Posts Tagged ‘merle’
WFS SILVER FOG
Chocolate Spotted Merle,White Markings, Smooth Coat Chihuahua male.
sire: Tangerine in Chocolate, AKC.
dam: Magnolia II, AKC.
WFS SILVER FOG
WFS SILVER FOG
WFS SILVER FOG
Silver Spotted Merle, White Markings, Smooth Coat Chihuahua male.
Sire: Terbear’s Lil Mr Blue Dolce.
Dam: Ziggies Atomic Lexus, Merle.
WFS Silver Dollar
WFS Silver Dollar
Breeding Merles
Merle Colors
I am going to explain the Merle Gene the best I can for you:
There is no Blue Merle gene or Chocolate (Liver) Merle gene, there is only a Merle Gene. Merle is a dilution gene, it lightens whatever the color coat would have been. The lightening is not spread evenly over the coat, but leaves patches of undiluted color scattered over the dog’s body. Merle gives a mottled or uneven speckled effect. Most breeds with Merle coats also typically have White markings (such as around the neck, under the belly, and on the legs), the White is separate from the Merle.
In addition to altering the base coat color, Merle also modifies eye color and the coloring on the nose and paw pads. The Merle gene can modify the dark pigment in the eyes, changing dark eyes to Blue or part of the eye to Blue. You can also have a solid colored dog with Blue eyes (who is by a Merle) who has no other Merle markings, the Blue eyes are it’s Merle marker. In none of these cases will the dogs vision be affect . Color on the nose and paw pads may be mottled Pink and Black.
A Phantom Merle, is a dog with a very small patch of Merle (sometimes called Cryptic for Merle).
Now if you talk to me you will hear me refer to the Merles as Spotted or Leopard: These are 2 terms that I have came up with on my own, to help people more easily decide what they are looking for. Spotted is a Merle who has a lot of dark big spots on the dog. Leopard is a dog with a lot of small dark spots on them. You can also have a dog with both markings. These 2 terms work with all colors of Merles.
Breeding Merles
When breeding a Merle to a non Merle dog on average 50% of the pups should be Merle. Breeding a Merle to a Merle is not acceptable to most breeders. You should never cross two Merles, as the results of doing so 25% of the litter will come out deaf and or blind (called a mismark – excessive White), 25% solid and 50% Merle. Statistics show that when you cross 2 Merles you get the same amount of normal Merle pups (50%) as not crossing 2 Merles, so why would you ever want to cross 2 Merles and get deaf and blind ones, when the odds of getting viable Merles are the same.
http://www.merletoyschnauzers.com/MerleColors.html
Merle should never be bred to another merle.
The purposeful production of double merle puppies is never ethical.
If you suspect a dog may be a hidden or cryptic merle, it is essential that you have the genetic testing performed to be certain if the pattern is present. A hidden merle is a merle dog who does not exhibit the merle pattern because their coat color does not show the pattern. Merling is not normally shown in red, gold, fawn, or cream coat colors. Cryptic merles are dogs that are the appropriate coat color, but do not show any or very slight merling which causes them to appear as non merles. Breeding a dog to test whether or not he/she is a hidden or cryptic merle is not sufficient, as Chihuahuas often have small litters and may carry colors that would hide the merle pattern in their offspring.
Merle should not be purposefully crossed with colors or patterns that will create hidden merle puppies. This includes sable, cream, ee/recessive red, or brindle. It is important to note that not all adult “hidden merles” will have visual merling as puppies. Intentional breeding of merles to colors and patterns which produce hidden merling greatly increases the risk of unintentional future merle to merle breedings, which is unethical.
Many merle breeds limit the amount of white markings merles exhibit, at this time CCA recommends that we follow this tradition. In keeping with tradition a merle should not be bred into lines that carry piebald (white dogs with spots) or extreme white spotting patterns (dogs that are mostly white with minimal spotting). Merles should be bred to dogs that have up to 33% (1/3) white coats, such as a typical irish markings pattern (typically a white collar, legs and tail tip). This tradition arises from the recognition that the incidence of vision and hearing problems increase when white markings cover the eyes and/or ears. Scientific research has not been completed regarding the merle pattern and white spotting present in a single individual although these patterns have been extensively studied separately. This area of the guidelines may be revised when scientific research has been completed.
The Merle pattern is best shown on a solid black or black and tan pointed dog. Chocolate or blue, with or without tan points, are also another option to use in a breeding program.
When registering puppy colors/patterns be sure to always include the merle markings even if they are just slightly present or are no longer visible.
If genetic testing indicates that a Chihuahua is a hidden merle, its registration should indicate “with merle markings”, although the markings may have never been visible or have faded/muted at the age of registration. The identification of the gene’s presence is the very purpose of testing.
http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/NEW%20TRANSFER/MerleGuidelines1.html
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