RKF banned registration of Chihuahua dogs with merle color

A beautiful long-haired dog runs along the alley of the park. "Lassie, Lassie!" - the children shout while playing with her. But this collie does not look at all like the heroine of the film - she has silver-gray fur with small black spots and red tan marks. Picture two - American prairies, a herd of semi-wild cattle. An animal with shiny blue eyes curls around, irregular black spots are noticeable on its steel gray fur coat - the fur is a little reminiscent of... a hyena (blue merle color). This is a working Australian Shepherd. Because of its unusual eye color, the Indians called it a ghost dog.

Australian Shepherd Blue Merle

The nature of the unusual color

The source of the appearance of such dogs is a strong, expansive merle gene, called epistatic (also responsible for the occurrence of albinism). It modifies or disables another gene responsible for colors.

This gene, as a diluent, dominates in relation to the original shade, causing random lightening of the main color, for example, black. Information about the color of melanocytes, or cells with pigment, is stored on the chromosomes in a region called a locus. The M locus has 2 forms: with partially reduced pigmentation, that is, with lightening of the color - “M” and without affecting the pigment - “m”.

The most common are blue or blue “marbles” (blue merle) - the main color is black, lightening to gray. Border Collies or Australian Shepherds are brown merles. The base color alternates with cream, brown or light brown. Marble areas are not always made up of only two colors (gray and black or cream and brown). Sometimes additional genes cause intermediate shades to appear. This is undesirable in blue merle, but looks attractive in chocolate.

What is double merle

When two individuals with the merle pattern are bred, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of inheriting the gene from both parents. The resulting offspring is called double or homozygous merle. In breeds that have white markings on the head, neck, paws, belly, and tip of the tail (Irish, Collie, Border Collie, Scottish, Australian Shepherds), double marbling is easy to recognize at first glance. They usually only have a few spots. Even the standard marbles of these rocks have a slightly greater white accent than their unmarked siblings (though this is not the rule).

Welsh Corgi Double Merle
Additional information . Ordinary merles are healthy dogs, but “doubles” may have varying degrees of impaired vision and hearing. This is because at double the dose the merle gene causes too much pigment restriction. The structures responsible for hearing and vision are also formed from the same cells as pigment cells.

Character of a small pet

These mini dogs are popular because they have a calm, balanced character. They are even called little philosophers. When Chihuahuas become adults, they behave a little arrogantly, proudly, they do not like to be treated with disrespect. For this they were loved by representatives of the nobility and bohemians.

Another feature of the little dog is his curiosity. These dogs are ready to follow their owner's heels, get under their feet, watching and studying what he is doing. This is due to another quality of character - their selfless devotion. But Chihuahuas are very jealous, the owner is not allowed to pet other animals in their presence, this will cause an attack of aggression.

Breeders have noticed that long-haired individuals are more docile and peaceful. And short-haired cats are obstinate and often aggressive. They especially do not like strangers. In addition to loud barking, the guest may be bitten on the legs.

Is training necessary?

Some owners of these small dogs believe that they do not need to be trained. But every pet needs education. Already at 2-3 months you need to start instilling rules of behavior in your dog. Typically, training consists of teaching basic commands. It is important to teach a Chihuahua puppy to obey all family members, and not just one owner. It is recommended to prohibit him from climbing on the sofa or bed from childhood. These dogs love to nest and will burrow into blankets or clothing.

For show-class pets, learning the correct stance and behavior in the ring will also be required. If desired, the Chihuahua can be taught some tricks. They are intelligent and easy to train, but can sometimes be obstinate. In such situations, it is unacceptable to shout or punish the dog. You only need to act with encouragement, affection and treats.

You need to watch the video on how to raise this miniature pet.

The mystery of the origin of merle color

Despite the fact that dogs share 95% of their genes with wolves, they are very different in both behavior and appearance. The domestication process took place about 15-25 thousand years ago. During this time, many breeds with different coat colors were developed, but the merle color in dogs looks very original. The mystery of why marbled puppies constantly appear in the litter, even if such individuals were not used for mating, has not been fully solved.

The coat color is called "merle" in English, which means "marble" because it resembles the rock of the same name. A similar color has long been known among shepherd dogs. Each marbled dog has a unique patch. This diversity also applies to the eyes. They can be:

• blue;
• one is blue, the other is brown;
• half blue;
• speckled;
• brown.

