The TRUTH about "MERLE" Cocker Spaniels

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The term "Merle Cocker" is actually an oxymoron. A cocker with the merle color pattern is NOT a pure-bred Cocker Spaniel!! NO sporting breed, including the Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel, has ever been merle. This color pattern was originally introduced in the breed by breeding a Cocker Spaniel to some other breed carrying the merle gene. Many "breeders" of merles claim that the color pattern came from a dog named "Rusty Butch." This dog was a BUFF with absolutely NO merle (or even roan) behind him!! So, it is IMPOSSIBLE for this dog to have produced merle puppies! Some will say that it is possible, as it was a "mutation" but this is NOT possible with merle. It can NOT be a mutation; it must be introduced. (See any genetics study to confirm this) The motivating factor behind breeding merles is MONEY.

"Breeders" seeking to have a "rare" color which they could exploit for high profits continue to breed these mixed breed dogs, and pass them off onto unsuspecting buyers as pure-bred cockers. Since these dogs are mixed breeds, they are NOT recognized by the American Kennel Club, (AKC) or the American Spaniel Club (ASC). Therefore, they can NOT be registered. This has NOTHING to do with the AKC or ASC being elitist, or "just not liking the color." The merle pattern can be DEADLY, and brings with it a number of serious health problems. Breeding two merles together can result in puppies born deaf and blind, and often with NO EYES OR EARS!! (This practice is often done ON PURPOSE to increase one's chances of getting more merles that will also produce merles) 

Those who breed pure-bred dogs containing the merle pattern (Australian Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, Collie, etc) must have an extensive knowledge of genetics, and must be VERY cautious with pedigree research, in EVERY single breeding they do in order to avoid these dangerous, and oftentimes DEADLY problems associated with the merle pattern.

"Breeders" who claim to have AKC registered merle puppies have LIED on the AKC litter registration application, and named these merles as ROAN cockers, (roan is a legitimate, recognized cocker color) in order to register them with the AKC. This is a violation of AKC rules, and grounds for AKC suspension. This is also a dishonest practice. Another very sad problem with this lie is that it introduces massive issues for roan Cocker breeders. Merle mixed breeds who are falsely registered as roans are entered into the roan gene pool, and unsuspecting roan breeders end up with these mixes and all the serious health problems in their lines, and have a very difficult time determining where the problem came from.

Please DO NOT buy ANY puppies from anyone who breeds this color! They are doing a terrible disservice to the public, and the WORST thing is what it does to the innocent dogs involved. The ONLY reason for the irresponsible breeding of this color pattern is GREED. (compare prices of these mixed breed "merles" to the prices of less popular colors such as black cockers.) A reputable breeder values ALL their dogs, not just the "rare" ones who turn the most profit!)

So, in summation, this is NOT about color!! It is about deceptive people breeding a KNOWN genetic health DISASTER and  passing them off to the unsuspecting public as "pure-bred," "rare-color" Cocker Spaniels. And the price you pay (financially and emotionally) is usually very high.

This is a highly controversial subject, and we realize that there are some who disagree with us. There is no need to send us rude emails. We will not answer them.

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