Understanding the DNA and Genetic Testing in Bulldogs
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How to Register your English Bulldog with AKC
AKC will accept all English Bulldogs with registration papers. HOWEVER, they ONLY accept standard colors under the breed and markings. For those that own exotic colors (not listed on their color chart) if you want your bulldogs color on there you need to do two extra steps.
- We always suggest you put the actual color in their AKC NAME - Example: Lilac Tri Finky Girl or Chocolate Merle Baxter. (online registration)
- You will have to either fill out the AKC paperwork and snail-mail in with a photo and they will assign a color (lilac they will put grey) or you can email a photo along with their AKC info to colors@akc.org for an extra fee. (click here for the AKC color chart)
Genetic makeup plays a crucial role in determining the color of a bulldog's coat. This intricate process involves multiple loci on chromosomes, each with various alleles that can be dominant or recessive. Fun fact: The the Merle gene will override the Seal Gene, and the Seal Gene will override the Black & Tan gene. Bulldogs inherit genetic material from both parents, resulting in a unique combination that determines their final color. To ensure the well-being of the breed, it's essential to understand the genetic testing options available before breeding or acquiring a bulldog pup. Bulldog Club of America has a great chart on what a "Proper" English Bulldog should look like (click here). You will also hear words like Thick, Micro (meaning they are just shorter), Stacked, Fully Suited (less than 10% white) and Piebald (white patterns like a dairy cow) that breeders use to describe or sell their bulldogs.
Chromosomal Influence on Coat Color:
- Bulldogs have thirteen or more loci on chromosomes influencing coat color.
- Each locus contains alleles that can be dominant or recessive.
- Dogs inherit two alleles at each locus, one from each parent, determining the coat color. In a litter full of puppies depending on the parents the pups can all inherit different segments causing different colors or patterns within the litter.
Coat Colors of English Bulldogs:
AKC classes bulldogs by either Standard (show quality or recognized) colors or Exotics (not show quality or recognized) by AKC or other bulldog show groups. There is a lot of debate on how the some of these "exotic" colors got into the bulldog genetics. That is a debate for a different day. The fact is, they are here and people want them. Ethical breeders think about health first and foremost. Colors are just a secondary thought and although we love being unique or rare, health will always be our number one concern. The cute pups to the left are just a few we have bred over the years showing the crazy colors that can come out of a litter. You just never know exactly what you are going to get.
Here is a link to a great diagram to how DNA dictates colors:
Genetic Testing Recommendations:
- Before breeding or purchasing a bulldog, consider three main genetic tests (seen below). Ask the breeders if their parents (Sire & Dam) have been health tested and show you their testing. If the parents are clear the pups will be clear.
- There are other genetic testing and OFA certifications that people can ask for but that is for only bulldogs 2 or older. They normally start testing after that age to ensure they are done growing.
- Differentiate between being a "Carrier" and actually having a genetic disorder.
- For autosomal recessive disorders, dogs with two copies of the variant are at risk, while carriers with one copy are not usually at risk.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), Hyperuricosuria (HUU) & Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (CMR1)
DM is a progressive spinal cord disease in older dogs.
- Symptoms include loss of coordination, hind limb weakness, and eventual paralysis.
HUU is an autosomal recessive mutation leading to bladder stones.
- Affected dogs may show signs like difficulty urinating, blood in urine, and frequent urination.
CMR1 is a recessive eye disorder causing raised lesions on the retina.
- Symptoms appear in puppies, and lesions may not worsen over time.
- Ethical breeding practices involve testing and restrictions to prevent producing fully affected puppies.
Understanding the genetic makeup of bulldogs, especially regarding color sequencing and potential disorders, is crucial for responsible breeding. Genetic testing helps identify carriers and affected individuals, allowing breeders to make informed decisions. By prioritizing ethical breeding practices and testing potential mates, breeders contribute to the overall health and well-being of English Bulldogs and other brachycephalic breeds.
English Bulldogs USA, LLC
The DNA Color Pool
DNA is a wealth of information, not only for important health reasons but to determine color. Remember DNA and the understanding of how colors are produced is an ever changing learning process. What is known today could be rewritten tomorrow. We will not go into great detail here only because it's so much to understand. There are a few great sites that gets more in-depth on DNA and how we get the colors, you will hear words like base coat, dominate and color modifiers.
