Ay/- sable

"Sable" can be a confusing term. In modern colour genetics it refers to Ay or the most dominant allele of the agouti gene series. In the past it was sometimes used to describe the sparkling varied coats of lappies that subsequently have been classified as 'domino'. It's also possible to confuse Sable with 'Wolfsable' which is one of many words that are used to describe the aw 'wild type' agouti allele. I'm going to stick to the purest genetic use of the word sable here. True Ay sable is genetically dominant and very common in dog breeds generally, but quite uncommon in lappies. Only about 2% of lappies have the Ay sable allele.

Of all the Lapphund Colours, it's Ay Sable that undergoes the most dramatic pattern change from newborn to adult. Where possible I'll be including newborn photos of all Sable dogs shown here.

Thanks to S Gurney, and J Lincoln of Armahani Kennels Vic for photos of Nugget.

Straight away you can see just how much more red-toned Nugget's phaeomelanin is. Compare him to the very darkest solid cream dog Finn. This is because Nugget has an E allele that works perfectly well. It's job is to spray black paint over Nugget's coat in a predetermined pattern. It also makes phaeomelanin even more intense

As an adult Flicka has completely lost the dark masking that she had as a puppy. Thanks to S Gurney and J Lincoln of Armahani Kennels, Vic for photos of Flicka

Flicka and Nugget probably have very similar amounts of sable phaeomelanin patterning as adults, but Flicka is a lighter shade. As the phaemelanin is about the same, the reason is her lighter intensity phaeomelanin.

Skipper started off life with only sparse spread of eumelanin hairs. His adult coat is a very light sable and the underlying phaeomelanin yellow pigment is very exposed and quite pale.

Thanks to S Chouffot and S Taylor for photos of Skipper