register for free
View our sister sites
Our sister sites
Our sister sites
Our sister sites
BarkingBill
New Member!
BarkingBill is offline  
Location: West coast of the USA
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
Male 
 
07-08-2017, 06:47 AM

Should I buy a 10 week old Cocker with "Merle" gene?

Hi everyone. This is my first post. I love small to medium dogs, especially poodles. My neighbor told me that a 10 week old Cocker was available for sale in San Francisco and from a registered breeder. So I called and the breeder said the puppy is healthy, ready for purchase, and has the Merle variation or gene and that he was lucky that it was produced. Lucky? (Merle is my Grandmother's name). He said that he makes certain that the puppies mother does not have it and that the father does because it's irresponsible to have both parents have this merle.

This merle gene gave this 10 week old Cocker have different eye colors (one blue, one brown) and a mottled splotchy (beautiful) coat.

Looked at a few webpages and now I'm scared to purchase it. It's really really cute, lovable, active.

He wants an answer with 48 hours or he'll sell the pup to someone else.

I don't want to have a puppy with increased risk of disease or disability.

Anyone here have a dog with merle or a dog with two different eye colors? Anyone here have a dog infected(?) with this merle?

So should I not buy this unusual puppy?
Reply With Quote
Jackie
Dogsey Veteran
Jackie is offline  
Location: UK
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 13,122
Female  Diamond Supporter 
 
13-08-2017, 12:11 PM
I didn`t know cocker spaniels came in "merle".
Reply With Quote
Besoeker
Dogsey Veteran
Besoeker is offline  
Location: Dunstable UK
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,957
Male 
 
16-08-2017, 05:23 AM
Originally Posted by Jackie View Post
I didn`t know cocker spaniels came in "merle".
Nor did I. I thought that was a collie trait.
Reply With Quote
Sue L
Dogsey Veteran
Sue L is offline  
Location: East Sussex
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,082
Female 
 
16-08-2017, 08:29 AM
You only have to look on the internet to see that this is not a colour of a real cocker but has been introduced by so called breeders to make them "rare" and hence more expensive. It would also seem that they can come with health problems.

Buyer beware would be my motto
Reply With Quote
Forgotten
Dogsey Junior
Forgotten is offline  
Location: Heaven
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 63
Female 
 
26-08-2017, 08:36 AM
In my 50 years of owning cocker spaniels, I have never come across a "merle". There is such a mixed type colour known as "roan" but never come across different coloured eyes either.
Reply With Quote
tumbleweed
Dogsey Veteran
tumbleweed is offline  
Location: East sussex
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,818
Male 
 
26-08-2017, 10:07 PM
Quote" Looked at a few webpages and now I'm scared to purchase it" unquote

There is your answer even you think the description is "iffy".

All puppies look adorable and that is the hook breeders use all the time. Best advice if in doubt leave alone.
Sounds to me as if he is a trader more than a breeder.

Many years ago we wanted a particular breed and most breeders we approached said they had no puppies for sale, fair enough. We did get a puppy from a top class well known breed owner who said she didn't have any puppies but if we wanted to she would chat about the breed and give us more insite.
So we went and saw her and after chatting she admitted she had puppies just born but not going to sell to anyone not seriously interested.

To cut a long story short we had a puppy from her and 40 years on we are still in touch with her and do go and see her and now good friends.

That is the kind of breeder you want, not one just selling but in continuous contact many years later
Reply With Quote
Besoeker
Dogsey Veteran
Besoeker is offline  
Location: Dunstable UK
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,957
Male 
 
01-09-2017, 05:32 PM
Caveate emtor comes to mind.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dog abandoned with "free" and "I need a home" scrawled on her Malka Dog News 0 10-07-2014 04:31 PM
Contact points - "wait" "stand"??? CharleyMaddison Dog Sports 9 28-11-2012 02:58 PM
Photo Copper takes "tunnel" a bit too far......(working cocker) Jet&Copper General Dog Chat 11 09-12-2011 05:40 AM
last weeks run in with "chavs with bull breeds" & "chavvy kids" mishflynn General Dog Chat 18 03-05-2008 05:11 PM
Painting of "Working Cocker Spaniel" welikeart Off-topic Chat 7 13-12-2006 09:29 PM

© Copyright 2016, Dogsey   Contact Us - Dogsey - Top Contact us | Archive | Privacy | Terms of use | Top