sam kirkland
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jul 2008
Location: East Tenn.
Posts: 855 |
The genetic literature is good reading but like Ron Ganus explained to me a few years ago its common sense and actual experience that helps the most in breeding these leopard dogs. I breed my Chug male that is a merle to my Skye female that is a merle. So far out of multiple matings I have only got one pup that showed double merle characteristics. The trick I have found is knowing how to spot these dogs with double merle characteristics and not breeding them to another merle. Theres always these genetic people that are gonna come back with well if its out of two merles its a double merle even if it doesn,t show it. I am with Ron on this when he says that Bull Pucky. I get some solid black pups out of Chug and Skye. These are not double merles. As far as breeding the merle dogs to solid colors thats fine but I don,t think the chances of getting a pup or two with double merle tendencys is gonna be any less. Another wrench in the genetic theories. A lot of these solid colored dogs have merle parents. According to most genetic literature the offspring off two merles are supposed to be double merles. That would make some of the most sought after dogs that have been bred the most solid colored double merles. Some of these would be Johnny Reb, John Cox,s Cain dog, Birds Bishop, and the list goes on and on. I say breed for ability and use enough common sense to not breed a merle dog with obvious double merle characteristics to another merle but don,t get hung up on that old hogwash that you have to breed a merle dog to a solid colored dog to insure that you will get good genetically sound pups cause it just ain,t so. If you don,t know how to identify these merle dogs with the double merle characteristics then by all means breed to a solid colored dog. This won,t insure your gonna get good sound pups because the merle dog you are breeding to the solid one may be a double merle since you wouldn,t know how to tell the difference. Breeding these merle dogs takes actual experience and common sense to get successful at it to the point that you produce a minimum amount of obvious double merle pups.Also breeding these merle dogs is not something that you can take a written genetic manual and follow instructions and get guaranteed results.If a person is interested and dedicated enough and has good common sense they can successfully breed these leopard dogs with a minimum of pups that will need to be culled at birth. Notice I said a minimum because any breeder that has raised a good number of litters will at times have to cull a pup here and there that has the obvious double merle characteristics. Like I try to stress here we need to be breeding for ability first. If in order to breed that way we need to breed two merles make sure one of them does not display obvious double merle characteristics. Any time anyone is in doubt and would like an opinion on whether a dog is exhibiting obvious double merle characteristics if they will contact me with some pics of the dog showing both sides the head,eyes and nose I will be glad to help.Some people think when breeding two merle dogs people are breeding this way with the goal of getting more merles. I,ve never had that goal and don,t know any other serious breeder that has that goal. I do get a good share of Black and Tans and solid blacks when I breed Chug to Skye,Princess or Little Girl.All these females are merles with no double merle characteristics.Any time I can be of help to anyone that has questions about possibly breeding two dogs they have I will be glad to help any way I can. I just hate to see any beginner breeders grab a genetic book and think they will have all the answers to breeding better leopards cause it ain,t that easy.A better way to learn is to pick the brain of people that are producing good pups consistently. Rex Laker, Dan Minton,Jason Abbott, John McDill and Ron Ganus come immediately to mind and there are several others. I personally think these breeders actual experience will help you a lot more than reading a book.
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Kirkland Kennels, At Stud American Leopard Hound Kirklands Hard Knockin Chug UKC Perf.Sire DNA-P Dedicated to breeding better Leopards and Walkers.
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