Download click here - Merle Cockers

NOTE: XXXXXXXX has been breeding and showing border collies for 16 years, breeding and training
animals for over 50 years. and is pretty knowledgable in merle genetics with her breed
k9coatgenetics wrote:
Greetings to the group! I'm XXXXXXXXXX
Q: First thank you so much for joining us this evening. I have a few questions
that seem to keep popping up in most conversations about merles
1. If a dog does not have a merle parent can the animal inherit any merle
genes? What if there is several merles in the pedigree but the litter in
question has no merles parents? If you have one or two merles in a five generation
pedigree are the resulting litters tainted by the merle gene forever?
2. How many health issues are you aware of in only merle to non merle
litters?
3. Are you comfortable breeding merles? Can they be safely bred and under
what circumstances?
4. and the question I really want to ask HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO IDENTIFY
MERLES on AKC papers, within pedigrees and does proper identifications make it
less likely there will be confusion and/or health issues later? In our breed
no merle can be identified and is registered as another color
Thank you again
XXXXXX
A: Hi XXXXXX,
Thank you for having me!
In my years of breeding merles, one must have a merle parent to produce the merle coat pattern. This
includes the Phantom or Cryptic merle which is a merle even though it appears to be a solid. There just isn't
a recessive merle gene, ever... don't worry about them in your pedigree.
There are health issues associated with the merle gene, but it must be merle to have those problems.
Some of these problems include deafness, eye problems ( MM or double merles) several other as well. Skin
problems, lowered immunity.
I'm very comfortable breeding merles.
It is very important to identify a merle as such on the registration papers.
Q: Hi XXXXX..Welcome to the list..and thanks for sharing your views and information on the merle color...I
am sure this will be very educational as well as interesting!! Glad to have you!
A: Hi XXXXX,
Merle is a very misunderstood pattern. If bred corrrectly it is safe to breed. It is a incomplete dominant gene
and so you should never bred two merles together. There is new information available for the merle gene.
The following link will help shed some light on it.
http://www.vita-tech.com/diseasesinseason_profile.cfm
Q: Hi XXXXX,
since I have no interest ever breeding merles, my only question is, how
would it affect my litter if merles were in the pedigree. I would not
breed to a merle but what about if a grandparent unbeknownst to me were
merl?. Would the negative aspects we associate with merles carry over to
my litter or do the drop off immediately if the pattern is broken by
using two dogs that do not SHOW the merle pattern?
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions on this list,
XXXXX
A: You shouldn't have problems even if there are merle in the background. It just doesn't work that way. It
doesn't weaken anything down the line unless there are other issues that would be regular problems anyway.
Q: How can there not be a recessive gene "ever"? What scientific tests
are available to confirm this statement?
XXXXX
A: There's so much new research on genetics and DNA testing is certainly going to help us breeders. They
have found markers for the merle gene.
Q: If that is the case, then how can cocker breeders go about testing
with some degree of accuracy for the merle gene other than just
looking at pedigrees and hoping someone correctly identified merle in
one of the dogs in that pedigree? What company is doing such testing?
XXXXX
A: http://www.vita-tech.com/diseasesinseason_profile.cfm Here's a link with additonal info regarding the
merle gene. There are several companies doing the DNA research. You can put a search and locate several
companies.
It can be costly however.
Q: Related question to what XXXXX posted doesn't the merle gene stop
totally when you no longer have the pattern? So a tri dog having a
merle great grandparent for example and is not merle would not show
the merle gene in a DNA test?? That tri dog cannot never produce merle
unless bred to a merle like any other cocker correct?
A: That's correct unless of course it a cryptic, but if in doubt, just be sure to breed the dog to a solid the first
time you bred it and if no merles are produced then you know the dog in question isn't a merle.
I've kept many solid pups out of a merle litter and never have a produced merle pups out of them.
Q:Hi XXXXX
I'm sure every one is wondering how you spot a merle that appear to be
solid?
XXXXX
A: It can be difficult to an untrained eye. In Aussies that have their tail docked, the merle spot can be cut off
and never seen! In my experience there is always a spot of merle albeit just a few hairs at times. Also,
marbled eyes with blue flecks in them or a sky blue eye as well. A sure fire way to know if your dog is merle is
to breed it! If merles are produced you have a merle. A merle will always produce merle in the litter.
