So excited - soon to be new pup! Another merle chi!

[witherbee]

We are taking a chance on getting a female chihuhua to play with my male (neutered and she will be spayed). We are going to “babysit” her for a week to see if it all works out. I hope it does - she is just SO pretty and is smaller than my guy - he is 10 lbs and she should mature at between 5 and 6 lbs. I’m thinking of calling her Lily if she works out.

Here she is - a blue eyed brown merle:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431760_4472157096346_161887271_n.jpg

And here is my guy:

Key to keeping her will be if he likes her - I don’t want to ruin things for my boy.

[Roxyllsk]

Wow I didn’t know they came in a merle flavor ! Both are really cute pups, good luck !

[GraceLikeRain]

I don’t think it is possible for a 100% purebred chihuahua to carry the M gene but maybe I am misremembering. If I remember correctly, the merle gene was probably introduced via a dachshund and then crossed back with a chi until it regained most of the chi features.

[witherbee]

Grace, I heard it was a dachshund cross over 20 years ago, but there is no color restriction in the breed for merles - I checked with the AKC

http://www.akc.org/breeds/chihuahua/color_markings.cfm
Color
Any color - Solid, marked or splashed.

Merles are specifically mentioned and are allowed.

I am a sucker for a merle, and while I have always rescued my dogs, for these 2 chihuahua’s I have paid a small fee and bought them from a local breeder. I have had many pets in my life, and again, all but these 2 and my corgi have been rescued (even some of my horses are rescues and I have a feral cat colony), so, while I have a bit of guilt about it, I just cannot resist these little merle dogs. I have always wanted a Blue Merle Rough or Smooth Collie, but we are downsizing so these guys fit the bill.

[Epona142]

Did they finally decide to allow merles then? I know a few years ago merles were not an accepted color choice, because indeed it was introduced from another breed some time ago.

However, I still managed to find myself with a merle chi/poodle mix I do so love my Chi and Chi mixes!

[gaitedincali]

Did they finally decide to allow merles then? I know a few years ago merles were not an accepted color choice, because indeed it was introduced from another breed some time ago.

It is definitely looked down upon by the show chi breeders I know. Blue eyes or parti-colored eyes are a serious fault, so you wouldn’t want any mele in your show lines.

Here are the Chi Club’s guidelines for Merle-
http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/breed-info/chihuahuau-breed-standard/merle-guidelines

Merle is usually a sign of a BYB but if someone just wants a pet and the breeder has done all the additional testing…I don’t think it’s a terrible thing.

I have 2 merle chihuahuas, both rescued puppymill dogs.

[Epona142]

My darling was the result of the neighbor’s mini poodle digging into an elderly lady’s yard where her merle chihuahua female was. Sigh!

I helped her rehome the pups and spayed momma

Do love my little Pixie though, even if she was an accident. She looks very Chihuahua but bounces and stands up like a poodle. An interesting pup indeed.

OP - come tell us more about your pups!

[Bicoastal]

[QUOTE=witherbee;6636340]

Here she is - a blue eyed brown merle:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431760_4472157096346_161887271_n.jpg

And here is my guy:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i245/wtryan/Badger%20the%20Chihuahua/Picture_037.jpg[/QUOTE]

Friendly FYI OP- it’s a red or a blue. Not a brown or black/gray. So the girl is a red merle.

No, merles are not permitted within the breed standard. I think the OP first informed me of this in a previous thread when I gah gah-ed over her male. Thus, breeders intentionally selecting for this are likely greeders.

I love the OP’s male. He is gorgeous with his maxed out blue. The girl appears to have much less merle and much more white. I’d get eyes, ears, heart, and even knees -though it’s too soon to tell- examined by a vet during the trial.

Does the greeder test any of that in their breeding stock?

[cowboymom]

I think she and your male are fabulously adorable pups, period. I love my little chi mix and I would love one in a merle even more so I just might be one of those encouraging the GREEDERS in the future. LOL! Gads, I guess diversity is a good thing in people but not in dogs.

