Hairlessness

p>General Information: Hairlessness in American Hairless Terriers or Scottish Deerhounds are caused by variations in the SGK3 gene. A dog with a specific variant of the SGK3 gene may exhibit hairlessness, particularly in certain areas of the body, such as the head, back, or legs.

How to Read Your Dog's Test Results for this Genetic Variant:

Two Variants Detected: Dog Likely Hairless

One Variant Detected: Dog Unlikely to Be Hairless, but May Carry the Gene

No Variants Detected: Full Coat, No Hairlessness

Gene / Testing Information: Genetic testing for hairlessness involves screening for mutations in the SGK3 gene, which is associated with this trait. Hairlessness caused by SGK3 is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning a dog must inherit two copies of the variant gene, one from each parent, to exhibit hairlessness. Dogs with only one copy of the variant are carriers and typically do not show hairlessness themselves but can pass the mutation to their offspring. When two carriers are bred, each puppy has a 25% chance of being hairless, a 50% chance of being a carrier, and a 25% chance of being unaffected. Genetic testing allows for informed breeding decisions to select for or against hairlessness in terriers.