Appearance

• Brindle is expressed as a series of random stripes of varying width on the dog's body. These stripes are usually black or gray contrasted with red, fawn or isabella (lilac). The pattern is most commonly expressed as a "full body" pattern, although it can occasionally be expressed only on the tan areas (points) on a black and tan dog.
  
  

Genetics

• According to Dr. Sheila Schmutz, the gene for the striped brindle pattern is expressed on the K series of chromosomes. It is caused by a dominant gene, so only one copy of the brindle-causing genetic material is needed for the pattern to be visible. Some brindle "carriers" do exist, however.
  
  

Full Body vs. Points

• The stripes on a dog with full -body brindle markings are usually quite visible. In dogs with brindle markings on their tan points, the visibility of brindle markings varies with the distribution of the tan markings.
  
  

Expression of Brindle Points

• Brindle points can theoretically occur in any breed that allows both black and tan markings and brindle markings. The "trindle" Basenji and the brindle-pointed Cardigan Welsh Corgi are two examples of this kind of marking. According to the Aragorn Welsh Corgi site, brindle points are "identical to the Tan Pointed dogs except that the color within the point areas is the brindle pattern."
  
  

Breed Standards

• Although brindle points may be allowable in many breeds and may be listed as color selections for registration purposes, they are rarely listed in breed standards of perfection. The Cardigan Welsh Corgi breed standard for the American Kennel Club is one such standard.