02/23/2025
Copied from another breeder
“Do you have a Merle available?” “Hi, I’m looking for a Merle.” “Sorry, it’s not the dog we’re after; we were hoping for a Merle.”
As breeders, we constantly hear this. You think it’s just now and then, but it’s 99% of daily inquiries.
Red or blue Merle’s make up less than 25% of the genetic pool of Australian Shepherds but seem to be the only thing people care about.
When did we as a society stop caring about what makes a good dog a good dog and only care about the color coat they happen to win in the genetic lottery?
Yet everyone focuses on color and encourages unethical breeders to continue to practice. Sometimes, these breeders do unethical pairings, not caring about their dogs or the pups and setting them up for failure.
Instead of asking about the breeding practices, how the puppies are raised and socialized, find out what the breeder does to go above and beyond and if they’re a genuine caring breeder who does all this for love and not money, wanting the best for their dogs so they get homes forever, are a great companion and have the best start possible… focus only on color. Please don’t keep encouraging these less-than-adequate breeders to keep going. The ones that exploit dogs for money, breeding unhealthy dogs that will break your bank and your heart, the ones that have aggression or place the wrong dogs in the wrong homes, whose dogs look nothing like what an Australian Shepherd should, who will charge you more for a Merle because that’s what you’re all clamoring for.
(pictures of my amazing Black Tri’s)