Tasha,
It is possible that Corky's color change may simply be due to coat changes or nutritional issues but when I looked at the pic of Corky standing up, something else occurred to me. There are two kinds of tri in Basenjis, "clear" and "fula". In simple terms, clear tris have clear demarcation between the three colors while "fula" has a tendency to "bleed" or "blend" the black and red areas. Corky's face definately looks like a "clear" but the "bleeding", or mixing of tan and black on the back of the legs and breeches, may indicate the presence of the "fula" gene. "Fula" is simply a color variation and there is nothing "wrong" with it. It is not connected to brindle.
lvoss, tanza, quercus…comments or thoughts?
Tasha,
It is possible that Corky's color change may simply be due to coat changes or nutritional issues but when I looked at the pic of Corky standing up, something else occurred to me. There are two kinds of tri in Basenjis, "clear" and "fula". In simple terms, clear tris have clear demarcation between the three colors while "fula" has a tendency to "bleed" or "blend" the black and red areas. Corky's face definately looks like a "clear" but the "bleeding", or mixing of tan and black on the back of the legs and breeches, may indicate the presence of the "fula" gene. "Fula" is simply a color variation and there is nothing "wrong" with it. It is not connected to brindle.lvoss, tanza, quercus…comments or thoughts?
Thanks Yodel!!!
That is awesome information and makes total sense because I knew there was something different about the blending of colors on his legs. I didn't think it was trindle but I wasn't sure if there was a name for it.
interesting!
When I changed my guys from Natural Balance to EVO I noticed that Caesar (red)'s coat became extremely thick. He has never been a shiny dog, but his color seemed more intense and his fur felt great!
interesting!
When I changed my guys from Natural Balance to EVO I noticed that Caesar (red)'s coat became extremely thick. He has never been a shiny dog, but his color seemed more intense and his fur felt great!
That rings true with us too. The boys are softer, smoother and shinier than ever. I love it!!! They are also sleeker in build which makes them look so hansom. 
I haven't looked at the pics yet, but yes, my first thought was bleeding of colors. Lots, and lots of tris have color bleeding, particularly around the legs…and to a lesser amount in the face. It seems to increase with each year of age...has been my experience.
I will go check the pics....
Tasha,
It is possible that Corky's color change may simply be due to coat changes or nutritional issues but when I looked at the pic of Corky standing up, something else occurred to me. There are two kinds of tri in Basenjis, "clear" and "fula". In simple terms, clear tris have clear demarcation between the three colors while "fula" has a tendency to "bleed" or "blend" the black and red areas. Corky's face definately looks like a "clear" but the "bleeding", or mixing of tan and black on the back of the legs and breeches, may indicate the presence of the "fula" gene. "Fula" is simply a color variation and there is nothing "wrong" with it. It is not connected to brindle.lvoss, tanza, quercus…comments or thoughts?
I don't think by looking at the pictures that this is Fula either…. depending on the amount of white, you can see "bleeding also"... but again, you would see this from birth (or at least from 5wks on)... and they would not change to a Fula at 3... hearing that the food has changed.. I would again guess this is just a heavy blowing of coat and can take a month or more to shed out... and usually will start with the legs, especially the breeches...
Saw the pics…...I think it is just an unusual variation of tri color. With the tan extending very high. But Fula is just a variation of tri also, yes?
I think it may be related to blowing coat...but my guess is that this dog will always have some bleeding as an adult.
Definitely, DEFINITELY not a brindle or trindle. That ALWAYS involves stripes
And yes...the rule of thumb for all Basenjidom is once a month, regardless of what your vet says. Even with testing once a month, a dog can spill sugar on the day of testing in, say, October, and then be clear on the day of testing in November, and then spilling again on testing day in December...so some people test several days in a row each month. The longer you delay the discovery,the more damage can be done to the kidneys.
I haven't looked at the pics yet, but yes, my first thought was bleeding of colors. Lots, and lots of tris have color bleeding, particularly around the legs…and to a lesser amount in the face. It seems to increase with each year of age...has been my experience.
I will go check the pics....
