COAT COLOUR INHERITANCE CHART
The figures below are based on the probable percentages from a litter of four puppies in each possible mating.
For those who want to delve deeper into the relm of the genetics behind coat colour there is an excellent article here http://www.belgiandogs.org/gendnatestbsd.htm
Regarding the grey Tervuerens - the exact genes have not yet been iscolated so I have left the simplistic examples below until the genes can be identified. I have left the GG and tt indicators in the chart for the beginners as I always found this an easy way of remembering.
I do not claim to be an expert on the genetics of coat colour inheritance in the Belgian Shepherd - far from it. I did however want to set out a simplistic chart for those just learning to follow. However good friend Lee Jiles has made me realise that not only was there holes and errors in my firstchart - but also that I needed to go a little deeper to make it a truly useful tool. I will add further links to this page as I find relevant reference tools. If you know of useful and informative links relevant to the Belgian Shepherd please email them to me at belgianshepherds@bigpond.com.
Pure Groenendael usually KK ayay |
Groenendael carrying Tervueren is usually Kk aya) |
kkayayy |
 Tervueren with double recessive grey |
 Red Tervueren with carrying recessive grey |
 Groenendael carrying Tervueren (grey) |
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 Recessive Black Groenendael |
 Groenendael carrying Recessive Black |
 Tervueren carrying Recessive Black |
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Both parents are dominant black (this means that they both have the dominant black gene in a double dose) and therefore all of their puppies will be pure Groenendael (double dominant). |
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One parent is pure Groenendael (dominant factor) and the otherparent looks as though pure but actually carries the recessive Tervueren gene. Half of the puppies will be pure Groenendael and half will look to be pure Groenendael but will carry the recessive Tervueren gene. |
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Both parents will look pure Groenendael (dominant) but each carries the recessive Tervueren gene. The puppies from such a mating will be, one puppy pure Groenendael (dominant), two looking pure Groenendael but carrying the recessive Tervueren gene, and one will inherit a double recessive dose and therefore be pure Tervueren. The proportion thus being 1:2:1 |
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Both parents are Tervueren (double recessive) and each puppy will carry the same double recessive gene. They will remain recessive so long as they continue to be mated to recessives. |
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One parent is pure Groenendael (double dominant) and the other is Tervueren (which means it must be double recessive). Each puppy will be Groenendael but carry the recessive Tervueren gene. |
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One parent Groenendael but carrying the recessive Tervueren gene and the other parent Tervueren (which means that this parent must carry double recessive Tervueren gene). Half of the puppies will be Tervueren (double recessive) and the other half will be Groenendael but will carry the recessive Tervueren gene. |
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One parent is red Tervueren (which is dominant to grey) and the other is grey Tervueren (which is recessive to red). Each puppy will be red Tervueren but carry the recessive grey gene. |
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One parent red Tervueren but carrying the recessive grey Tervueren gene and the other parent grey Tervueren (which means that this parent must carry double recessive grey gene). Half of the puppies will be grey Tervueren (double recessive) and the other half will be red Tervueren but will carry the recessive grey gene. |
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One parent Groenendael but carrying the Tervueren gene and the other parent grey Tervueren (which means that this parent must carry double recessive grey gene). These combinations can be muddied. For example the Tervueren gene carried by the Groenendael may include both red and grey, therefore you may get a mixture of all or any of these puppies Unless you know for sure what is behind the Tervueren gene, you could get any of these combinations. Remember the grey is recessive so therefore both parents must carry that gene to produce it. |
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If both parents are recessive black, then all resulting puppies will beTervueren. It is hard to know if a Groenendael is recessive black unless this can be determined by relatives. Sometimes these dogs appear black and tan, or have lighter points around the muzzle, paws and tail. |
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If one parent is a recessive black Groenendael and the other Tervueren, then all resulting puppies will be Tervueren, all carrying the recessive black gene. |
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If one parent is a recessive black Groenendael and the other pure Groenendael, then all resulting puppies will be Groenendael, all carrying the recessive black gene. |
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If both parents are Tervueren carrying the recessive black gene, then all resulting puppies will be Groenendael carrying the recessive black gene. |
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If both one parent is pure Tervueren and the other Tervueren carrying the recessive black gene, then half of the resulting puppies will be pure Tervueren and the other half Tervueren carrying the recessive black gene. |