Afghans may be red from two different genetic mechanisms. These are virtually indistinguishable when one looks at red dogs. One genotype which causes red is a ^y at the agouti locus, as demonstrated by Claudia at the right. Because a^y is dominant the other alleles at this locus, one copy is enough to cause this type of red that is called fawn in many breeds. Such red dogs are E/-, a^y/- or E^M/-, a^y/- depending of whether or not they have a mask.

The second genotype which causes a red coat color in Afghans is e/e at the MC1R gene. This may be more rare but we have not tested enough dogs to be sure of this yet. Dogs which are "e/e" can not be brindle or domino, even though they may carry the alleles for these patterns at other genes. They also never have a mask. All of those patterns include black and black pigment can not be produced in dogs that are "e/e" because the mutation in the MC1R gene prevents any eumelanin pigment in hair. However the nose and pads and eye rims of such dogs can still be black because pigmentation at these locations is affected by the B locus or TYRP1 gene.

A black mask only occurs in Afghans that carry at least one E^M allele. It is typical for such dogs to have black ear fringe also. Although a mask is not visible on black or blue Afghans but only on fawn, cream and brindle Afghans, it can occur in dogs of all these colors. Kaschmir, at the left, is cream because he is a dilute red but he has a striking black mask. E^M is the "top dominant" allele in this series.

The A locus is the Agouti Signal Peptide gene (ASIP). There are four common alleles at this locus with a dominance hierarchy of: a^y > a^w > a^t > a. It would appear that only a^y and a^t exist in Afghans.

Dogs which have the genotype a^t/a^t in the presence of other suitable alleles (at least one E or E^M and k/k), are black-and-tan. Tai and his cloned puppy Snuppy who has recently been verified as a true clone, are this coloration. Since they have a black mask they have at least one E^M allele.

Afghans with the a^t/a^t could also be blue-and-tan, black-and-cream, blue-and-cream, or have brindle undersides if the appropriate alleles are present at other genes to alter this pattern.

All Afghans with a solid colored body have at least one a^y allele. Such dogs could be black, blue, brindle, fawn, or cream.

Dogs with a single K allele are black unless they are e/e. Twinkle is an example of a black Afghan. Twinkle's genotype is E^mE but one can not see her black mask against her black coat.

Dogs that are K^br/K^br or K^br/k are brindle (unless they are e/e). The dominance heirarchy is K > K^br > k at this locus. Precious is an example of a full body brindle Afghan pup that is diluted to grey and cream stripes instead of black and fawn.

The gene has been identified and research is currently underway to develop DNA tests to distinguish these alleles.

The D locus has recently been shown to be the melanophilin gene (MLPH). There appears to be more than one d allele. Dogs with a d/d genotype are "born blue". We have only tested a single Afghan that was born blue so far and it did not have the common mutation found in Weimaraners, Great Danes, and Grehounds. Until the other mutations are identified, DNA testing can not be used to detect "born blue" in Afghans.

Cream colored Afghans with no mask, such as Lulu, right can be E/E, E/e, or e/e. The hints of reddish color seen on her ears suggests that her underlying color is red but because her genotype is E/e, we know it is a^y type red and not e/e type red.