quote:

Originally posted by mysterious:

(picture from http://www.laud-dogs.com/merles.html )
That dates back to the early 1900s.


Many colors were introduced into the breed, which is part of what makes them unique. Any color is acceptable. Brindling and other coat patterns did not just fall from the sky. They were introduced the same way merling was and it isn't anything new. Popular colors come and go... when fawns are in demand you'll see a rise in that color. When blues are highly sought after, more of them will be bred etc. Merles seem to be getting more popular lately so you'll be seeing more of them.

A lot of breeds have their own controversies like the white GSDs or harlequin great danes for instance. This is just part of dog breeds in general. There's no point in fighting about it. If you don't like merles, don't have them. I don't understand why anyone would care what color dog someone else likes. I personally don't care for black and tan chihuahuas but I wouldn't judge someone for wanting one, I would just simply pick a different color for myself.

If anyone is worried about health concerns, why not focus on educating people on puppy mills and helping out with shelters/rescues? I have heard of thousands of horrible abuse stories with chihuahuas needing vet care and good homes and basically being tortured and actually have never heard one horror or sad story involving merle chihuahuas.

I applaud your post. Your idea regarding simply keeping away from the pattern if you don't like it is very simplistic - but TRUE! It's really a no-brainer. The merle pattern is in the Chihuahua gene pool. No matter how many want to get rid of it, that will never happen - and I agree that there is no point in arguing the fact. If you don't like chocolate ice cream, don't buy it, don't eat it and don't downgrade those that do. No one is forcing it down your throat and you do have a free will, so use it. Responsible breeders will continue to do the right thing while the puppymillers & BYB will continue to do what they have always done with all colors/patterns. There is no stopping that. Removing the merle from the show ring is not going to remove it from the millers or the gene pool, plus the show ring will have to deal with the hidden merles since there is no way to tell a hidden merle by visual observation. So let's keep the standard as it is - NO CHANGES - and deal with the merles in a competant manner as most ethical breeders do. And another thing - one rarely sees "pets" in the show ring. The same is true with merles - those who can't cut the mustard in the show ring rarely show up there, just as dogs of other colors. And if they do, they don't last long because they get drummed out by the better quality dogs and losing consistently doesn't appeal to a lot of people, so it's really a process of natural selection. EDUCATION is the key. Let's hope that the powers that be will realize that and move forward with the issue. We aren't in the Dark Ages anymore.
Maggie May

Where did he say that? I haven't read it anywhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Tanya:
He said it in Dallas to a large group of CCA members.

I wonder why most of the merle breeder's on this forum remain hidden behind a fake name when they rant and rave? If these people are so proud of what they stand for, why hide?

I don't think most are hiding............I'm not on the "inside circle" of AKC show breeders & I know who most of them are. Just a few here remain a mystery for any length of time.
charly

quote:

Originally posted by Dinky Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by Tanya:
He said it in Dallas to a large group of CCA members.

I wonder why most of the merle breeder's on this forum remain hidden behind a fake name when they rant and rave? If these people are so proud of what they stand for, why hide?

Apparently he didn't say it loudly enough because no one I know heard it, so that's enough for me.
I don't think anyone is hiding behind a fake name either. Anyone who isn't a dimwit can figure out who is who - and sometimes there is a very good reason why one doesn't want their name out there. Since there is no rule against it, why complain? You would be surprised who is on here - and what names they go by. Rant & rave? Since when did expressing an opinion become ranting & raving? A bit over the top, what?
MM

quote:

Originally posted by Dinky Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by Tanya:
He said it in Dallas to a large group of CCA members.

I wonder why most of the merle breeder's on this forum remain hidden behind a fake name when they rant and rave? If these people are so proud of what they stand for, why hide?

Well, aren't you clever Dinky ... ummm NOT!

Merle breeders hiding ... let's see, you mean like me - who posts pictures with my kennel name right on them, or like George and DeAnne? Yeah, we are all "hiding" alright!

You however probably SHOULD post under a fake kennel name; with all the nonsense you post best to keep your true identity a secret!


P.S. Oh, yeah, that dog is a black tri ... riiiiiiiiight.

This is what I don't understand...
If the merle pattern becomes a disqualification in the show ring what will that do?
Merle will still be AKC registered, merle will still be bred by back yard breeders, Puppy millers, etc.
Merle is already in the Gene Pool. There are several merle Champions and pointed & major pointed merles.
To disqualify it will only keep show breeders from the desire to breed the pattern because it can not be shown.
Disqualification will not remove it from the breed, it will just leave it in the hands of the irresponsible breeders who will continue to sell them as "rare" and "exotic". They are not rare, exotic, or unusal. Merle is just a pattern, like brindle for example.
Speaking of Brindle, it is not mentioned in the Old books yet there are brindle Chis all over this country. Where did the Brindle come from?

quote:

I feel it will be like White Dobes,White Boxers, and White Schnauzers.
And you think white is a good color to go with merle?

