The T locus
Ticking is a dominant mutation that puts flecks of colour into areas made white by the white‑spotting (S) series. Ticked (T/T) is incompletely dominant to non‑ticked (t/t).
From a few spots to roan
Ticking runs through many degrees, from just a few large spots to very heavy ticking that reads almost as roan, similar to an Australian Cattle Dog. Ticking is dominant over clear white markings, so breeding a ticked dog to a clear‑white mate gives a mix — some pups ticked, some not. Breed two ticked dogs together and the whole litter will be ticked.
Predict it from the newborn nose
You can tell whether a puppy will tick as an adult by looking at its nose at birth. A pup born with a solid, fully pigmented nose leather will be a ticked adult.
Ticking develops with age
Ticking is not fully there at birth — it develops over time. A dog that was a clean extreme‑white as a pup can gather more and more spots every year. Finer, denser ticking gives an almost roaned look; larger, sparser spots read as bold flecks on the legs and body.
