Merle[]
Merle is a gene found in dogs, a dilution gene. It does exist in the American Cocker Spaniel.
A recessive red merle American Cocker Spaniel whose only clear indicator of being merle is her blue eyes and subtle fading.
Arguements Against Merle[]
Not Standard[]
It is not in the American Cocker Spaniel standard and has not been well recorded in the history of the breed. However i
1937 King Cotton, the "Albino" Cocker Spaniel.
t is said that Rusty Butch is the origin of the merle American Cocker Spaniel. He was buff which geneticially is recessive red, and merle is very difficult if not impossible to see on a recessive red dog. At one time it was believed that recessive red dogs could not be merle because it was not visible. There was also a Cocker Spaniel found in 1937 named King Cotton, bred by Mr. Jhon C. McLaughlin of Washinton, D.C. who was said to be albino. See the original article. Merle American Cocker Spaniel fanciers believe this dog could potentially have been a double merle or have had some kind of gene similar to albinism or another gene which dilutes color.
Health[]
Health is one of the primary arguements against merle American Cocker Spaniels. It is said that an American Cocker Spaniel, even if it is not double merle, can be blind and/or deaf. This is partially true. The basis of this claim is a study done in 1977, originally written in German and was even shown to have incorrect percentages as to what dogs were deaf and not deaf. The correct percentage of true bilateral deafness is 9.1% of double merles were deaf, and 0% of single merles were deaf. The study was also done on Dachshunds, not American Cocker Spaniels. However, a merle can be deaf if it is also extreme piebald or has large amounts of white located on the ears in particular. Research has shown that depigmentation affects hearing in dogs and cats, and has many other detrimental affects in other animals.