I see that I have started quite the discussion! It's a good thing... I think lol
I know I have learned alot. I am in the process of tracking down Belle's pedigree. When I got her.... I got a Tri. I STRESSED the fact to the breeder that she would be bred with a Blue Merle. And that is why I wanted a Tri... because I was aware of the complications of Blue and Blue. Sigh.... Well... after contacting someone I had met from another site a few years ago, she and a friend of hers have studied pictures of the pups and came up with this....
Well, one of things that are a possibility is that the pups are CHW piebald blues. One or two could be double merles, but Mindy said that while they are white factored, usually the sight isnt affected like in normal double merles. Like I said, almost have to wait until they get a little bigger and see if any more coloring surfaces...
I would still tend to think that your Belle might just be a cryptic merle after having the sable pup, she could theoretically be a cryptic sable merle. I dont know... Especially without knowing for sure what her parents were, that's the best bet at telling if shes cryptic or not.
I also talked with them both the other night on IM.. and they both really cleared up alot of things for me. One of these ladies has had alot of experience with this same situation. So... the thing to do is just wait and see. I DO know that I will not be breeding Belle and Chopper again. And I am fine with that. I did not get them specifically to breed and make money. They are a part of our family.
Thanks to all who have chimed in and given their advice and knowledge.
A cryptic merle will/can look like a regular sable or tri color (or bi color), so she's definitely a cryptic merle, because those puppies ARE double dilutes. Too much white in the right places for them to be just CHW's. They could be double dilute CHW's.
In other words, your friends came up with the same stuff that's being discussed here.

