Does anyone know anything about merle chihuahuas? The coloribg is abnormal but why, Some sites state that they do NOT breed merle chihuahuas? IS this due to "bad genes".
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merle chihuahuas?
skini
May 02, 2004 10:30 AM
Replies (1)
bmon2004
Oct 29, 2004 09:31 PM
I don't think it's due to bad genes, but I have seen some horribly bred merle chihuahuas (trying to be pawned off for a sick $1500!!), I have also seen beautiful merles selling for an equal or reasonable higher price. The merle gene is like the dapple gene in dachshunds, you don't breed them together. Breeding merle to merle CAN (and probably usually does) result in a mostly or all white puppy, born blind and/or deaf, or hard of hearing/sight, small eyes or born with no eyes (there are probably more problems as well). I know probably a certain percent are lucky and born with no serious problems, but then again why take the risk? I cannot speak for them, but possibly the breeders that obviously state they do not breed merle probably don't want to add to a line that has a danger of producing sick puppies if placed in the wrong hands of another breeder...and those breeders are out there. It would be sad for a puppy to be born with serious health problems just because their breeder wanted to pocket extra cash.
I'm not against the breeding of merles, I love every color of the chihuahua breed...but there are certain colors that should be bred with caution, or more so knowledge of genetics.
I hope that helped!!
