This is again fascinating-- I'm curious, what happens when breeding merle to tri or merle to sable? Or is this even done? Thanks, Dorothy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peggy" <pmick@xxxxxxxxx> To: "Dorothy Linn" <linnloch@xxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <rthunder@xxxxxxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 5:42 AM Subject: Re: [ SHOWGSD-L ] one more thing about the merles - > Another thing: the merle factor in the Collie is a dominant modifier, > independent of any other color...it is not a simple dilute. It is not > uniformly or predictably expressed, as it would be if it were a simple > dilute. > Peggy > > > Dorothy Linn wrote: > >> Wow, this is fascinating! Always somthing new to learn--- I had also >> read that "livers" in German Shepherd Dogs also had various color-linked >> auto-immune mediated problems. The whole subject of dilutes, including >> merle patterning could fill a book. I wonder what the story is with blue >> Great Danes- they seem relatively healthy--- >> however I have heard that blue Boxers have a myriad of problems. >> Dorothy > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2006. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - URL temporarily deleted due to AOL issues ============================================================================