Genetics question...kind of

[jakort1]

I was wondering about blue merles (Cardigans) and I seem to remember both Cindy and Debbie both have blues. When breeding blue merles is one parent has to be predominantly black right (I don't know this for certain)? Is the black color on a dog completely black or does the hair have different colored segments (generally). O.K. here's where the real question comes into play I noticed that on Will the black hairs are tipped with auburn. Would this create an odd merle color (not that he is being bred)? Does the color on the end of a hair only remain on the end or can it segregate to the entire length of the hair. I don't know anything about this.

[glencorgi]

To breed blues, one dog must be a black and white with either tan or brindle points and the other must be a blue merle. To get clear blues, one must watch the undercoat, needs to be black, grey, or white. A red undercoat can cast an odd color over the coat. This is NOT the same thing as a red or peach merle though.

What is Will registered as? My guess from his avatar is black & white with brindle points. The description you are giving of his guard hairs almost sounds like a black brindle perhaps. Hard to say though. Exposure to lots of sun, sometimes the food that is fed can cause color changes to a coat. Years past many people in such breeds as Dobermans and others with primarily black dogs would notice a reddish cast come on their dogs' coats when they fed IAMS products. (This was many years ago and a formula change or two ago.)

Hope this answers your question, if not ... continue asking away, I'll try to answer. <G>

Debbie

[fogebotom]

Black brindles, after having produced many, usually do not have points as would regular black and whites. I was told by a long time breeder that to tell b/w puppies from black brindle pups at birth, look under the base of the tail and there should be a brown spot or point. Black brindles will not have that.

Also, black brindle puppies sometimes don't show their "stripes" until they get to 4 weeks or older. My last litter had one male who only had a red spot on his hip until he was almost 6 weeks old then started to stripe more.

Yes, blues may only be bred to b/w's(tan or brindle pointed) per the COE of the CWCCA. Long long discussion on the ramifications of doing otherwise that I won't get into here, but much of it is to do with hidden merles, double dilute and health issues.