What’s up with Sesame? New Allele Found!

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The sesame coat color in Shibas has been a mystery for some time. For years, it was thought to be a result of one red allel and one black and tan allele at the Agouti mocus. (More on that later). But Ay/At dogs rarely bred true sesames.

Then the “agouti”, or “wolf” allele was discovered, and people thought that Aw/At dogs were the key to sesames.

A new study done in Russia in 2021 discovered a new variant of the red allele and called it Ays. It is a shaded red – not as dark as Aw, but darker than Ay. Here is the paper released by the Russian team that did the work on characterizing this new allele: https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/5/222/htm.

UC Davis can test for this new allele in our dogs! https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/agouti-dog

I’ll add more info in a bit – but for now – here is a summary of how the new alleles interact to form the colors in Shibas. (Back and tan Shibas are thought to be ASIP-BBB1. (Recessive black is not found in Shibas). It COULD be that the red sesame (aka-goma) is Ays/At, while the black sesame (kura-goma) is Aw/At. It would be interesting to see if this was the case in Shikoku as well.

Products We Love

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What site would be complete without a link to great products we love?

Art:
Painted Dog Workshop is an Etsy store that sells patches and decals of Nihon Ken. The artist is a Kai owner!


Leashes:
I haven’t found any I like better than Mendota. They are light, strong, soft, flexible, and comfortable to hold. They have both clip and slip styles. Amazon has several. You can also find them at dog shows.
For Shibas, choose the 3/8 inch width. The 1/2 inch is too thick. They come in several colors.

Collars:
For walking, martingale or limited slip collars are a must. Shibas are notorious for backing out of collars, so one that tightens just a little it helpful. For a walking collar, don’t use a snap – they can break, especially as the plastic ages. Get a one-piece collar.
White Pine “Soft Slip” is my favorite brand. They are light, soft, strong, and adjustable. They don’t leave much of a mark on the coat. 12-14 inch works for Shibas. You can also purchase them through Samoyed Rescue! I have several for each dog. Just because.

Harnesses:
Ruffwear makes great outdoor harnesses. The “Web Master” is very secure, and supports the dog if you have to carry them by the harness. The “Hi and Light” or “Front Range” are less confining, but still sturdy and adjustable.

For puppies, I like “Puppia” brand harnesses. They come in a wide variety of patterns, but they seem to be very comfortable. Amazon has a great selection. Shiba puppies would take a small size.


Boarding Kennels:
Canine Comfort Corner in Bothell, WA, is very familiar with Shibas.
Fido’s Farm in Yelm, WA, is a day care and boarding facility. They and are great with all dogs, and the dogs have a great time there! They have quiet kennels for elderly dogs, and herding for herding dogs. Tip – ask for a bath before picking the dog up!

Welcome to Piper’s Creek Shibas

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We are enthusiasts of the native Japanese dogs, and we raise and show Shiba Inus. We started with the breed in 1992, with a pet Shiba.  Then we joined the local Shiba club, made new friends, bought a show quality Shiba from a local breeder, and discovered a whole new world.

We hope this blog helps you discover the Nihon Ken, too! Here you will find information on our Shibas, on all the other Nihon Ken, on local dog activities, and helpful links to other sources. If there is something you would like to see, let us know!