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Originally Posted by pstinard  Hi. The gene responsible for the blue born syndrome is called the "D Locus." Actually, one of the main researchers on dog coat color, Sheila Schmutz, is from Saskatchewan. Here is her main web page on coat color genetics: Dog Coat Color Genetics
And here is her page on the D Locus: https://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dilutions.html .
There is a Canadian company (based on Ontario) that tests coat colors in dogs. Here is the link to their page for Yorkshire Terrier tests: Canine Coat and Nose Color Test (Code: C128) | Genetic Tests For Canine - HealthGene, Toronto . You would have to specifically ask them to test for the D Locus, which is $55.
The good news is that being blue born is not necessarily a death sentence. Although they can have thinner hair and scalier skin, they can live long, full lives. That said, I do NOT think, from looking at your photographs, that your Yorkie is blue born. A blue born would have gray hair and nose. Yours looks to be a solid black, normal color hair and nose.
If you could give us a link to the Facebook video of your dog, we can take a closer look... |
PS -- Taking a closer look at Sophie's pictures, there are small gray patches on the head. That is the adult hair color (silver) beginning to come in. That's completely normal. The black color I'm talking about is on the lower body, which retains the puppy colors the longest. That color is a good, solid black, not blue or gray. I still don't think she's a blue born.