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Date Posted: Tue, Sep 04, 06:02:37am CST
Author: Dan McD.
Author Host/IP: 74-36-148-240.dr01.nwmd.wi.frontiernet.net / 74.36.148.240
Subject: Re: Breeding Merle to Merle
In reply to: perry 's message, "Re: Breeding Merle to Merle" on Tue, Sep 04, 04:40:58am CST

>>>I'm curious, hasn't it been documented that breeding
>>>merles together can produce deaf and/or blind dogs?
>>>
>>>--Bill
>>
>>yes
>Just curious as to anyone that has actually raised or
>witnessed a deaf or blind pup due to a merele to merle
>cross?? I have seen cases where it produced double
>mereles. My understanding a double merele carries the
>albino traits. Correct me if needed. They show extra
>white and lite colored eyes. I have seen several pups
>that were deaf. They were black and tan colored and
>not a result of a merle x merle cross. This has been
>my personal obersavations only.

When Chester and Gracie were bred together to produce Buddy and his siblings, there was one pup in that litter that had a ton of white on it including, at least one all white eye. The pupil of that eye was shaped like an egg rather than being round. That pup was blind out of that eye. I checked it myself. Also, I have had one of those myself. I let all of the pups in a merle to merle cross live long enough to get their eyes open if it is not a large litter. It was one of the white pups that I culled shortly thereafter. Normally, I will cull out the pups that have a lot of white on them right away. This is particularly true if I have a large litter. When the litter is small, I always let the neatest looking one live as long as it does not come up with any defects. I think they are neat to have and look at but, I also understand the problems. In another instance, there was a deft dog that was a black & tan, or so everybody involved thought. After looking that dog over closely, I found good evidence that this dog was in fact a merle dog. I wish I had a picture of the dog to show just how hard it was to see the merle in this dog but this was recently and I don't think the person who raised the dog would appreciate it. He felt bad for not having noticed.
I have not seen nearly the number of litters that the senior members here have seen but out of the few litters that I have seen, there were at least four pups that were blind in one or both eyes. I don't think that it is a big problem in that it is something that is easy to determin and select out for. I do think that is a problem though. I will be making a merle to merle cross within the next year or two. I will be sure to report all that I find with pictures. I think that it would be helpful for those just getting into it.

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