Re: [pyrnet] Loss of Pigmentation (was Faults?)

[JGentzel@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/6/01 5:02:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rene1@sprint.ca 
writes:


> Please help me understand. So if this is sometimes a Pyr trait, then why
> would it be considered a fault. Why is it so important? If some can have
> different markings, colors, etc, why can't they have a brown nose. Of course
> we are talking about pure bred Pyr's. Just for my info.


It is a fault, plain and simple.  The fact that it is tolerated more here in 
North America than in France does not change it being a fault.  When we talk 
about color you must sperate the blaireau of the coat from the black around 
the eyes,  and mouth and black on the nose.  All have a very important 
function tot he working dog.  The light colored nose will result in more "Fly 
strikes".  These can be a very nasty problem for a dog.  Some locations are 
worse than others.  The Black around the eyes diminishes glare.  Where do you 
get glare in the field?  Snow.  These are mountain dogs.  The black around 
the lips is associated genetically with the eyes and nose, so all are 
considered together.  In France the color or I should say lack there of is 
not tolerated at all.  It must be black not liver colored as well.  Most of 
us look in the roof of the mouth and on the belly for color.  A black roof of 
the mouth is very desirable, especially in an all white dog.  You don't see 
weak pigment in France in the show, it is not tolerated.  That makes the 
breeders keep the color up and their all white are severely penalized for not 
having it.  A little thing, but if you ever see a working dog with a bloody 
nose from Fly strikes, maybe it would be appreciated a little more.  Now 
before someone points out that even jet black noses can have fly strikes, 
that is certainly acknowledged.  The point is the lighter noses will cause 
the fly to strike quicker.  Once the nose is bloody (black or light), it is 
tough going from that point forward to clear it up and stop it.  

The all white or marked hair in the coat means nothing except here in North 
America there is a connection with all white and poor pigment many times.  I 
was told when I was fairly new in the breed by Frankie Glover of Barqueill 
kennels that the Quibbletown dogs of the past and the dogs she had descended 
from that line had very strong color in both white and marked dogs.  
I suspect where someone really gets in problems is when they have a very 
important stud dog with light pigment and they color the nose to falsify the 
color when it goes in the show ring.  Maybe good for the dogs show career, 
but not so hot for the breed and the many get that inherit that poor color 
genetic problem from its father.  Unfortunately all too common and then we 
wonder about color in whites?

Joe