Agreed Andrea…. and not link to a Fula.... and so much more noticeable with blowing coat.. I know that my Mickii (tri) does that... long stringy different colored hairs on her hind legs... LOL... she runs when she sees me coming with the stripping knife!
Saw the pics…...I think it is just an unusual variation of tri color. With the tan extending very high. But Fula is just a variation of tri also, yes?
I think it may be related to blowing coat...but my guess is that this dog will always have some bleeding as an adult.
Definitely, DEFINITELY not a brindle or trindle. That ALWAYS involves stripes
And yes...the rule of thumb for all Basenjidom is once a month, regardless of what your vet says. Even with testing once a month, a dog can spill sugar on the day of testing in, say, October, and then be clear on the day of testing in November, and then spilling again on testing day in December...so some people test several days in a row each month. The longer you delay the discovery,the more damage can be done to the kidneys.
I know that when Parry discovered Jaadii spilling he was stripping 3 and 4 days in a row, because he just started, one day, nothing, next it showed spilling… Same with Eunice with Tiger Pete... and he started spilling at 2 1/2
And also you are always welcome to email or call Dr. Gonto... as is your Vet.. in fact he encourages it...
"Fula" tri puppies normally do not show any, or very minimal, blending of red and black hairs. The blending or "bleeding" progresses as the dog ages. Some "fulas" have minimal blending (noticable only on very close inspection) and others can end up "salt and pepper" like a Schnauzer. Corky lacks the black cheek bar which would be a definative indicator of the "fula" gene though so I'm leaning towards him not being one. Puzzling to be sure.
OK, here he is. It's not a great shot. I probably should have taken it outside. But, you all know how hard it is to get a basenji to strike a pose outside. 
This isn't even much of a pose. He was in the middle of showing me his belly.
Robyn, the tris in the line I am most familiar with are definitely not Fula, and they definitely were very clear as puppies and have had some bleeding as they age. I wasn't sure if you meant that Fulas are the only ones that bleed as they age?
I was looking at Ivy tonight in really good light….she is going to be seven this year..wow! She has a little sprinkling of tan hairs around her eyes...and definitely some bleeding around her britches. She has never had one of these crazy blow outs that some tris have..though. I have seen some tris that looked positively wooley and gray during their coat change.
I am leaning towards him not being a Fula either...it kind of seems like his black is just not very full in coverage? It doesn't extend down the legs and under the belly like is typical.
OK, here he is. It's not a great shot. I probably should have taken it outside. But, you all know how hard it is to get a basenji to strike a pose outside.
This is classic "blowing coat"…. give it a while, it will be back to "black"....
All that brown you see under the black body hair is the undercoat… and will all shed out...
OK, here he is. It's not a great shot. I probably should have taken it outside. But, you all know how hard it is to get a basenji to strike a pose outside.
So, has he had the lighter color undercoat since you have had him? Or did this develop recently? If it developed recently, I am going to say he is blowing coat. He looks like a pretty typical tri to me
His undercoat was always that color.
Any ideas on the color between his ears?
BTW, Thanks! You guys are awesome basenji detectives!!! 
His undercoat was always that color.
Any ideas on the color between his ears?
BTW, Thanks! You guys are awesome basenji detectives!!!
Fairly normal..part of the bleeding of the red. It might be fun to have him DNA tested to see if he is genetically what we are guessing he is…
And looks like some bleeding of the red around his eyes also… and if that was the color of the undercoat since you had him... I think you are just seeing more of it now because he is blowing coat....
I have noticed when viewing pics of member basenjis that the white parts of their body is pure white. Lillie is tri and the white parts of her body…her belly and her front and back legs have spots (freckles). I think it's adorable as I will never forget my friend telling me (when I was about 10 yrs old) that "freckles are a sign of beauty". That describes Lillie...beautiful!:)
Jodie
Kristii who is red is covered in "freckles"… depends on their pigment of course she is Tri Factored... and Mickii (Tri) has them too... I don't have any pure for reds, so can't say about that, all mine (4) are Tri or Tri factored...
