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Post by Sarah on Jan 27, 2012 17:13:43 GMT
You would have to be very very up to date on genetics i think to the point you would know exactly what you would get imo
Show prospect.. nope dont agree with it... i mean unless you show your dogs or have shown your dogs and know the breed standard properly (coz seroiusly ive seen some iffy dogs.. and think really i wouldnt show that and i know nothing!!) you wouldnt know a show prospect imo?
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Post by Missy on Jan 27, 2012 19:05:34 GMT
Well I have a merle chihuahua, Penny. In my defense I didn't realize how controversial it was when I bought her, but I know better now at least.
If someone said merles were created by crossing a chi X dachsund (sp?) I would believe it just because of what I see in Penny! She is reaallly long IMO for a chi, has short little legs, and a longer nose. Also, even though she is short she weighs 7-7.5 lbs, so she is outside of the chihuahua weight standard.
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Post by Sarah on Jan 27, 2012 19:33:30 GMT
Ooooo missy she's a cryptic Merle!! You can't see her patterns can you??? How interesting.. Which parent was Merle?
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Post by Missy on Jan 27, 2012 21:34:26 GMT
Actually she has two Merle markings,one on her side and one on her tail. They are a light brown color..They were darker when she was younger. Her mom was the Merle... Her dad is just like Lion in color
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Post by Kristi on Jan 28, 2012 6:51:15 GMT
I have an old dog genetics book. I will have to find the page and scan it, but it is IMPOSSIBLE for the merle color to have just appeared in chihuahuas one day because there was NO dominant gene (M) present in the breed. The book is probably 40 years old or so. It shows the genetic color pattern for all breeds that we have today save a few. Chihuahuas were incapable in their 'pure' gene pool of producing Mm or MM which is required for an expressed merle color.
That said, the LC factor is the exact same - it is a result of breeding out to another breed.
The real controversy over merles lies not in the color itself (it's just an easy argument that they are a cross...), but that it soooo often produces deaf or blind puppies or puppies with other issues. The dogs also seldom are typey-they end up big and kinda oafish. You don't hear about those puppies too often because the breeders just put them down to try to protect their beloved color.
I think now and then I have seen a really pretty merle chi. Maybe two-three times in my life. If someone wants to breed them I am not going to hate them over it but we don't have a problem admitting LC was the result of cross breeding so damnit admit the merle color was lol.
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Post by Sarah on Jan 28, 2012 8:57:35 GMT
I totally agree Kristi!!!!! Even down to the fact that LC are way more chilled put than SC coz of the paps and Pom in them... But that was so long ago it's proper bred out hence why longs still look v typey (if bred properly)
Missy that's interesting!! I read somewhere they should only be bred to a dark colour idk why
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Post by rebhhh on Jan 28, 2012 12:12:27 GMT
thank kristi for that ... what the name of the book ? would like to get it sounds a good read ! x
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Post by brodysmom on Jan 28, 2012 15:18:15 GMT
Well I'll just throw this out there since we're talking crosses and genetics .... I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hair a wire coated chi. I just think that coat type is cool and while it does require maintenance (hand stripping), it doesn't shed! Can you imagine a little wire coated chi with a teensy beard? OMG. I would be first in line.
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