Black III (the "D" influence)

Now to another Black influence. This influence follows the previous suit of "B" Blacks and dilute modifiers. In this case, the "D" series is also subject to the forms of Black dilution that can be seen.
Here we have yet another Black coloured dog. The point of me using this dog as an example is not simply because he is black. This dog comes from a breed that we know carries one of the forms of Black dilute. Not red/liver, Great Danes rarely come in chocolate. (I am not even sure that colour is in the purebreed genepool!) So that rules out any form of "b". This dog is actually a potential carrier of "d", our next series of Black dilutes. These dilutes are what are known as 'Blue'. Yes! This is where the unique and beautiful colour blue comes into play - a colour which ranges from dark black to gostly grey. This colouration is often misunderstood and mis-labelled.
So, looking at our dog here, we are focusing on the Black "D" and how it also affects the expression of the black coat colour. As we have discovered that black is dominantly expressed because of the "K" series, we have also learnt that it is expressed through the "B" brown series. It is also expressed through the "D" dilute (blue) series. We have also discovered that the genotype/phenotype for a dominantly black dog, such as our Labrador, is "KK" "BB" "DD". This dog is dominantly black in all three areas. If we have "kk" instead, the black is then affected by the "B" and "D" series. In case of "bb", we will have an expression of brown dilute colouration, but it is the expression of black of a "kk" dog which is most interesting. Now, let's have a look at our Great Dane here. As he has no expression of any form of agouti (tan points, sable, etc) he is "KK". We have also established the Great Dane as a breed does not express "b" Brown colouration, and therefore does not carry it either. This makes the phenotype so far "BB". Lastly, as the Great Dane often comes in dilute Blue of the "d" series, we can estimate that our dog is possibly a carrier of this expression, despite being solid Black. Thus, his phenotype may be "Dd". - Or,  "KK" "BB" Dd".