R002 — Whitehead Patterning

Open for Submissions

R002 is PGL’s research study into head-white (“Whitehead”) pattern cases in poodles — markings concentrated around the head that, like R001’s pattern, aren’t explained by standard commercial coat-color panels. We are collecting the family and phenotype data a future, qualified analysis would need before that question can even be asked properly, the same approach as R001.

As with R001, there is no identified causal gene, locus, or inheritance model for this pattern, and no validated genetic test exists. Nothing here should be read as a claim otherwise.

R002 is open for submissions. If your poodle shows head-white (“Whitehead”) patterning — or you have relatives of a dog that does — you’re welcome to register it for the registry, and you don’t need an invitation. As with R001, well-documented families (littermates, known parents, multi-generation pedigrees) are especially valuable, but a single dog is welcome too, and no existing DNA results are required. PGL researchers review each submission for the registry — participants don’t self-assign study eligibility. See also R001’s study page for the Irish/tuxedo white-spotting study.