Registration Guidelines to be effective September 1, 2010:
Merle Coat Colour Pattern in the Chihuahua (Short and Long Haired)
1. Canadian or foreign born Chihuahuas with the merle coat colour pattern will not be eligible for registration as of September 1, 2010.
2. Chihuahuas which emanate from a parent exhibiting the merle coat colour pattern will not be accepted for registration purposes.
I guess this means cream , fawn and cryptic merles are still eligible for registration as long as they are not visible merles and not registered as merles since it is not an option. This will send the merle Chihuahuas underground. There will be breeders who will be registering their merles as other colors or patterns. Cream and fawn merles that do not exhibit the pattern will be sought after by some Canadians. These hidden merles will still be shown and bred in Canada. I'm sure there are already merle dogs that are not registered as merles and can continue to be bred, registered and shown provided they do not exhibit the pattern.
There are already many breeders who have non merle dogs that are out of a merle parent. These breeders can continue using these non-merle dogs in their breeding programs and the merle bloodline will forever be in Canada. Most of my Canadian Chihuahua breeder friends have non merle dogs out of a merle parent currently in their breeding stock and some of those offspring will be hitting the show ring very soon.
I currently have some Chihuahuas that are not merle patterned but with a merle parent or from the merle bloodlines that will continue in my program. Some already have obtained their Championships.
I'm very thankful for my American friends who will continue with my merle breeding stock and my line will continue. I look forward to seeing what my merles produce in years to come.
Ch.Laud Sienna Merle (a hidden dark eyed fawn merle) will continue to have American babies. Sienna finished her Championship quickly as a 9 month old puppy. I hope to be lucky enough to have a cream or fawn merle to show again someday.
