Scallywag 78 Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I have a blue merle bitch. She's got great prey drive and I'm very happy with her work although she's not record breaking or anything. She's quite highly strung though and I've heard it said that this can be associated with the merles, that there's a genetic connection between merle coloured dogs and behavioural problems. I'm not worried about my bitch, we get along fine, but I am curious about whether there really is a connection. What are your views? Quote Link to post
Paid 935 Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 I would say the connection comes from the collie, merle or not, but thats just my view. Quote Link to post
undisputed 1,664 Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 (edited) How much collie is in her....I've got two merles one quite hyper the other laid back....sometimes it takes a couple of seasons for them to settle down.....dont think the behaviour has anything to do with the merle gene as my old fawn bitch was quite highly strung till she was about 3 then settled down and there wasn't any merle in her. I thinks its more to do with the x more than any genetic disorder. Edited February 2, 2009 by undisputed Quote Link to post
Scallywag 78 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I got her as a 2 year old and don't know the details of her breeding. She doesn't look like a first cross but she has a lot of collie traits. I always put her nerviness down to how she may have been handled before I got her. I'm used to collies but she seems flightier than average. I reached out to pat her yesterday and I was holding a couple of pigs ears in my hand - she took fright and ran out of the back door into the garden and hid behind the ferret court! I've had her over three years and never taken a hand to her but she's still so jumpy Quote Link to post
undisputed 1,664 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I got her as a 2 year old and don't know the details of her breeding. She doesn't look like a first cross but she has a lot of collie traits. I always put her nerviness down to how she may have been handled before I got her. I'm used to collies but she seems flightier than average. I reached out to pat her yesterday and I was holding a couple of pigs ears in my hand - she took fright and ran out of the back door into the garden and hid behind the ferret court! I've had her over three years and never taken a hand to her but she's still so jumpy Think that could be it mate some folk can be a bit rough on collies during the puppy stage and they dont like it....maybe poorly socialised...having said that my young dog can be a bit jumpy if you make sudden movements around him...I mostly put it down to the x though....is this her? Quote Link to post
Scallywag 78 Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Yes, that's her - photo taken out ferreting. Quote Link to post
miss lurcher bitch 319 Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 i used to have a half grey /half collie and he was mental in the house but working was great with him wish i still had him but my ex husband took him he was blue merl from hancock and my daugter has a blue merl bitch from hancock 3/4 x she was layed back [bANNED TEXT] here out working shes a really good dog the to were so much diffrent mlb Quote Link to post
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