Q:Hi XXXXX
Can you explain that a little more? Will all the puppies in a breeding
with one merle and one non merle all be merle, or will only some or
one in each litter be merle?
XXXXX
A: I just produced two litters of merle this summer. The first litter was 5 puppies, 4 merles and one solid. The
second litter was 4 merles! It isn't always a 50 % amount of merles in a solid to merle mating. I've also had
a litter of 7 puppies and there was only one merle pup.
Q: How do you know for sure that the solid is not cryptic?
XXXXX
A: I checked him over throughly and he didn't have marbled eyes or any thing that would make me think he'd
be a cryptic. No weird spots or differnet colored hairs. He was a abeautiful chocolate out of a choclate dam
and chocolate merle sire. the entire litter was chocolate due to both parents being chocolate, even though
one parent was merle.
Q: XXXXX, Please tell me if I am understanding this correctly...a cryptic IS considered a merle right? Correct
me if I am wrong, but what I think you are saying is..a merle bred to a solid (cryptic) is actually breeding a
merle to a merle right? This breeding could produce health problems correct? So how is one to know if it is
so hard to recognize a solid as a cryptic? This is were I have problems dealing with the merle Cocker
breeding..because they are not correctly identified in color when they are registered through AKC....so a
"dishonest" breeder could pass one off as a solid right? However, the cyptic would have to be bred back to a
merle to produce it..but by chance what if you were to unfortunately end up with two cryptics and bred them
thinking they were both solids? Am I correct in sayhing that this could very easily happen since the pups
colors aren't being registered correctly ? Thanks, XXXXX
A:XXXXX,
Yes, a cryptic is a merle and breeding it to another merle is going to more than likely produce puppies with
major health issues due to the Lethal Gene of the double merle.
One thing everyone must understand is a true cryptic is very rare indeed and is shouldn't be that much of a
concern to you. Don't think they are common, they aren't.
it wouldn't be easy to do.
Breeders need to do their homework and check out some of the Aussies sites. They have lots of excellent
info regarding merle. It is more of a problem in the Aussies due to people common practice of merle to merle
breedings done ALOT in the breed.
Q; In this case if you knew you had merle in the pedigree but had a
doubt if a puppy was a cryptic rather than use the expensive DNA test
you could breed him and if you did not have any merles then he is not
a cryptic and the merle gene stopped. XXXXX that is if I understand you
previous post correctly.
Most cockers from my undertsanding are easy to identify as merles as
young puppies unless they are every open marked. As adults they may
not be so easily identified but as puppies it looks fairly easy to
me. If they have doubts shaving them down would help too as buff
merles have obvious marking s that coat hides. But having them
correctly identified on AKC papers would help
Not using spell check so forgive spelling
A: XXXXX,
you're on the right track...it's all about identifying it or taking the precaution of breeding to a known solid to
gain your answer. Once these things are understood it is easier to accept. I too had so many questions years
ago and didn't have anyone to turn to for answers. I made all the mistakes, but learned so much. Things I will
never forget. being book learned is good, but the books don't always tell you everything. Experience does...it
a hard lesson for sure. That's why I'm more than willing to help where I can ot keep others from making those
same mistakes.
Q: XXXXX,
Do I understand correctly that it is Merle Cockers that you are
breeding? Because all breeds have different problems, some many more
than others judging from the latest studies, I wonder if we are as
breeders truly understand what we are getting ourselves into? I have
said it many times I am only concerned with the quality of life of our
Cocker offsprings not the breeders themselves. If our breed's
patterns/colors are missidentified and there is merle in the DNA that we
do not know of (because they have been misidentified) and cannot see
Merle, is testing DNA going to now be another costly "must do"in order
to keep our gene pool free of other inherited deadly genes?? We have
more than our fair share already.
XXXXX
A:No XXXXX, I'm a border collie breeder, but merle is basically the same in animals. you are correct, each
breed does have it specific issues. Merle does need to be identified in the cockers, no doubt. One differently
needs to be aware if they are breeding a merle or not. From what I understand there is much confusion about
the merle and roan gene in your breed with some breeders of merle registering the merles as roans because
merle isn't accepted by the registry. Is this correct? That would cause real problems for the breed.
I believe DNA is a help, but will cause breeders to play the role of God in the future.
In the border collie breed we now have the brindle pattern cropping up in the past couple of years, which
has never been in our breed, but the parent club did accept it, so it is here to stay I guess.
