Double merel... almost all white

R

ruckusluvr

Forums Enthusiast
In the hopefully very very distant future when I lose one of my shelties I would like to rescue an almost completely white sheltie. I see them on petfinder often because puppy mills breed them to sell them. they call them "rare!" and of course those puppy mills eventually get raided and all the dogs taken away.

What can I expect to all be wrong with a white sheltie?
I'd assume it would be deaf, and/or blind. Also have allergies and maybe an immune system disorder?
 
why not look for a Color headed white? The are not that uncommon they do have have the health issues associated with a double merle. Also its VERY rare to find a good breeder who will produce this (although there are some merles to merle breedings but it is done by very experienced breeders who have been doing it for over 40 years and maybe once or twice in their breeding careers!) So you odds of finding a reputable breeders is very SLIM!

So besides the possiblity of Deaf/blind sheltie it would come with god knows what other health problems since genetic testing would not be done since its either from a BYB or Puppy Mill...
 
If you're rescuing a double dilute then bless you. I didn't know puppy mills would intentionally breed them...? I wouldn't have thought it was financially viable because many of the pups wouldn't survive long. Blech...things about business I wish I didn't know.

Deafness, blindness - and just about every other health issue can be there (I believe organ problems are another biggie) but having said that I do know people who have adopted, trained and loved dd collies with probably no more issues than any puppy mill rescue.
 
Maybe I do just need to look for a color headed white then.

I hope I could find one is a rescue, because its not AKC standard so i will not support it.
 
Color headed whites are accepted in the UKC standard, and up until 1952 were a part of the AKC standard as well. It was not removed from the AKC standard to better the breed. It was, as I've read while researching, removed because there were a couple top kennels competing against one another, and one wanted to eliminate the competition of another kennel in the ring.
As a color headed white Sheltie should have a color head, they are not typically blind or deaf, considering there should be color around the ears and eyes. Those are things you'll have to watch for though if you choose to get a double merle. They are often blind and/or deaf, and may have neurological issues that aren't visible.
 
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I always wondered why CHD's were not accepted by the AKC and collies are. Never seemed fair to me. Maybe, someday they will accept them again. :yes:
 
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but if you do decide to get a color headed white and go with a breeder rather than rescue, be doubly on the look out for irresponsible ones. I looked into getting a second color headed white as brother/sister for Smoke and boy did I find a lot of people breeding only for the color, with no concern for health or temperament. Not to mention folks wanting a ridiculous amount of money for "flashy" puppies when clearly none of the money was being invested back into the pup's parents :mad:
 
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