Locus G-gene - The graying gene
Some black born Bergamasco are carriers of the G-gene. It means that a black born dog greys with
age. Before the graying gene can be seen, it is necessary that the dog has a copy of the G gene. That means either on (Gg) or double (GG). The graying gene is a dominant gene, so if the dogs are carriers of the G gene, it will show in the coat one way or another. A dog that not is carrying the graying gene had (gg).
The graying gene, like the Dilution gene (the blue gene), is a source of Eumelanin (the base of dark color) but opposite the Dilution gene it doesn’t have an effect on the pigmentation of the nose or eye color - a pigmentation of the Bergamasco shall always be black. So a black born with the G gene will get lighter in the coat as it ages. But it does not always affect the whole coat; sometimes the coat gets a gray shade variable from body part to body part, other times some of the coat will stay black.
An interesting thing with this gene is that it will affect the dogs markings, but not in the head. This is the Kerry blue Terrier an good example of: their coat can goes from black to silver, but the black color of their nose will always stay black. Why this happens is not known. The graying gene shows sometime after the birth, other times it will show after weeks or month, or first when the adult coat comes. The graying gene will gray the black coat for the rest of the dogs life.
This dog is Varenne(Rubins dad). He is breed in Italy, and has since been moved to Sweden. I
thank Maria Gode, the owner of Kennel Ribellepelos in Sweden, for lending me these photos of
Varenne
An Example of an Bergamasco with The G gene
Varenne is Black born, Here is hi 7 month.
Varenne is here 1 year and 3 month. The coat is not separate yet.
Varenne is here 1 year and 8 month, The coat are now separate
Pictures of his head taken the 15-10-2011, he is almost 3 years old now.
Varenne from the site, the pictures is taken 15-10-2011, he is almost 3 years old now.