Merle
is a very controversial issue in Cockers, and no one seems to know exactly
where it came from.
What we DO know, is that merle cockers are here, have been around
awhile and will probably be
around for some time to come.
The merle cocker isn't just a puppy mill, creative color breeder, or
back-yard breeder concoction anymore.
Merle is in most lines and ALL varieties
of cockers.
Breeders are breeding their merles to champions and champion lined dogs.
Many Show breeders are ignoring the issue as they feel they don't have
to worry about merle showing up in the pedigrees.
These people are very wrong.
All it takes is someone to breed a merle to a show dog
and you will have merles.
AKC is having merle cocker breeders register their merles mostly as
roans. This is detrimental for the roan breeders, and other
colors as merle can often be disgusied in some colors or patterns.
*NOTE
Many Cocker breeders seem to think that all
merles are registered as roans. THEY ARE NOT!
AKC tells breeders to list the merle
as the color it most closely represents. May do register them as
roan.
BUT they are also registered as silver, buff,
tri, and all other colors. NOT JUST ROAN!
YES it affects EVERYONE!
Some ASC members and cocker breeders
are confused, thinking merles and roans are the same thing,
or that merle comes from roan. IT DOES NOT!
It would be hoped that fanciers would know
enough about color genetics in cockers to know this since they ARE breeders.
Your silence is only going to be fuel for the fire that YOU don't
think it needs to be recognized because maybe you don't
really think it's purebred after all and don't care.
THAT is the WRONG move
Whether we like the merles or not, they are here and
in our pedigrees
What we ABSOLUTELY HAVE to do, is to demand that these
merles are listed with AKC AS MERLES!
Contact the parent club, and GET THEIR ATTENTION! This
is not a political issue or a color issue. and we don't want it
to turn into one!!!
This is a HEALTH issue! Cockers already have enough genetic
health problems in the lines without "accidentally"
adding a LETHAL gene to it. If the merle gets into inexperienced/unknowing
hands, you not only have the
lethal gene to deal with but the plethora of other health issues as
well.
This is an ISSUE that
The American
Spaniel Club MUST NOT STICK THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND ABOUT!!
This link is to a letter written by the
past President of the American Spaniel Club
about his views on merle. Please read and
take action!
We HAVE to get the merle listed with AKC as a merle, and
not as some other color.
Contact ASC, AKC, your breed clubs and discuss it! Demand the merle
gets recognized as what it is and roan, tri, buff etc.
Add this button and link to your websites to tell others about the
merle cocker and it's being MISREPRESENTED as a ROAN!
AKC will NOT register these dogs as merle unless ASC ok's it!!
We have spoken with AKC about this on numerous occasions, and merle
owners have sent in photos
of their cockers, and AKC has assured us that is is TIME, and they
are contacting ASC about this.
Keep it up!
Right click on image and save as: notroansign.JPG
Link to http://merleinfo.com/getinvolved.html
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