by Dr Leith Bungey
"Genetics, whether of the dog or Homo sapiens, is never a simple subject that can be simply explained."
(Onstott 1978;ix)
Even a cursory examination of the substantial body of research reported in the literature would indicate, however, that
the decision to not introduce the merle modifier into the chihuahua gene pool in Australia was a simple one.
That is, merle small dogs are not purebred chihuahuas, they are cross-breeds, mongrels, and cannot be registered with the state
canine associations.
The merle gene is in fact a modifying gene (Whitney 1971;192), that is, it genetically alters and lightens dark
coloured coats as well as the pigment in the iris of the eye and the middle ear (Lambert 2004).
GM chihuahuas! While there is considerable uncertainty about the ramifications of genetically modifying foods,
there is ample scientific evidence of the dire consequences of the merle gene in dogs.
Whitney (1971;194) states that to his knowledge, there is no solid white in dogs. Whites include the albino
white, the dark-eyed white and the common white associated with spotting. Whitney (ibid;204) continues "There is one
other white which is definitely different from the others so far discussed. It is found in Norwegian harriers and in collies,
both rough and smooth, and in shetland sheepdogs. This is a white of a semi-lethal nature. When one of these is
crossed with a black-and-tan or tricolour, a curious colour called 'merle' is produced. This white, which almost invariably
weakens the possessor, is a very undesirable character ..."
Willis (1989;275) reports that the association of merle colouration and deafness is well established. In the
homozygous state, the M allele causes rough and smooth collies to be almost white and research has shown that such dogs are usually
deaf and have eye defects.
Dr George Strain, Professor of Neuroscience Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Louisiana State University of
Veterinary Medicine (2004) states that dogs with blue eyes are 50% more likely to be deaf than are dogs with brown or black eyes.
In the dachshund breed, the M allele leads to dappling. The Hanover Veterinary School has maintained a
kennel of dapple dachshunds since 1971. The eyes of eighteen were examined of which nine were MM, five Mm and four mm. All
the normal mm dogs were devoid of eye anomalies while all the MM animals had a series of eye defects. These included the
absence of the Tapetum lucidum, lack of retinal pigment, a rudimentary lens, microphthalmia, microcornea, microcoria and other
more minor conditions. Mm cases also had similar eye problems although less severe in most instances. These researchers
consider that breeding with the merle factor should be restricted to scientific purposes where it might be useful in examining
depigmentary disorders in man such as the Klein-Waardenburg syndrome associated with eye and ear defects (Willis 1989;228/9).
As well as identifying eye and ear problems, the Hanover research revealed impairment of sperm production in both MM
and Mm dogs (ibid;275).
Onstott (1978;237) found that "Merle to merle yields 50% of the progeny merle, 25% black and 25% white. The
whites will be both deaf and blind."
Some breeders claim that as long as merle is not bred to merle, no genetic problems can occur.
Willis, quoted above, is quite categorical, however, in stating that Mm cases DO suffer ear and eye
defects similar to those in the merle to merle (MM) matings. So where a dominant M is mated to a recessive m (Mm), which
recessive we might not even know about, problems DO occur.
A further complication is that Whitney (1971;139) found coat colour modifiers (such as merle) can be dominant but not
show. Willis (1989;70) agrees that some dogs may not even be identified as merles even though genetically they are.
Thus, it is not possible to be absolutely certain that one is NOT breeding merle to merle.
Lambert (2004) established that the rapidity with which merle chihuahuas appeared is highly unlikely to be due to a
single mutation. On ascertaining that the breeders of the first merle chihuahuas also had dachshunds, her group emailed those
breeders. They received not one response.
Dr Strain (2004) confirms "It seems highly unlikely that a NEW spontaneous mutation in the recessive allele in
your breed would produce the same phenotype of the dominant allele. I could not say this as an absolute but in my opinion
the merle has to have been introduced from another breed. Because the merle pattern is dominant, it could not have lain
'silent' for many generations only to reappear fairly recently."
Yes, the merle chihuahua has to be a cross-breed. So in addition to the still-experienced
pomeranian small erect-carried ears, slightly oval eyes, slightly flat skull and harsh coat, or papillon colouring, nose, eyes
and butterfly ears, chihuahua breeders would have dachshund-like or sheltie-like features with which to
contend. Certainly, some of the small merle dogs appearing on various websites have decidedly dachshund-ish or sheltie-ish heads
with long noses and almond shaped eyes.
A local veterinarian has recently brought to my notice that a larger merle dog such as a dachshund, sheltie or
Aussie shepherd crossed with the chihuahua will result in heavier bone. He believes that this additional weight is
highly likely to be detrimental to the stability of particularly patellae, but also other joints, in our
breed.
A further issue is the possible appearance of blue (light) eyes in dark coloured chihuahuas which is not permitted by
the breed standard.
Willis (1989;298) concludes that we can never totally eliminate defects. The rarer an allele becomes, the more
difficult it is to reduce it still further so that a breeder's very success early in his breeding programme makes progress harder and
slower in later years.
He further states "Very rare defects, like some lethals, will be hidden for years, may not even be known about, and
then will come to the surface under an inbreeding progamme."
(ibid;327)
Even with the most judicious of breeding, most of us have witnessed the sudden and unwelcome appearance of defects and
undesirable characteristics we thought we had eliminated - or, indeed, we didn't even know about.
Do chihuahua breeders in Australia want to expand this pool of defects and undesirable characteristics by bringing in
the merle modifier and its various inherent problems?
Certainly, the Germans do not and have banned the merle chihuahua (Lambert 2004) while Italy has banned both the
merle cardigan corgi and the merle collie.
The opinion of the Hanover Veterinary School researchers that breeding with the merle factor should be
restricted to scientific purposes has already been cited above.
Harmer (1975;9) agrees "... it would be better for merle to be a disqualified colour in all breeds."
Australian chihuahua breeders can do no better than to heed Stockman's (1990;44) advice, "Dog breeding
is a tremendous challenge and can be enormously rewarding as a hobby. But there is no place for the irresponsible ... think
before you mate ...".
12 October 2012