HISTORY OF THE BLUE MERLE CHIHUAHUA

Blue Merle is a color; nothing more, nothing less. It is not a condition; it is not a freak occurrence. It is a separate gene that controls and determines whether this color is exhibited in an animal.
There have been documented cases of the existence of blue merle colored Chihuahuas for the last fifty years or so.

The color may have in fact been introduced into the Chihuahua breed by crossbreeding with another breed many many years ago. But that introduction of "new blood" all those many years ago is no different by comparison than other "introductions" into the breed during the formative years that affected type of coat resulting in longcoat Chihuahuas. Like almost every other breed, the "Chihuahua" as we know it today did not just happen. It didn't just appear on the scene. It was the results of years and years, generation upon generation, of progressive development and refinement by a group of dedicated breeders.

 Sometime around the middle of the twentieth century, the Chihuahua as we know it today began to take shape. Longcoats as well as smoothcoats; all colors including blue merles and brindles.
Recently, there has been some hysteria and misinformation perpetuated by a small but vocal minority of breeders that oppose breeding and exhibiting Chihuahuas that are blue merle in coloration. They would lead one to believe that the blue merle color is in fact a new occurrence and is the result of recent crossbreeding. Their position is totally lacking in any verifiable and documented evidence. At best is it merely conjecture by these people. At worst, it is a deliberate attempt to mislead. These same individuals go a step further and deliberately misinform the reader about the dangers of breeding blue merles.

For a highly accurate analogy of the pros and cons of breeding blue merle, all one has to do is read the information posted on national breed club websites that embrace the color (such as ASSA, the American Shetland Sheepdog Association). The information posted by the CCA (Chihuahua Club of America) is for the most part inaccurate.

Below are pictures of blue merle Chihuahuas taken 50 years ago.

 

Cream Merle Longcoat	Dilute-factored Cream Merle Longcoat

Merle Sable Longcoat	Merle Sable Smoothcoat

 

Another Merle Longcoat