I agree with the opinion that it is safer to breed merle chis than to breed
small chis. I have 2 Australian Shepherds (one blue merle and one black tri)
and have done research on genetics and colors. I do not breed them but was
planning to in the beginning. Aussies have 4 colors in their standard: black
tri, red tri, blue merle and red merle. Just like chis (or any other breed
with merle) you should only breed solids with the merles, never merle to merle.
It's that simple.
Even if you have what you think to be a "phantom merle" chi you want to
breed, you should be able to look back only ONE generation to see if one of the
parents of the "phantom" were a merle. Then you would suspect that your chi
could possibly be a merle. Then, of course, you would not want to breed with
another merle. If neither of the parents of your chi were a merle, than there
is no possibility that your dog or bitch is a merle. You have to have a merle
parent to get a merle. It doesn't just pop up in a litter. And if one does
not know the color and marking of the parents of their own dog that they plan
to breed, maybe they shouldn't be breeding in the first place. JMO. NO merle
to merle breedings. That is the only "red flag" you have to worry about with
breeding merles. You can breed a merle to any other color (except "phantom
merle", a dog or bitch with one merle parent) and not have to worry about what
Aussie people call "leathal white" puppies (puppies
that can be deaf, blind and have other major health problems).
Stef
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
In a message dated 2/25/2007 10:14:53 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
breed a small chi. An ethical breeder will know their own limits. But the
main thing here is to make sure that those who don't know any better, do not
get the idea that it is ok for them to just go out and breed a merle....
Marsha
Marsha,
To be honest, it is easier to breed merles than to breed small chis. IMHO.
It is not rocket science. I find genetics a very easy subject to study. The
merle gene is very predictable. One parent has to be merle to get a merle.
Breeding small chis is not so predictable unless you find it ethical to get
c-sections on your bitches. I don't. I prefer large bitches and small dogs.
So to each his own. It just isn't that hard to figure out the genetics. The
merle (good merle) gene variation consists of the Mm. The double merle is MM.
The gene is only dangerous when doubled up. So, no breeding merle to merle.
Easy as pie. You should always know your lines breeding merles or non-merles.
Of course, all other factors one looks at breeding a chi comes into play as
well. The big thing is that there are not so many merles that meet the
standard. Some breeders are getting pretty good looking little pups. They are
getting better all of the time.
So, I am just trying to say that it isn't taboo to breed merles. It is much
more dangerous and unpredictable to breed small chis. That's good you have
experience breeding small chis. I would much rather someone who is looking to
breed start with merles than breeding tiny 3 lbs chis and being stuck with a
bitch that can't free whelp them. Breeding, all in all, is an art and
shouldn't be undertaken lightly regardless of which color or size you are
breeding for.
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