It all depends on where the patch lands. It looks like they threw paint on an animal. Although the distribution of spots is usually irregular, there are dogs with a symmetrical arrangement of some of them. It looks intriguing when half is black or chocolate and half is marble.

Choosing a puppy

Having decided to buy a Chihuahua, you first need to study it, look at photos of different subspecies, and get acquainted with the reviews of the owners. You need to find out how much the puppy will cost, how to feed it and care for it. It is advisable to contact well-known nurseries, they will guarantee that you will purchase a purebred and healthy dog. In Moscow, Chihuahua puppies cost from 25 to 45 thousand, depending on size and class. Without a good pedigree, a dog can be bought for 10-20 thousand rubles.

Baby

When choosing a puppy, you need to pay attention not to its color. The most important thing is health and temperament. You need to examine the baby and observe his behavior. It is important that the dog is vaccinated, has straight teeth, smooth fur, and clear, clean eyes.

An interesting video about the Chihuahua will help you decide whether to buy this little dog.

The Chihuahua is an ideal pet for elderly people who live alone. She can be kept in a small apartment and not taken outside. This is a devoted friend and companion who will cheer up the owner and brighten up loneliness.

List of genetic problems associated with the M gene

Breeds that have the mutation:

• dachshund;
• Great Dane;
• pug;
• French Bulldog;
• coolie;
• Australian Shepherd;
• long-haired and short-haired Scottish Shepherd;
• corgi cardigan;
• Border Collie;
• leopard dog.

Leopard Hound
When a breeder is not sure whether his pet is a merle, it is recommended to have a test done. Homozygous individuals (MM) are sometimes born:

• with deformity or complete absence of eyes or ears;
• partially or completely deaf (54.6% of MM-homozygotes and 36.8% of MM-heterozygotes were found with hearing problems of varying severity - from mild to complete deafness);
• barren;
• predisposed to eyeball abnormalities (flattened fundus, twilight blindness, risk of developing cataracts).

Important! Deafness has not been found in the Catahoula leopard dog, even in the homozygous system (MM).

Dominant homozygotes arise only from the combination of two individuals - carriers of the M gene. In many European countries, their mating has been banned.

Why is it dangerous to breed such dogs on purpose?

The merle coloration is interesting and unique, which is why the puppies attract a lot of interest from buyers. However, breeders should be aware of the risks associated with inappropriate selection of breeding pairs.

Since the merle gene does not affect red coloration, mating of merle and dark (red) pairs of collies and Scots is avoided - puppies of an undesirable color may be born. Most animals have a black coating on a red background, and only on this are marbled spots visible. Then the red color may seem dirty.

On a note! Among Border Collies and Mudi you can find dogs with pure red, cream or biscuit colors (Golden, Labrador). In their case, the merle color may not appear in the coat, but only in the eye color. Meanwhile, blue eyes in a white or fawn Mudi are a defect - a reason for disqualification.

The dark side of the gene

Sometimes the merle color in dogs is not noticeable, you may not notice the crossing with another merle, but this should not happen, because the merle gene has its own dark side. If you cross a merle with an unmarked individual, statistically half of the puppies will be merle and half will not. Or half the children will be regular merle, a quarter will be standard merle, and a quarter will be double merle. Thus, crossing merles does not increase the chances of producing regular merles, but rather increases the likelihood of producing deaf or blind puppies.

Additional Information . Marbled pit bulls, cocker spaniels, and chihuahuas appeared in America. In these breeds, this coloration is the result of experimental matings (in the case of the Chihuahua, probably with a Sheltie). The Merle Spitz is also bred using a gene mutation. The reason for this practice, unfortunately, is the financial motivation of breeders.

The nuances of owning and training a marbled Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a very small breed. However, the character of the breed’s representatives is not entirely in harmony with the small body dimensions. These are brave and smart dogs that are not afraid of challenges and often face much larger dogs.

Dogs of this breed are usually quite distrustful of strangers, patrolling their territory and loudly warning in case of an intruder. These little ones are very smart, but if you neglect their upbringing, they turn into very barking and disobedient pets. In addition, the merle color of a Chihuahua arouses interest among passers-by, which can frighten the baby. If your friend's anxiety is excessive, it may be best to take a course with a trainer to restore confidence.

