Hey -

I probably should have updated this a little while ago - but in GSDs the e-e WAS found to be the cause of the white coat color -which is a essentially a masking gene that affects only the fur, but not the skin - her publication came out in the J.Heredity in September - I think our genetics list updated that shortly after it came out.

For the Kbr though - I hadnt thought about that but I can see that being the case - there have been one or two whites that I know of that have been born with these strange black/grey stripes along their bodies...and no one ever really knew what they were.

As far as I know GSDs do carry for the E, but at the same time - you might be right - it might be something that just disapears over time - I havent the foggiest idea. I have been told that alot of people that have had sable puppies that are born without a mask - but it might be that the E allele controls the coat color the same way the Grey Sable allele does - which is it isnt done changing until the dog is fully mature.

As far as the e-e and black whiskers - as far as I know - you are right - they cant have them. All the white dogs I have ever seen only white whiskers. Yellow labs are the same as well. However - as far as the color along the body - I think there is another gene somewhere controlling the amount of color that ends up shoing up in an e-e coat...some White Shepherds have alot more yellow/biscuit/red than others - and I dont know if that is the cause of what they carry at the Agouti Locus, the Intensity Locus, or some other Locus that just hasnt been found yet.

As far as Polo - I dont think that she has the e-e combination, but it is possible that she is E-E or Em-E, in which case the whiskers would be black, and the mask might disappear...lol...its a big I dunno right there.

That's the beauty of genetics....there are alot of what ifs until we are a little more advanced.

~Cate