Toby the Shih Tzu's Color Changes

by Michelle
(Pennsylvania)

My dog Toby started off very dark. His dad was a blue brindle according to the breeder. At 1, he is now grayer in color.

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Hi Janice here from Miracle Shih Tzu
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Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your sweet Shih Tzu with us. He does, indeed appear to be grayer as he gets older.

You didn't mention what color his mother is, but I don't see the blue in Toby. That is not unusual because blue is a very rare color and the mother would need to carry the gene for blue. I do see the brindling in his coat, but it doesn't show up well in the photographs.

I won't bore you with coat genetics, but the other possibility as to why the coat is graying is due to a specific graying gene, that is found on the G locus. My understanding is that it only takes the G gene from either parent to cause the coat to gray over time.

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I hold an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a Master's in Mental Health Counseling.

I'm a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Though Shih Tzu is my favorite breed, I've also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel. Little critters that shared my space included guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, tropical fish, and birds. (Oh, and one crayfish and hermit crab that my daughter brought home from school)

When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, I love spending time with my 6 Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Small Dog Place and Smart-Knit-Crocheting. Please visit my other two sites or send me a note.