The T gene, called TICKING, determines whether or not the white areas of the coat as laid out by "S" will be flecked with colour or not. Ticking only affects the white portions of the coat. The correct term for a ticked coat is belton. Order of dominance is [TT] > [Tt] >[ tt]. Ticking matches the coat colour. A black particolour dog will have black ticking, a gold particolour dog will have gold ticking, a chocolate particolour dog will have brown ticking.
[ T T ] This Havanese has two copies of the ticking gene [T]. White areas of the coat will develop flecks of colour. A double dose of the dominant ticking gene [ TT ] may be responsible for a heavily ticked coat.
Phenotype - ticked coat (belton)
Genotype -
[ T T ]
[ T t ] This Havanese carries one copy of the dominant ticking gene and one copy of the recessive non-ticking gene. The dog will develop ticking but perhaps to a lesser degree than the dog with a double dose of the gene.
Genotype - dog displays ticked coat
[ t t ] : Recessive non-ticking gene, no ticking develops. The white coat stays clear white.
Phenotype - dog displays clear white markings
Genotype -
[ t t ]
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