| Patterning: White Factoring and Tricolor/Pointed |
| Lesson #8 will be based on the patternings and how white factoring and tricolor Boston Terriers result. |
Boston Terriers with the traditional markings; mask, white collar, white socks, tuxedo saddle-are known as
being patterned with the Irish Spotting Pattern, si. This pattern is recessive to the S allele which is solid,
though it is dominant to the sp pattern, which is responsible for splash marked Boston Terriers. Splash
Boston Terriers are also known as pied Boston Terriers. Splash Boston Terriers can be found in three
categories of splash: mild (more white than your average Boston, maybe extra wide white collar with some
white in the tuxedo along with some odd white designs), moderate (white Boston with color splashes over
the entirety of the coat) and extreme (the Boston is almost entirely white lacking much color splashes at
all). The splash pattern is a able to be seen at birth.
The term white factor is used to describe a Boston Terrier that carries for the sp gene. Not much was
known about genes responsible for spotting until 2007, when the first gene that causes at least some
spotting patterns in dogs was identified and published. The gene identified was MITF, or microphthalmia
associated transcription factor. MITF is a critical gene in the pigmentation pathway. "Another study
presented by Karlsson on behalf of the Broad Institute and the Univerisity in Uppsala, Sweden focused
primarily on Boxers. They have shown that MITF is the gene causing the solid, flashy, and virtually white
forms in Boxers and Bull Terriers. They suggest that two mutations in the promoter region of the MITF form
that works in the pigmenation pathway (MITF-M) are necessary for white in these breeds. One of these is
called a SINE (short interspersed nucleotide element) and the other is a string of repeated alleles that
varies in length in different spotted dogs, which they call a "Length Polymorphism or LP". Their data
suggest that the LP is found to be longer in breeds with white markings than in dogs with no white."
(Schmutz) With that a test is now available for white factoring or the spotting gene.
As there was no way to be certain until recently that your Boston Terrier may carry for white factoring a
theory was developed as a way to be able to judge with the naked eye if your Boston Terrier may carry for
white factoring. The theory went as follows: if the white on the inside of the rear legs goes up the inner leg
and connects with the belly your Boston Terrier likely carries for white factoring. Of course this was not a
fail proof method as there have been splash Bostons produced from sires and dams who do not have any
white on their rear legs.
being patterned with the Irish Spotting Pattern, si. This pattern is recessive to the S allele which is solid,
though it is dominant to the sp pattern, which is responsible for splash marked Boston Terriers. Splash
Boston Terriers are also known as pied Boston Terriers. Splash Boston Terriers can be found in three
categories of splash: mild (more white than your average Boston, maybe extra wide white collar with some
white in the tuxedo along with some odd white designs), moderate (white Boston with color splashes over
the entirety of the coat) and extreme (the Boston is almost entirely white lacking much color splashes at
all). The splash pattern is a able to be seen at birth.
The term white factor is used to describe a Boston Terrier that carries for the sp gene. Not much was
known about genes responsible for spotting until 2007, when the first gene that causes at least some
spotting patterns in dogs was identified and published. The gene identified was MITF, or microphthalmia
associated transcription factor. MITF is a critical gene in the pigmentation pathway. "Another study
presented by Karlsson on behalf of the Broad Institute and the Univerisity in Uppsala, Sweden focused
primarily on Boxers. They have shown that MITF is the gene causing the solid, flashy, and virtually white
forms in Boxers and Bull Terriers. They suggest that two mutations in the promoter region of the MITF form
that works in the pigmenation pathway (MITF-M) are necessary for white in these breeds. One of these is
called a SINE (short interspersed nucleotide element) and the other is a string of repeated alleles that
varies in length in different spotted dogs, which they call a "Length Polymorphism or LP". Their data
suggest that the LP is found to be longer in breeds with white markings than in dogs with no white."
(Schmutz) With that a test is now available for white factoring or the spotting gene.
As there was no way to be certain until recently that your Boston Terrier may carry for white factoring a
theory was developed as a way to be able to judge with the naked eye if your Boston Terrier may carry for
white factoring. The theory went as follows: if the white on the inside of the rear legs goes up the inner leg
and connects with the belly your Boston Terrier likely carries for white factoring. Of course this was not a
fail proof method as there have been splash Bostons produced from sires and dams who do not have any
white on their rear legs.
| Splash Genetically Known As: sp |
Tricolor Boston Terriers, also known as pointed, are by far the hardest to come by pattern of all those
Boston Terrier. Boston Terriers with points are known to be possible in purebred Bostons because old
standards for shows dating back before the turn of the 20th century, when the Boston Terrier was still
being developed, were listed within the standard as a disqualification. The fact that they were listed proved
that they did exist at one time within the breed and that certain lines do carry recessively for tricolor.
Because these lines are limited, the chances of producing them within a litter are very small.
Tricolor Boston Terriers are distinguished by their pointed eye brows, cheeks, and coloring dividing the
socks and the color on the legs. There have been only 3 documented tricolor Boston Terriers to date, two
brown, rust, and white female and one black, rust, and white female, all three being from different breeder
in which none of the sires and dams of said tricolor Bostons were related. Documentation of two of these
Boston Terriers suggests that they were not born tricolor, but developed the points at an older age.
Boston Terrier. Boston Terriers with points are known to be possible in purebred Bostons because old
standards for shows dating back before the turn of the 20th century, when the Boston Terrier was still
being developed, were listed within the standard as a disqualification. The fact that they were listed proved
that they did exist at one time within the breed and that certain lines do carry recessively for tricolor.
Because these lines are limited, the chances of producing them within a litter are very small.
Tricolor Boston Terriers are distinguished by their pointed eye brows, cheeks, and coloring dividing the
socks and the color on the legs. There have been only 3 documented tricolor Boston Terriers to date, two
brown, rust, and white female and one black, rust, and white female, all three being from different breeder
in which none of the sires and dams of said tricolor Bostons were related. Documentation of two of these
Boston Terriers suggests that they were not born tricolor, but developed the points at an older age.
| Tri-Color Genetically Known As: atat |
- It has been stated that Boston Terriers with a predominance of white have a higher incidence of being
deaf. This was stated with no scientific evidence. Of all the splash Boston Terriers that have been BAER
tested and results shared with the public for documentation, not one has come back as being deaf, neither
bilaterally or unilaterally. It is possible that Boston Terriers with lack of pigmentation within the inner ear
canal may have a higher incidence of deafness as reported through research, however, any color Boston
Terrier of any pattern can have this.
deaf. This was stated with no scientific evidence. Of all the splash Boston Terriers that have been BAER
tested and results shared with the public for documentation, not one has come back as being deaf, neither
bilaterally or unilaterally. It is possible that Boston Terriers with lack of pigmentation within the inner ear
canal may have a higher incidence of deafness as reported through research, however, any color Boston
Terrier of any pattern can have this.
| ***Important Facts To Note Splash/TriColor Boston Terriers*** |
| I am ready to move onto Lesson #9: Blue Eyes/Mismarks Please Take Me To Lesson #9 Please Take Me To Color Home |