Q:Thank you so much XXXXX, the confusion is real in our breed that is why I
am so concerned. Our breed is headed into serious trouble if we continue
on as we are. There was years ago a very intense discussion on Sables
being allowed to be registered. To this day I am unaware of any genetic
defect, or lethal gene that the Sable Color carries. Here we are now
with a much greater potential for serious genetic defects if the Merle
Gene isn't identified and how we can do that is our big problem right
now. We have all tried so hard to correct out problems cataracts and bad
temperments and no that we have solved most of those problems to an
extent we face destruction by misidentification of a color/pattern
getting imbedded in our gene pool. The popularity of oddities seems to
have fuel the demand for designer cockers, how sad when we were just
beginning to see the light in some cases. We have many more problems to
face but in my opinion none are as great as this one.
Thank you for being with us and understanding how important it is to
solve our problem and mostly the misidentification we are dealing with..
XXXXX
A:XXXXX,
you welcome! I just hope I have some how helped to bring light to the subjuect of merle.
I would push to have it identified when registering the puppies and get the correct information out there for
people to learn. That is what will fix the problems, education.
It is scarey not to know what to expect and the breeder that are breeding for all the wrong reasons are a
problem in every breed!
Make a point to do your homework and go to other dog sites and learn about the genetics if you don't
understand. Sometimes it can really help to look at other breeds and put two and two together to gain useful
information that will help your breed. it is work, but worth it!
A: XXXXX,
I'm a border collie breeder, but have breeding experience in cats, horses & rodents.
I'm with you on the fact the merle would need to be identified by the registry. It wouldbe a mass of
confusion if that isn't done. You know as well as I now tha the merle is in your breed it would be near
impossible to remove it totally due to puppy millers and those consuned with producing just a color or pattern
for making money of it.
As long as breeders are informed about the genetics of what they breeding it shouldn't pose a problem if
responsible. It's all about doing the right thing and learning from your mistakes.
For one thing, no breed is free of deadly diseases and we learn to breed around those things and do our
best to control it. That is our responsiblity, not the registry. The future of any dog breed is in the hands of the
breeders.
Q: Hi XXXXX,
Thanks for coming on tonight to answer our questions. Would you please let
us know if you have seen any unusual health issues in your regular (Mm)
merle dogs?
Thanks,
XXXXX
A:A double melel, MM, or Lethal White is the result of being to merle parents together and yes, there can be
problems associated with deafness, eye sight problems, in rare cases puppies born with out eye balls.
Lowered immunity, skin problems...but you can take a double merle and bred it back to a solid. The result
would be an all merle litter with no problems. The puppies would be healthy! It's the Lethal Whites that really
will have all the problems.
Q:XXXXX you wrote
. This includes the Phantom or Cryptic merle which is a merle
even though it appears to be a solid. There just isn't a recessive merle
gene,
ever... don't worry about them in your pedigree.
It has been asked on this list about what if you had a cryptic merle a male
for discussion purposes and he sired only cryptic merles would it not be
possible for breeders to not know they had merles for generations?
It seems some of the cocker colors black/tans, buffs and the sable pattern
hide the merle pattern as the dog ages. Is this the same as a cryptic?
And in regards to health issues are Mm breedings safe? If not do you know
the % of affected puppies born to from a single merle parent?
Thank you again
A: Phantom or Cryptic merles always produce regular merle puppies. A true cryptic merle is indeed rare. You
just couldn't have a long line of cryptic merles.
The sable gene can hide a merle which is more likely in the standard collies. But at birth you can still see
the merle spotting, so there shouldn't be a problem until the pup is much older.
There just isn't special problems with breeding a solid to a merle except for you regular issues that would
arise with breeding two solids together. The only thing I have done is breeding a dilute dd blue to amerle that
carried the blue gene as well. I produced a puppy that had skin problems. Merle is a dilutation gene and too
much causes problems. Blue isn't a cocker color is it?
Q: XXXXX,
The dd blue color is a cocker color, but exceedingly rare.
XXXXX
Q: Yes XXXXX we do have the blue but it is extremely rare in cockers. Those that
kept it going have stopped breeding and I am not aware of too many
blue/whites still alive today maybe less than 10.
XXXXX
A: Crossing blue with merle is a gamble if the merle is carry the blue gene as well. In border collies it is done
a lot over seas. Why I don't know...I didn't like the result, but the dd merle is different looking.
A: If the dd blue is rare I wouldn't worry about the merle crossing with it.
