Genetics of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Merle and Brindles aren't purebred? But, but... I did a DNA test for breed on my Corgi and it showed 100% Pembroke!
Yeah, it happens because after a while all those genetic markers get lost in the mix. For example: 40 years ago, someone might have decided to breed a Cardigan (merle) to a Pembroke specifically for a merle gene. After 40 years that resulting dog is going to be considered genotypically a Pembroke, but it has one ancestor that's not - that dog they used to get that merle or brindle gene. Now, here's MY point of view...
We made domestic breeds. Corgis aren't found in the wild! So, is that merle Pembroke who is showing 100% genetically a Pembroke purebred? Yes. Sorry, but it is. I know, I know, I said above it's not. It's USUALLY not. In most cases, those fancy DNA tests will show that errant other breed of dog. But, some will be like my aforementioned example and will show purebred. Thing is, anyone who will vehemently stand by that 'purebred' tagline needs to check themselves a bit (in my opinion). How is breeding a merle ANY part of the breed standard? It isn't.
It's an unaccepted color variety of the breed. Thus, why are we breeding with it? The point is to IMPROVE the breed, not create designer dogs. Same with blue eyes, blueies, whities, over-short, over-long, fuzzies... all of these things are faults and none of them improve the breed we love so much. It's just one more way to make more money off designer dogs and actually degrades our breed.
You decide from there. That's my 2 cents.
Yeah, it happens because after a while all those genetic markers get lost in the mix. For example: 40 years ago, someone might have decided to breed a Cardigan (merle) to a Pembroke specifically for a merle gene. After 40 years that resulting dog is going to be considered genotypically a Pembroke, but it has one ancestor that's not - that dog they used to get that merle or brindle gene. Now, here's MY point of view...
We made domestic breeds. Corgis aren't found in the wild! So, is that merle Pembroke who is showing 100% genetically a Pembroke purebred? Yes. Sorry, but it is. I know, I know, I said above it's not. It's USUALLY not. In most cases, those fancy DNA tests will show that errant other breed of dog. But, some will be like my aforementioned example and will show purebred. Thing is, anyone who will vehemently stand by that 'purebred' tagline needs to check themselves a bit (in my opinion). How is breeding a merle ANY part of the breed standard? It isn't.
It's an unaccepted color variety of the breed. Thus, why are we breeding with it? The point is to IMPROVE the breed, not create designer dogs. Same with blue eyes, blueies, whities, over-short, over-long, fuzzies... all of these things are faults and none of them improve the breed we love so much. It's just one more way to make more money off designer dogs and actually degrades our breed.
You decide from there. That's my 2 cents.
