Australia has banned the registration of merle Chihuahuas.
Canada Disqualifies merle Chihuahuas from the show ring effective Jan 1st, 2008.
England has banned the registration of merle Chihuahuas.
Germany has banned merle Chihuahuas from breeding and the show ring.
South Africa and Mexico are currently working on similar resolutions.
The KC said: “Coat colour in the
"Merle patterning, patches of lighter colour appearing in the coat, is the result of the M gene in the dog. There are two alleles of this gene: MM (merle) and M+ (non-merle), with merle being dominant to non-merle. In some breeds, the effect of the merle allele (MM) is termed ‘dapple’.
"Unfortunately, the effects of the merle allele (MM) are not confined to coat patterning and we know that there can be an increased risk of impaired hearing and sight associated with it. Many breeds are aware of and have for many years dealt perfectly adequately with avoiding the consequences of these health issues.
"However, because the colour has not hitherto been encountered in the UK in Chihuahuas, and the fact that it is not a natural colour in the breed, the KC’s General Committee has decided as a precautionary move to take a different approach. At the suggestion of the majority of the