Q:Hi XXXXX,
Do you know yet if Dr. Murphy or other researchers have decided for certain
that ALL BREEDS of dogs share the SAME MERLE GENE? If they do how can they
explain how many breeds have not carried the gene for Merle for many generations
and are now suddenly out of the blue having Merle dogs being born? Since you
and others have said the only way you can have a Merle offspring produced is if
one parent was actually a Merle.
Hopefully you or some of the researchers will soon have an answer for us.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to help us all better
understand the merle gene and how it is passed on in a pedigree.
XXXXX
A: Genetics can surprise you, but there is always a reason if you search for it. The merle gene is basically the
same in all animals, but can have differences according the differences in each dog breed. I'm just saying in
my experience of breeding the merle pattern in dogs, cats, rodents & horses it produces basically the same
result.
I have talked with breeders that swear their old dog produced a litter with merle in it and when asked if
there were more merles in additional litters they said no. It just doesn't just pop it then disappear. Perhaps a
merle went visiting...
Q: But can it pop up and STAY? COULD the color have appeared within the breed
as a mutation from a specific dog that has now produced every known merle
within the breed?
OR, is it possible that the merle gene could have remained hidden for a
number of years in a bloodline of red sables? (Which could "hide" merle.)
Or in a line of buffs and silvers? (Which could also "hide" merle.)
Thanks,
XXXXX
A: XXXXX,
it would be nearly impossible for merle to hide that much! Only the blind wouldn't see the effects of the
merle. It doesn't just pop up and rear its head like pop goes the weasle. The dogs for that many generations
would have to be using hair dye ! Even in the sables, it can still be identified at birth. The spotting can't be
mistaken even in a sable or ee red at birth. Were are talking about a whole litter of pups and several merles
that would have to mistaken.
Q:XXXXX It has been wonderful of you to come on and talk to us. If you
have a moment do you really think that it would have been impossible
if it were only say one or a few who did that with very light dogs
in a breed that grows hair to the floor? You may be right I don't
know, I've never seen a buff merle. I don't know if someone in the
past might have had them and thought the long coat would hide it
when they matured. On the other hand, if the paterning were on the
back it would surley show in adulthood.
XXXXX
A: XXXXX, since XXXXX appears to be gone, I'll send this in answer to your
question:
I have several buff and red based merles that do not show merle markings.
One is a buff female that is merle but her only merle characteristic is her
butterfly nose. (Easily over-looked by a breeder or owner as a merle
characteristic.) This female has no merle coat markings. She is out of a
red/white sable merle dam that does not show a merle coat pattern and who
only exhibited minimally visible merle markings on her ears before the age
of 8 weeks. (Again, easily overlooked as slightly darker red spots on the
ears.) The dam is sired by a sable merle that also does not exhibit a
visible merle coat pattern. I have other red based merles that do not
exhibit merle coat markings. I had a litter of 6 red/whites from a red
sable merle bitch and not one shows obvious merle markings - even on the
back. This is another line of three straight generations that do not show
merle coat markings. If these red/buff based merles are also bred to
red/buff based dogs, I believe a line of hidden merles could be continued
indefinitely.
QHi XXXXX,
You said the following:
<Genetics can surprise you, but there is always a reason if you search for it.
The merle gene is basically the same in all animals, but can have differences
according the differences in each dog breed.>
So we should as a breed club probably start having the offspring of these
Merle dogs tested to see what their DNA says about the Merle Gene the Am Cocker
seems to have suddenly acquired out of the blue in the last 25+ years? I
suppose if we do that we should also test those dogs that we KNOW for certain have
never had any of the dogs currently found behind today's Merle dogs to see what
the difference is in each group of dogs DNA??
Hmm, we have had horses for most of my life and don't ever remember reading
or seeing anything about a MERLE horse??
You also said the following:
<I have talked with breeders that swear their old dog produced a litter with
merle in it and when asked if there were more merles in additional litters
they
said no. It just doesn't just pop it then disappear. Perhaps a merle went
visiting...>
Well, this is ONE of the BIGGEST reasons you were asked to join our
discussion list as many feel the same way you do. Some other breed of dog brought in
the Merle gene as we don't appear to have on record any dog that was supposed to
have been a Merle in our breeds history. We also had some concerns about the
health risks associated with the Merle gene.
XXXXX
A:XXXXX,
The dapple in horses is the merle gene.
