Merle or Dapple Chihuahuas? What is the truth? Natural mutation or hybrids?

[dogs4life]

What do you think of Merle Chihuahuas and all the hype? I'm new to this issue so I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I was reading an article today about Merle genes and how to avoid the congenital defects which are associated with and I came across the Merle Chihuahua. I researched it a bit and found some interesting stuff.

The Merle Chihuahua breeders claim that the Merle pattern is due to a natural mutation and that there is no hybridization evidence to support the anti-Merle Chihuahua movement. They call the anti-merle movement an act of racism which is rooted in bigotry and ignorance. There are some pretty harsh claims and some really colorful websites out there devoted to this issue.

The anti-Merle Chihuahua movement has petitioned the AKC and Chihuahua Club of America to exclude the merle pattern from their registries due to suspected cross-breeding in the Merle Chi pedigree coupled with the known risks of the Merle genes but as far as I can tell, they have not succeeded.

Here are various Kennel Clubs' posted color standards for Chihuahuas as of Dec. 18, 2007:

AKC - American Kennel Club - Chihuahua

Any color-Solid, marked or splashed.

UKC - United Kennel Club: UKC-Recognized Breeds

Chihuahuas may be any color and may be solid colors, sable, brindle, or splashed with spots of color on a solid background.

The Kennel Club (UK) - Chihuahua (Long Coat) Breed Standard - The Kennel Club Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) Breed Standard - The Kennel Club

Any colour or mixture of colours - but never merle (dapple).

Canadian Kennel Club - CKC Breed Standards

A solid colour. Marked-a solid colour with markings of another solid colour(s). Splashed-irregular, patched solid colour on white or white on solid colour. Merle shall disqualify

Australian National Kennel Council - Australian National Kennel Council

Any colour or mixture of colours, except Merle of any combination.

Information from Breed Clubs:

Chihuahua Club of America - Merle Statement AKC Notices


I know there is Merle patterning in many other breeds but I'm just interested in Chihuahua breed in this thread.

Thanks!

Here's some references on Merle Chihuahuas:

Merle coat colour in the Chihuahua - The Kennel Club

...the Kennel Club has decided not to register merle (dapple) Chihuahuas (Smooth or Longcoat) in order to avoid any future possible problems.

From The Cover: Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog -- Clark et al. 103 (5): 1376 -- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences PDF Version

[briarlow]

There's no such thing as hybrid in the Chi. A hybrid is the mixing of two totally different species. This is why it annoys me that crosses these days are classed as hybrids, they're not!!

[dogs4life]

Originally Posted by briarlow

There's no such thing as hybrid in the Chi. A hybrid is the mixing of two totally different species. This is why it annoys me that crosses these days are classed as hybrids, they're not!!

Sorry if terminology annoyed you but the question is still the same. Do you think the merle Chihuahua is a natural mutation of a purebred Chihuahua? OR is the Merle Chihuahua a product of cross-breeding? Since the AKC is still registering Merle Chihuahuas as purebred Chihuahuas, what do you think is happening?

Here are 2 common definitions for hybrid:

1. A hybrid is a cross of 2 different species.

2. A hybrid is a cross of 2 different populations, breeds or sub-species.

FYI

If you want to know more about hybrids and the different types of hybrids, search for interspecific hybrids, intraspecific hybrids and intergeneric hybrids.