Marbled Chihuahua is prohibited

It is better to teach using encouraging methods, using rewards and gratitude. If your pet doesn't do something, you shouldn't use harsh punishments. During the day, 3-5 workouts of 10-15 minutes are introduced. For correctly executed commands, they are given a reward in the form of their favorite food or treat.

Breed traits

Breed traits (on a 5-point scale)

This breed is often compared to the following dog breeds: Pomeranian, Papillon, Miniature Pinscher, Yorkshire Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier.

The effect of the merle gene on the health of Chihuahuas

Representatives of Merle Chihuahuas have recently appeared in some American nurseries. This coloration has never been part of the species' history. According to geneticists, Chihuahuas were given the merle color of a dachshund or sheltie.

In addition to the fact that the breed is susceptible to joint diseases, marbled species, in addition to exotic coloring, also have their own pathologies (even with a single Mm):

• lens dislocation and corneal dystrophy;
• high mortality of newborn puppies;
• high probability of giving birth to crippled puppies (without an eye or ear);
• birth of infertile animals;
• gross anomalies of the sensory organs;
• sperm deficiency.

You should provide your pet with a calm walk without straining the joints, and beware of overheating and cooling. In hot weather, allow yourself to drink more water.

The effect of the merle gene on the pit bull

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier are descended from a common ancestor, the Bulldog. They are bred specifically for fighting. Where did this color come from, what health problems can the merle gene cause, is this a defect in the breed? In the community of American pit bull lovers, they believe that their merle color appeared after crossing with leopard dogs. If an animal has genetic color defects, there may also be abnormalities in the functioning of the nervous system (mental and neurological abnormalities).

In addition to the color white, albinism in animals also affects the color of the iris - hence blue eyes. There are colors that are prohibited for breeding, but popular among dog lovers, for example, a white pit bull with blue eyes.

The Isabella (champagne, lilac) pit bull has shades from blue to light chocolate and fawn with a silver tint. Different lighting makes it possible to admire the nuances.

Marbled pitbull

The genes responsible for the color of a dog's coat are not fully understood (the phenotype is tested rather than the genotype). Therefore, some of the information is only hypotheses, theories designed to explain phenomena observed in culture. Merle-colored animals have long functioned as working dogs, often under difficult conditions—and they do very well.

Care

Chihuahuas live well in any conditions, they are unpretentious. Before the puppy arrives in the house, you will need to prepare a corner for him. It is recommended that such small dogs buy a house in which they can retire. In winter you will need warmer clothes. Food and water bowls, as well as toys, should be appropriate for the size of the small dog.

Hygiene

You can bathe your pet no more than once every 1-2 months. And shorthaired ones are even rarer. Be sure to cover the ears with cotton wool to prevent water from getting into them. After bathing, you need to dry the animal with a towel or hairdryer. Regular care for your dog's ears and eyes is required. They need to be wiped with a special lotion or boiled water. Be sure to remove discharge from the corners of the eyes.

Nails should also be trimmed and teeth cleaned. It is recommended to visit your veterinarian monthly for tartar removal. And the coat is combed with a soft brush every 2-3 days. Long-haired pets can get haircuts or at least trim the hairs in their ears to prevent ticks.

An important point is also toilet training. It is recommended to start taking Chihuahuas outside at the age of 3-4 months, after all vaccinations have been completed. Before this, it is better to teach the puppy to go in a diaper or in a litter tray.

Health

To keep your pet healthy, it is important to get all vaccinations on time. Chihuahuas are susceptible to colds, allergies, urolithiasis, and obesity. They often have problems with the stomach, teeth and respiratory system.

Nutrition

It is important to choose the right food for your pet. This will help avoid urolithiasis and gastrointestinal diseases. These dogs have sensitive digestion, so veterinarians do not recommend feeding Chihuahuas with mixed food or only dry food. Usually “drying” is combined with canned food. It is necessary to choose food according to age, preferably from the super-premium or holistic class.

You need to find out from your veterinarian how much food this dog needs per day. Adult dogs should eat 150-200 g. But this depends on weight. When feeding natural food, the following products are contraindicated:

• raw meat;
• pork, lamb;
• river fish;
• fried food;
• fatty foods;
• milk;
• chocolate;
• legumes;
• nuts;
• bones.