Primary Coat Colors Primary Coat Color First, we'll look at the different loci that affect coat color in the Great Dane. In each series, the possible alleles will be listed in terms of dominance, with the more dominant genes at the top, ranging to the most recessive at the bottom. The usual convention is to have the dominant gene capitalized, with recessive genes in lower case letters. While all three do affect coat color in Great Danes, my intention here is to discuss primarily the Black, Harlequin, Mantle, Merle and White colors.
Dogs have two forms of melanin in their coats.
One, eumelanin, is dark. It varies in color due to variations in the protein that forms the framework of the pigment granule. The base form of eumelanin is black. The other pigment, phaeomelanin, ranges from pale cream through shades of yellow, tan and red to mahogany. A is seen in Black, Blue, Merle, Harlequin, and White Great Danes.