[GraceLikeRain]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;6642471]
Gads, I guess diversity is a good thing in people but not in dogs.[/QUOTE]

There is a breed standard for a reason. The merle gene in chihuahuas is associated with blindness, deafness, and sterility. “Diversity” should not come at the cost of putting the potential offspring at risk for medical complications. http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/breed-info/chihuahuau-breed-standard/merle-guidelines

A good breeder:
(a) seeks to create a dog that mentally and physically meets the breed standards (b) is better than both the parents
© has two parents who were fully tested for hips, eyes, heart, or whatever is important for the breed
(d) proves his breeding stock in performance, conformation, or out in the field
(e) has a goal of bettering the breed as a whole
(f) stays on top of health problems in the breed
(g) provides quality nutrition, health care, socialization, etc.

Sometimes a responsible breeder unexpectedly produces a color or size that is not recognized in the breed standard. A good breeder finds out how to prevent that from happening in the future, spays and neuters the affected puppy, and places it in a loving forever home.

Someone who is breeding for color above structure, temperament, and ability is not a quality breeder.

If this is a quality breeder who happened to have an unplanned merle puppy then I don’t think that is reprehensible and I am glad the OP got a unique and cute dog.
OP sorry for the derailing. You have two very cute dogs and I hope that your new female works out and is a good match for your current dog and lifestyle. Only you know whether or not the breeder you are working with is reputable and if you feel confident that they are ethical and aiming to better the breed then I don’t think the opinions of anyone else should stop you from loving and enjoying your two dogs.

[cowboymom]

I admit I haven’t yet delved into the world of chi color genetics though I did with Aussie’s… I can see there is more to it than I knew.

But I’m still not completely against the concept, even if it means the dog isn’t a full chi, as long as it’s healthy-though I realize that is the crux of the matter.

If the color is being brought out by breeders that are taking healthy dogs and creating more healthy dogs, I don’t have a problem with that. Of course I don’t approve of breeding for color above health or not placing the pups responsibly. But I don’t have a problem in the world with a healthy chi mix puppy, breed standard or not.

[cowboymom]

OP, I’m also sorry for the derailing, maybe it would have been best to start another thread on the topic instead of bringing up the controversy in your “cute puppy” thread!

[Griffyn]

The show people are slowly becoming more accepting, I have a friend with a pointed male… lovely coloring and good luck with your puppy

[witherbee]

I don’t mind the controversy and I certainly understand it to a large extent. That said, when I asked these very questions of the University of Florida head of Opthomology at the Small Animal Clinic (Badger, my male chi had been scratched in the eye by one of my cats and tore his cornea - youch!), she told me that it is no more of an issue in a chihuahua than it is in any other breed of dog. Merle is merle and can cause genetic issues in ANY dog (most often blindness or hearing issues), and she said it is not all that common in any of them. Look how many Aussies and Collies are merel as well as “Dappled” Dachshunds etc.

Anyway, I know the breeder and this puppy is 7 months old. I know the pup’s mother as well. The main issue will be whether having her here is disruptive rather than fun for all including her. Will do everything we can to ease her way into this busy household.

Oh, and thanks for correcting me on the terminology for merle colors. I am not as bad as some who ask me if my guy is a catahoula or a dalmation lol!

Thanks for the comments.

[witherbee]

She’s here!

Here is the little red merle chihuahua we have here on trial. Want to make sure my other dogs accept her and are not miserable. So far so good. She is very shy and kind of like a little alien lol, but sweet and more and more of her personality is coming out. She slept curled up to my side last night on top of the covers, with Badger under the covers by my chest. He is a bit put out at times - doesn’t want her to lay ON him, but is fine if she is at least 6 inches away.

She’s not to sure of the cats, and scared of the horses. The corgi is crabby, but she has a sore foot, so hopefully she’ll settle down (she was growling a bit when the 2 chi’s were playing).

I’m calling her “Ruby” - seems to fit her better than “Lily” which was my first choice. The breeder just called her “Blue Eyes”. She was great in the car and good on the leash although she is a bit “deer-like” and I am careful not to let her panic and scoot out of her harness.

Here is some video of her and Badger playing - she makes him look HUGE.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=vb.1056623803&type=2

Pictures http://www.facebook.com/#!/wtryan/photos_stream