Circle the choice that best describes your dog. Then by studying what the parents were you can try to determine the allele that is recessive.

Group 1 Coat type
S: Short coat type dog can be S/S if both dog are short hair not carrying the long hair gene, or S/s if the parent dog is short hair but carrying the long hair gene.
dog can be S/S, S/s
s: Long coat type dog will be S/s if one or both dog are short hair but carrying the long hair gene, however will be s/s if both dog are long hair. This is what make it (nearly) impossible to breed a short coat from two long coats.
dog can be S/s, s/s

Group 2 Amount of white
S :  "Self colored", No white showing.
dog can be S/S, S/ sⁱ , S/ s^p , S/ s^w
sⁱ : "Irish Marked". i.e. white feet, tail and collar, as in Boston Terriers.
dog can be , sⁱ /sⁱ , sⁱ/s^p, sⁱ/s^w
s^p: "Parti color” mostly white with patches of color.
dog can be s^p/s^p , s^p/s^w
s^w : Almost all white, very little, if any color.
dog can only be s^w/ s^w

Group 3 Color
A: Results in pure black dog.
dog can be A/A, A/ay, A/ a^t ,A/ a^d ,A/ a^s
ay: This is the gene that produces the "Sable" effect. Tan or red with black hairs interspersed through color.
dog can be ay/ay, ay/a^t, ay/a^d
a^s: Produces a black blanket, usually on a tan body. Similar to that of a beagle.
dog can be a^s/a^s, a^s/a^t, a^s/a^d
a^t: The most recessive, although not at all uncommon. This allele produces the common "Black & Tan" markings as seen on a Doberman, or English Toy Terrier.
dog can be a^t/a^t, a^t/ a^d
a^d: These dogs have a pattern in which dark hairs are tipped with black or brown and are lighter near the skin. They also have lighter legs, undersides, and face, usually with a widows peak or mask, such as that seen in Siberian huskies. They come in a variety of shades and colors. They may be combined with varying degrees of white spotting depending on interaction with S locus.
dog can only be a^d/a^d

Group 4 Black distribution
E^m No matter what other genes are active, this allele will put a black mask on it.
dog can be E^m/E^m, E^m/E, E^m/e^br , E^m/e
E Next most dominant, this results in no black mask.
dog can be E/E, E/ e^br, E/e
e^br Brindle, sort of irregular vertical black stripes.
dog can be e^br/e^br, e^br/e
e  The most recessive of this lotus, this allele MASKS black anywhere on the dog. If the dog had a a^t/ a^t genotype and a e the resulting dog would be solid tan.
dog can only be e/e

Group 5 hue of coat
B  Allows black to be black. (Sort of the opposite of e)
dog can be B/B, B/b
b  Makes all black hairs appear brown. (Chocolate)
dog can be B/b, b/b

Group 6 intensity of color
D Makes all Colors intense and full. e.g. Black is Black
dog can be D/D, D/d
d The opposite. Makes all Colors less intense, or diluted. This gene in an otherwise black dog will wash the black out to a grey color. Our so-called "Blue"
dog can be D/d, d/d

**dogs with both d/d and b/b alleles are lilac.**

Group 7 more color intensity
C Similar in effect as D. Allows Colors to be fully saturated.
dog can be C/C, C/ c^ch
c^ch Decreases the saturation of color while allowing black to remain black. Most rare in Chihuahuas, this gives us a Chinchilla effect. Hairs that is black at the tips but light at the roots. Most often the root color is either a blonde or smoky grey or white.
dog can be C/ c^ch , c^ch/c^ch