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Blue eyes?

Discussion in 'Sheltie Colors' started by Phebe*DD, Dec 27, 2009.

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  1. Phebe*DD

    Phebe*DD Forums Enthusiast

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    Is there a genetic reason that blue eyes are only acceptable in blue merles? Or, is it a preference of breeders and judges that made it into the AKC standards?
     
    Phebe*DD, Dec 27, 2009
    Phebe*DD, Dec 27, 2009
    #1
  2. HopeShelties

    HopeShelties Forums Enthusiast

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    It's simply a preference.
     
    HopeShelties, Dec 27, 2009
    HopeShelties, Dec 27, 2009
    #2
  3. Narmowen

    Narmowen Forums Enthusiast

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    It's not just blue merles. It's also bi-blues. It should be acceptable in sable merles but it's not.

    It matters because the merling gene causes the blue eyes. If it's caused by something else, it's against the breed standard (because Shelties don't have the gene that causes blue eyes on their own).
     
    Narmowen, Dec 27, 2009
    Narmowen, Dec 27, 2009
    #3
  4. Phebe*DD

    Phebe*DD Forums Enthusiast

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    Thanks! I've just been wondering about this. Sheltie color and marking genetics seem very complicated to this novice.
     
    Phebe*DD, Dec 28, 2009
    Phebe*DD, Dec 28, 2009
    #4
  5. Calliesmom

    Calliesmom Moderator

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    so a sable with blue eyes would likely be a merle- even if no merling was visible?
    The one time I went into the Petland- they had a tri puppy but the salesperson was telling us about the beautiful rare blue-eyed sable that they had just sold a few weeks ago. I bit my tongue to not tell her that she was an idiot and didn't know what she was talking about- all about selling the puppy and making the money :mad:
     
    Calliesmom, Dec 28, 2009
    Calliesmom, Dec 28, 2009
    #5
  6. Narmowen

    Narmowen Forums Enthusiast

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    Most likely, yeah. The merling dilutes the colors (from black to gray, dark brown to light brown, brown eyes to blue eyes etc), so it's very likely that it was a cryptic merle (which is basically a merle that doesn't look like a merle).
     
    Narmowen, Dec 28, 2009
    Narmowen, Dec 28, 2009
    #6
  7. Bramblerose

    Bramblerose Forums Novice

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    The reason why in AKC blue eyes are limited to blue merles is because of this dog-

    http://www.portmazathe.nl/ped/html/clblinx.html

    Blinx was a tricolour with a blue eye, he was not a merle. He was the grandsire of this dog-

    http://bowlingsite.mcf.com/Imports/Bodachan.html

    CH Bodachan is behind many of our breeds ROM's. As a result it is possible for blue eyes to show up in non-merle litters, very rare but possible. In aussies there is something called the 'blue eyed tri gene', its considered desirable and is bred for. Its basicly the same gene.

    Blinx was bred in the thirties I think, and this gene is still lurking in our breed today, the parent club attempted to breed it out by disallowing it. I personally have never seen it show up, but the oldtimer who told me about it had, and explained thats why blue eyes were not acceptable in AKC. Sables can also express this gene, not just tri's.
     
    Bramblerose, Jan 16, 2010
    Bramblerose, Jan 16, 2010
    #7
  8. rubbish

    rubbish Forums Regular

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    My sable sheltie has one half blue eye.... so does that mean he's merle? Also you can see some of the sclera on this eye (there is a gap between the brown). Is that an eye defect (Collie eye anomaly)?

    http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/000085/Ollie/oeye1.jpg
    http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/000085/Ollie/oeye2.jpg
    http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/000085/Ollie/oeye3.jpg
    http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/000085/Ollie/oeye4.jpg
    http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f150/000085/Ollie/oeye5.jpg
     
    rubbish, Jan 17, 2010
    rubbish, Jan 17, 2010
    #8
  9. Justicemom

    Justicemom Forums Celebrity

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    The techinal term for a two color eye is a heterochromatic iris. It is perfectly normal just a color. It is usually seen in merles. So it is a good chance you sable is really a sable merle. What color are the color of the parents?:smile2:
     
    Justicemom, Jan 17, 2010
    Justicemom, Jan 17, 2010
    #9
  10. Narmowen

    Narmowen Forums Enthusiast

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    That does look like a merled eye.
     
    Narmowen, Jan 17, 2010
    Narmowen, Jan 17, 2010
    #10
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