http://sahelhound.com/2008/11/26/more-azawakh-color-genetics/#comment-69

Which, BTW, is the same as the “Straightforward Standard” I proposed in this post.

This is what I couldn’t find, that you wrote:
Re-Rewrite Redux
Color: Any combination of colors is acceptable.

Plenty descriptive enough for me.

KISS regards,

I couldn’t find it, but you wrote:

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That’s long enough a color description for me!
KISS

http://tinyurl.com/5st2q7

Retournez aux moutons: Below are excerpts from UKC’s Color and DQ paragraphs. The DQs are generic, found in almost all breeds, except for the eye color and coat length references. It covers albinism in a very straightforward manner, and eliminates the need to mention eye rim color, nose color, etc. The absence of “some” pigment in eye rims and nose is not albinism. Phenotypes expressing more white will sometimes also present random lack of pigmentation on eye rims and/or nose, and that should not be grounds for a DQ, IMO.

Albinism is actually a genetic defect, an inability to synthesize melanin. It is an autosomal recessive trait and is rare unless some breeder comes along and decides to select breedings based primarily on white, or some such other superficial criteria (unfortunately it happens all too often, witness the German Shepherd breed and kennels “specializing in [undesirable] white GSDs).

UKC Azawakh standard as revised 5/1/2008:

COLOR

The Azawakh comes in varying colors, to include cream to dark red, white, chocolate, brindle, black, grizzle, and parti-color. White markings and dark facial masks are allowed.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Overshot or undershot bite. Yellow (bird of prey) eyes. Albinism. Harsh or long coat. Over or under the prescribed height by more than one inch.

I have a picture of one bred by Ayad ag Intangoum, called Boum. Boum looks to me like he actually has the Platinum (Ivory) allele of the C locus, c(P). That allele causes extreme dilution of red phaemlelanin pigment. He isn’t an albino.

I guess I don’t know how likely albinism is to develop. Is it a real problem to be worth the complexity of including in a standard? How do people differentiate white from albino? Do you just put in Albino as an eliminating fault or do you put in all the symptoms of albinism?

I’d also note that there are requirements elswhere in the standard for a black or brown nose and pigmented eyelids. Those requirements may effectively eliminate albino animals which would have white nose and eyelids since their bodies cannot produce any pigments.

What did I delete?

Your previous suggestion (which you have since deleted), simply, that the color standard includes all colors, is less self contradictory and presents the open criteria for colors that is more consistent with the existing conditions of the aidi in the Sahel. There should be a disqualification for albinism, which carries other genetic defects with it (visual impairment for example).

Always ready to bite controversy in the butt regards,