies, and other herding dogs Ruffly Speaking: Railing against idiocy since 2004
I bred two Biewers (one that I would consider nicely show marked and the other heavy Irish spotted marked)...and got a puppy that was just about
all white on her body. Yes..they eventually produced a few puppies with markings like they carried themselves. But they produced more "whiter" puppies as well.