Color Lilac Tri
This is one of our girls as a pup. Simple terms, is a Lilac Bulldog starts out black and is diluted twice. Once by {bb} the chocolate gene and by {dd} the blue gene. The nose, eyeliner, and foot pads are also always some shades of purple/lilac.
DNA: bb, dd, at/at, Ky/Ky
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
(click here for more on the color Lilac)
Lilac Fawn Merle Pied
One of our productions was this adorable Lilac Fawn Merle. Beautiful blue eyes.
The nose, foot pads, & eyeliner is purple/lilac. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus.
DNA: bb, dd, ay/ay, Ky/Ky, M/m, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Lilac Tri Merle Pied
One of our productions was this funny little Lilac Tri Merle. Stunning blue eyes.
The nose, foot pads, & eyeliner is purple/lilac. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus.
DNA: bb, dd, at/at, Ky/Ky, M/m, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Blue Trindle
One of our productions: This little blue boy has Tri points with brindle (aka: Trindle). Amazing blue eyes and the sweetest personality.
DNA: Bb or BB, dd, at/at, Kbr/Ky
- need Kb/Kb, or Kb/Ky for Tri
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
(click here for more on the color blue)
Blue Sable Brindle Pied
One of our productions: This special little boy was always very unique. He had a very blue eye patch and a blue tail and this body was a fawn color with blue brindle. The most important part of getting the blue color is you have a {Bb or BB} but always have the {dd} gene. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus.
DNA: Bb, dd, ay/at, Kbr/Ky, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Black Sable
Simon Bulldogs allowed us to use this photo. This boy shows of how a tan base can be covered up because the Seal gene is on the hierarchy of genes. Making them look Black and White. Aren't genes amazing!
DNA: Bb or BB, DD or Dd, at/at or ay/at or ay/ay, Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb or Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb
(click here for more on the color black)
Black Tri
One of our productions: This spunky little girl was almost kept by us, but we let her go to a wonderful family.
DNA: Bb, Dd, at/at, Ky/Ky
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Black Tri Merle Pied
One of our productions: This special little girl looks like she has little sprinkles all over. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus. DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, at/at, Ky/Ky, M/m, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Chocolate Tri
This is a Beanies Bullies production: This little chocolate boy has Tri points Amazing blue eyes. The most important part of getting the chocolate color is you have a {DD or Dd} but always have the {bb} gene.
DNA: bb, Dd or DD, at/at, Ky/Ky
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Chocolate Merle
This is a Beanies Bullies production: This little chocolate merle boy has some beautiful and unique markings.
DNA: bb, Dd or DD, at/at, Ky/Ky, M/m
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Chocolate Tweed
This is a Blue Skies Bullies production: This little boy is on the higher/longer end of the poly(A) tail length of the merle gene. Causing some beautiful patchwork colors. Check him out in the stud section.
DNA: bb, Dd or DD, at/at, Ky/Ky, M/m
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
DNA Plot Twist: the Merle gene will override the Seal Gene, and the Seal Gene will override the Black & Tan gene.
Red Sable
One of our productions: This triple carrier girl is a standard red sable. She is a carrier for chocolate and blue. Meaning if bred to the right male she could produce all the exotic colors like lilac, blues and chocolates.
DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, ay/at, Ky/Ky
- need Kb/Kb, or Kb/Ky for Tri
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Fawn Sable Pied Merle
One of our productions: This little boy stole everyone heart with his aqua blue eyes and his speckled nose. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus. The difference between Sable and Fawn is:
Sable is ay/at & Fawn is ay/ay
DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, ay/at, Ky/Ky, M/m, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Platinum Sable
One of our productions: This little boy is all white with a swirl of color on his tail. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus. The difference between Sable and Fawn is:
Sable is ay/at & Fawn is ay/ay
DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, ay/at, Ky/Ky, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Red Sable Piebald
One of our productions: This little boy is all personality. We first called him Patch because he had a black eye. The word Pied refers to the name piebald S Locus.
DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, ay/at, Ky/Ky, Ssp
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal
Fawn/Sable Cryptic Merle
One of our females: I just wanted to show you that without a DNA merle test you might not think she would carry the merle gene. She is what they call a Cryptic Merle. Very important in the breeding world that you NEVER mate two merle bulldogs together.
DNA: Bb or BB, Dd or DD, ay/at or ay/ay, Ky/Ky, Ssp, M/m
- need Kbr/Ky or Kbr/Kb or Kbr/Kbr for Trindle
- need Kb/Ky or Kb/Kb for Seal