LorraineS

I am familiar with Tri-color, red/white, and Lemon. But I have never seen or heard of a Black basset. Is this a true color for the breed? If so, what per centage of the breed are black?

OpenSky

Hi there

Yeah, I have a black basset, I don't know how popular they are though. He's black with a white strip down his chest. Currently unable to post any pics of my own but here's a link of a very similar looking one I found on Google Images.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images17...lackBasset.JPG

Mikey T

given the nature of coat color genetics a single black color basset would be exceedingly rare

OpenSky

Yes, very rare. I've only seen one other basset the same color as mine and I don't live in a small town either.

2hounds

Back before I got my Gibbs I had an application filled out to adopt a dog named Maximillian from BROOD. He was all black with 1 little tan patch on his chest...a very handsome boy. He's the only one like it I'd ever seen.

~Heather

__________________
Mommy to Gibbs and kitty kitty Eva

Dear sweet Lily (ATB ) you will never be forgotten.

hig4s

I have never seen an all black one,, our Zatarra is mostly black, tan around the eyes, on the muzzle, and all four paws, and white on the nose and chest, but the rest is black.. even the tip of the tail.. Which I found very unusual. He is the first basset or beagle I have ever seen that didn't have a white tipped tail.

Mikey T

That is not all that uncommon but contrary to popular belief are hounds puropsely bred for white tail tip it is a natural phenonenom of pigment cell migration from the nural crest allong the spine. It is why it is typical for a dog if it is to have white to be on the chest, muzzle tip of the tail belly or feet. These are the furthest point form the nural crest. Unlike much of coat color genetics cell migration is effected by the environment such as temperature. So it is possible for two Identical twins to end up with different marking based only on where they were in the womb.



zephyr a black blanket tri did not a a spect of white on the tail as well. A trait that is more common than many think. also a white tip on the tail is not a coat coloring requirement of the basset hound in which any type markings is acceptable.

hig4s

Wow, that is interesting, that means breeders could have identical dogs and not realize it (or have any way to really tell without genetic testing) because the tip of tail, muzzle and feet may be marked different.

But as far as not being bred for the white tip, or flag, I'm not so sure about that. I have just been reading that there are to genes that affect the number of pigment cells in dogs. So having not having enough pigment cells to migrate all the way to the tail could be bred for.

Mikey T

That would result in piebald or open tris or bi color ie one with more white rather than one with white in a specific area. It is not a matter of not having enough cells to migrate but rather how far they travel.
However there are some genetic causes for diferential pigment cell migration as well and much is still not clearly understood.

Coat Color Mutations, Animals

LorraineS

Thanks for the answers. I was really curious as there is an ad for a black basset. When I read it I figured it was a basset mix not pure. Thanks again and for the info on the white tail tips, etc.