On this page there are links to better help explain the Merle Gene and why the UKC and ADBA DQ any APBT displaying the coloration. I have reasearched the Merle Gene and have found some really helpful sites out there and will continue to search and add them here.
(Breeders of Merle APBT's are listed aswell)
Searched : Blue Merle PitBull (s) and found THIS
Abundantly Blessed Kennels - Breeder
APBT Comformation
Pit Kingz Bluez - Breeder
Smoky Mountain Pits - Breeder
Merle Genetics - Site bout the Merle Gene
This Gene DOES NOT breed discriminate!!!!
Merle eye defects - Site is on Aussie's , Again.
The Merle defects DOES NOT breed Discriminate
When breeding Merle (Any Breed of Dog), one of the first things to consider is the color of each breeding dog. Merle dogs should never be bred to each other. When two merles are bred together, 25% of the litter could inherit two copies of the merle gene. Those puppies that inherit two copies of the merle gene are considered homozygous merles. A percentage of these homozygous merle puppies can be deaf and/or may have serious eye and vision defects.
Please keep in mind that acceptably colored pups from a merle parent are NOT defective and CANNOT produce defective puppies. Additionally, normal (one gene) merle pups are NOT defective and will NOT produce defective puppies unless bred to another merle. Let me say that again - when a dog with the merle gene is bred to a normal (non-merle) dog, the resulting puppies will ALL have the same chance of being normal and healthy as any other puppies from any breeding of 2 normally colored dogs. Defective merle puppies can ONLY occur when a dog inherits two copies of the merle gene (one from each parent).
For some unknown reason, eye and ear development of a homozygous merle fetus seems to be affected if both of the dog's merle genes happen to overlap and mark the dog in the eye or inner ear area. Defects can occur in only the eyes or the ears (may affect only one eye or ear) or both eyes and ears may be affected. Defects can range from minor changes in hearing or sight to complete deafness and, in severe cases, the complete absence of eyes.
On a side note, due to rampant prejudice within the breed community regarding the quality and health of merle dogs, merle breeders should pay particular attention to the quality of the dogs they choose to breed and to health issues in their merle breeding stock. Merle breeders can help overcome the prejudice that these dogs are subject to by making every effort to produce the best quality, healthiest dogs possible and by being sure their puppies are placed with other responsible, knowledgeable breeders. Merle breeders should make every effort to breed only quality representatives of the breed standard that have been health tested and certified free of common genetic defects.
(when Breeding Merles - These are the recomanded colors of dogs to take them to)
Tri
Bi-Blacks
Black or Red