Honestly, the merle was introduced some way, more than likely an untrustly breeder or by accident. But
does it matter now? Are you going to kill all merles born and their merled parents? That is what you'd have
to...that would take some doing and you know someone is going to produce somewhere out there...it would
be hard to do.
Q:XXXXX, You are right, it would be hard to do, but do you not feel that if a (cocker) breeder has the best
interest of the breed in mind..he/she would not continue to do merle breedings...are at least not register them
as a false color as respect to the pedigrees and serious breeders, until a solution can be made on whether or
not the ASC will ever approve the color for registration? This is just my thoughts...for whatever they may be
worth...LOL!!! Thanks, XXXXX
A: I think the registry needs to be made to accept it if it is going to be bred. It would be better to let the merles
be registered as such or it will hurt the breed as the information will be incorrect for future reference. This
happened to me in dealing with BC's. The BC working dog registry would not make a color standard and now
the breed is a mess as far as trying to keep the color straight. I'm working with other BC breeders worldwide
to try to get a color standard that is correct all over the world for our breed. It is quite a task, but we are still
working on it! Color or pattern information is very important as you all are finding out in dealing with the merle
in your breed.
If your going to breed you should be informed and the record of each breed should be as close to correct
as possible! I'm all for DNA and the advantage of no question about who the parents are...it will all eventually
have to come to that due to those that switch papers or turn in litters with incorrect info.
Q: Thank you XXXXX for your information..you have answered alot of questions for me and I do appreciate
all your knowledge and study on the merle issue as it has been very helpful. XXXXX
A: XXXXX,
I'm glad to be here and shared the merle info. I don;t have all the answers, but experience has hit me over
the head several times! :-) :
Q: Hi XXXXX,
You wrote the following:
<Honestly, the merle was introduced some way, more than likely an untrustly
breeder or by accident. But does it matter now? Are you going to kill all
merles born and their merled parents? That is what you'd have to...that would
take some doing and you know someone is going to produce somewhere out
there...it would be hard to do.>
Well, you did answer most everyone's question as to how we suddenly have a
MERLE gene in Am Cockers. I am sure many of us already knew that. Now that we
have the benefit of doing DNA testing on the dogs to see if it was brought in
by another breed I suppose at some point they can tell us which one of the
other breeds who carries Merle brought it into our breed?
No, I personally don't think we should kill all the Merle offspring that have
already been born or who may be born in the future. We would all just like to
be able to KNOW that the dogs in a pedigree are the colors that AKC says they
are. Right now we have NO CHOICE but to register the dogs as the color they
are closest too as we currently do not have a MERLE color option for our breed.
Right now neither AKC or ASC is ready or willing to make the change so we can
all KNOW for sure that some dogs in a pedigree are actually MERLE and will be
allowed to be registered as Merles.
Personally I have nothing against the MERLE dogs as I think many are very
pretty/flashy dogs. They are also pretty smart.
We just need to agree as a group thru ASC as to how we are going to deal with
this problem so that we can identify those dogs in a pedigree who are
actually MERLE.
I only asked the questions I did because no one else seems to be asking and
this is the BIGGEST thing we have all been arguing about for nearly a year or
more. So figured someone should ask the questions I just asked you.:)
Right, I wasn't thinking of the Dapples or Grays being MERLE horses. :) Not
sure why when they call the Dachshunds Dapples and not merles.
XXXXX
A: XXXXX,
The whole lot of you need to make the parent club address the issue and soon! They need to understand
what a problem it will turn into. Time for a stand Cocker breeders!
Q: XXXXX, It really seems to be a no win situation as if what you said is true..that the merle originated
possibly from a dishonest breeder..then I question the fact that the merle be allowed to be registered as a
pure bred cocker through AKC..however, many cocker breeders that are breeding the merles have continued
to do so..because they want to the merle to be accepted and registered as a true cocker..however, if ASC
does not accept the merle for registration..our breed is only going to get in more trouble...so again.it's a no
win situation in my opinion and it is just my opinion! LOL!!! XXXXX
A: XXXXX,
This is the problem will so many breeds. But the breeds must stand up and voice their opinion to correct the
problem or our little furry babies suffer from it. All breeds are only about 75% pure it seems...it is a fact of life
until all litters are DNA'd to prove they are out of the parents statedon the paperwork.
Q:Hi XXXXX,
You said the following:
<XXXXX,
The whole lot of you need to make the parent club address the issue and soon!