And those dogs are commonly sold as "rare"
every day.
Do not put words in my mouth please. Just because my dog is SOW or whatever. You do not know me nor do you have the right to judge me just because I have a merle Chi. I am not on this forum to fight and I will not lower myself to the levels I have read here. I do not hide behind a screen name, I have nothing to hide nor am I ashamed of my dog.

I appreciate the offer Oh believe me I DO NOT believe what I read on forums...LOL
I am well aware of "whites" and the possible effects. There are many breeds who intentionally breed for "Hooded" white bodied dogs like Frenchies & Collies, for example. I myself prefer solid colors believe it or not. White, creme, and SOW are my least favorites! I am aware of how the merle pattern should be bred and would not intentionally breed my dog to a girl if I thought for one second it would cause problems. I have not had any problems to date and if the days comes that I do then that will be the end for me! I love my dogs too dearly

quote:

Originally posted by DeAnne:
This is what I don't understand...
If the merle pattern becomes a disqualification in the show ring what will that do?
Merle will still be AKC registered, merle will still be bred by back yard breeders, Puppy millers, etc.
Merle is already in the Gene Pool. There are several merle Champions and pointed & major pointed merles.
To disqualify it will only keep show breeders from the desire to breed the pattern because it can not be shown.
Disqualification will not remove it from the breed, it will just leave it in the hands of the irresponsible breeders who will continue to sell them as "rare" and "exotic". They are not rare, exotic, or unusal. Merle is just a pattern, like brindle for example.
Speaking of Brindle, it is not mentioned in the Old books yet there are brindle Chis all over this country. Where did the Brindle come from?

EXACTLY.

SW CB; ='s excessive white, not excessive piebald, you can have excessive piebalds, but a piebald is SP, SW is excessive white...

Piebalds are 50% color/50% white, but people keep breeding less and less color. So know you have piebalds that are more white than color.

excessive whites are WHITE DOGS, may or maynot have pigment on the dogs nose ears pads.

quote:

Originally posted by Ratlady:

quote:

Originally posted by DeAnne:
This is what I don't understand...
If the merle pattern becomes a disqualification in the show ring what will that do?
Merle will still be AKC registered, merle will still be bred by back yard breeders, Puppy millers, etc.
Merle is already in the Gene Pool. There are several merle Champions and pointed & major pointed merles.
To disqualify it will only keep show breeders from the desire to breed the pattern because it can not be shown.
Disqualification will not remove it from the breed, it will just leave it in the hands of the irresponsible breeders who will continue to sell them as "rare" and "exotic". They are not rare, exotic, or unusal. Merle is just a pattern, like brindle for example.
Speaking of Brindle, it is not mentioned in the Old books yet there are brindle Chis all over this country. Where did the Brindle come from?

EXACTLY.

What so many anti-merle people seem to forget is that DQing the merle WILL NOT KEEP IT OUT OF THE SHOW RING. A phantom does not exhibit merle color or pattern. It can compete as a normally colored dog, so DQ ing the merle won't stop them from being shown at all - that is a stupid concept. 20 years ago, there were no brindles either. When they started to appear, show breeders were up in arms fearing that they would take over the entire country. Their fears have been totally unfounded, as we know. No one has proven where the brindles came from either. But DQing a merle pattern certainly infers that ALL PATTERNS - and not colors - should be DQ'd too.
MM

quote:

Originally posted by Ratlady:

quote:

Originally posted by Dinky Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by Tanya:
He said it in Dallas to a large group of CCA members.

I wonder why most of the merle breeder's on this forum remain hidden behind a fake name when they rant and rave? If these people are so proud of what they stand for, why hide?

Well, aren't you clever Dinky ... ummm NOT!

Merle breeders hiding ... let's see, you mean like me - who posts pictures with my kennel name right on them, or like George and DeAnne? Yeah, we are all "hiding" alright!

You however probably SHOULD post under a fake kennel name; with all the nonsense you post best to keep your true identity a secret!


P.S. Oh, yeah, that dog is a black tri ... riiiiiiiiight.

You don't count goof ball, you act too nutty.

Awwww, poor Dinky ... that was the best you could come up with?

Then again, we have come to expect very little of you and so in that sense you never disappoint!

quote:

Originally posted by Dinky Dog:


You don't count goof ball, you act too nutty.

Hey Dink - you here posting for Glowria while she is otherwise occupied?

Sorry - I shouldn't shorten your name like I am a pal or anything, but I did anyhoo.