corbinam
Moderator
Good luck! Though it sounds as if they are both well prepared.
The History of Blue Merle in Shelties
- Thread starter danisgoat
- Start date
ClantyreSheltie
Forums Sage
Sorry I was late on this. No, you can't "dilute" it in a few generations. There are some breeders who won't do sable to merle breedings because they think the merle hides in there somewhere to come back and bite them five generations later.
The Cherden site has a good explanation on the different merle dilutions that exist now and in the past. Merle has evolved through our selection, but it does not just disappear like I think you mean.
Good luck to Dandie and your daughter! Let us know how the presentation goes.
I'm interested in this discussion as it pertains to sable merles and genetics.... because I think sable merle Shelties are just beautiful but they are so rare and hard to find. I'm curious about the history of why this is.
The tough question about merling... is it linked to some negative genes that are bad for the health of the dog? Particularly the sight and hearing. The double merle issue makes me think this might be the case, but I'm probably wrong.
I'm interested in this discussion as it pertains to sable merles and genetics.... because I think sable merle Shelties are just beautiful but they are so rare and hard to find. I'm curious about the history of why this is.
The tough question about merling... is it linked to some negative genes that are bad for the health of the dog? Particularly the sight and hearing. The double merle issue makes me think this might be the case, but I'm probably wrong.
danisgoat
Moderator
They did great! They got a score of 98. Whoo Hoo.....
The judge could not believe that Dandie was only 1 years old. She was so well behaved. Such a good girl.....when she isn't at home
Thanks for the support!
The judge could not believe that Dandie was only 1 years old. She was so well behaved. Such a good girl.....when she isn't at home
Thanks for the support!
ClantyreSheltie
Forums Sage
The sight/hearing problems are related to the merle gene, but not really. Clear?
No, the issues that double merles have is related more to the color than to the gene. You can get the same results with the Piebald gene in extremes (think Dalmatians). When you add the merle gene to the Irish Spotting, white factoring, and piebald genes, you get a lot of white on a dog. I have heard it theorized that if we actually BAER tested these really light colored blue merles, we would have more unilateral deafness than we think.
There is an old wives tale about dogs with white around the ears/eyes being deaf/blind in that ear/eye. We know it is not strictly true, but it can be an indicator of deafness/blindness. This is why we try to maintain colored heads.
take4roll10
Moderator
They did great! They got a score of 98. Whoo Hoo.....
The judge could not believe that Dandie was only 1 years old. She was so well behaved. Such a good girl.....when she isn't at home
Thanks for the support!
I'm glad it went well and yay 98! way to go!
I know what you mean about her being well behaved when she's not at home. Bailey is the master of that!
danisgoat
Moderator
Oh and Rachael....the judge was a Great Dane person.
Thanks to you and this thread, when the judge asked if there were any breeds that you can breed merles to merles, she knew the answer was Great Danes. Thanks so much
That's fine, Michele. She didn't do a lot of merle to merle other than to say the effects that could happen if it was done.
Thanks to you and this thread, when the judge asked if there were any breeds that you can breed merles to merles, she knew the answer was Great Danes. Thanks so much
That's fine, Michele. She didn't do a lot of merle to merle other than to say the effects that could happen if it was done.