They need to understand what a problem it will turn into. Time for a stand
Cocker breeders!>
Well, THANK YOU for saying that as most of this list has already said this
bug it is soooo much NICER to hear it from someone with ANOTHER breed who
ALREADY has MERLE dogs telling us as a GROUP to DO SOMETHING to CORRECTLY IDENTIFY
the MERLE dogs. SOOO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
Now the question is are we all LISTENING TO YOU?? Are we WILLING to do
whatever it takes to get these dogs REGISTERED CORRECTLY with AKC for the betterment
of our breed in the future????
No, they don't NEED to be allowed to be shown in AKC conformation shows
unless at some later date we can PROVE thru DNA testing that it was an ancient gene
that just appeared as a mutation out of the blue.
XXXXX
A: Right on girlfriend!
Q:So basicly what you are saying is:
1. if a merle is in a pedigree, there are NO lethal genes passed down
through the pedigree, that the lethal gene associated with merle stops
with that merle?
2. The only lethal genes that "come out" are ONLY when 2 merles are bred
together?
So if a pedigree has a merle greatgrandsire on one side and a merle
grandmother on the other side and the offspring from both breedings
were not merle, there is no change on getting the lethal gene?
XXXXX
A:You got it! Lethal is only out of two merle parents, not passed down.
Q:XXXXX a merle is a pattern correct not a color ?
So cocker breeders who register their dogs now are registering the correct
COLOR just the incorrect pattern. The merle pattern is not allowed only sable
and roaning in cockers.
Any person with a small knowledge in cocker pedigrees should be able to look
at the pedigree and know if there is a merle anywhere close. Most show
breeders definitely want to see or know the sire and dam of any litter and if the
sire and dam are not merle then there is no problem.
XXXXX
A:XXXXX,
Merle is a pattern and can be any color, including sable or roan. I wish the AKC would offer a number for a
merle pattern and then another for the correct color. That would be the best way to do it.
I would always want to see he parents to gain the correct knowledge of them and there colors/patterns.
Years ago I purchased a merle pup and as I normally do started to call the people that owned the dogs in
the lineage. Well, low and behold all the dogs were black in the background check. I new this wasn;t right
knowing what I know about merle. Some one was lying...the breeder of the dam of the merle was a merle, no
problem, but when asked what color her parents were..the breeder said black! I spoke with im several more
times and learned his wife also rasied merle Shelties...HELLO!!! There is was the answer...I called the
regsitry and requested DNA be done onthe that breeders dogs...well wouldn't you know it...those dogs both
got hit by a car and had been done away wuth the next day!!! Liar! I neutered the pup and tore up the papers.
I had sepnt $500 on a cross bred...so there you go...
Q:XXXXX, This is exactly the fear I have for the cocker breed..I just do not feel that it is a true bred Am
cocker Spaniel..so it is really hard to accept the registry of such for me..but I am trying to be open??? LOL!!!
XXXXX
A:XXXXX,
As breeders we must keep an open mind and be accepting of things at times. We need to gain info and
ponder it to amke certain of our goals. Bottom line, do the best you can that is all anybody can ask for...
Q: Thanks So much XXXXX!! Come back to visit us soon!!! XXXXX
Q: XXXXX will be leaving at 10pm (CST), so if any of you have any more
questions please send them now.
XXXXX, we all REALLY appreciate you coming on the ShowCockers list and
offering your knowledge and opinions to everyone.
The merle issue is a a very explosive topic in cockers and I think you
have done very well in helping educate some as well as dispel some myths.
Thank you again:-)
XXXXX
A: XXXXX, Thank you for inviting me, every one was so nice and I didn't get eaten up!
I'll have to come back for a visit if that's okay?
XXXXX
QA: All of you have been lovely and I appreciate the wonderful conversation!
Good Luck in your breed and learn all you can!
If I can help further, just ask!
Warmest regards...XXXXX
Q:At this point in time 25 years have past since the appearance of the merle
gene in cockers. AKC isn't going to pull 10,000 dogs papers so we have this
problem and I think we should identify it and educate breeders and the public.
Screaming mutts just doesn't resolve anything now. Thanks for all you help
tonight XXXXX
JMHO
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A:XXXXX
keep on trucking and learn all you can. it all comes out in the wash and sometimes things that seem bad to
us teach important lessons...
Thank you for listening,
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