The pathway that determines skin pigmentation in dogs is governed by two unlinked genes ( I and II). While gene I determines the type of pigment, gene II is responsible for its deposition in skin cells. Allele P (gene I) results in a black pigment; whereas, p produces a brown pigment. While allele Q (gene II) results in the deposition of pigment, q will not allow the same. Alleles P and Q are dominant over p and q ,