Waiting for the ASC to recognize and address the merle cocker spaniel topic
allows for their unfounded concerns to actual materialize.  A merle cocker
spaniel that is not a 'double' merle has no more 'defects' or health concerns
than any other cocker spaniel and possibly no more than any other dog or
living thing.  Therefor properly identifying a merle thru its registration can
ONLY help to prevent problems.  While we agree it should be a simple matter
to correct unfortunately 'the powers that be' think that if they even
acknowledge merles in cocker spaniels that they somehow have less control
or less 'value' with their non merle cocker spaniels.  If they truly cared about
the 'lethal' or 'defective' aspect merle is said to have than they would take a
pro active step and at the very least allow them to be labeled and registered
to avoid breeding 2 of them together.

So until the time that they can put aside their political agenda and allow
merles to be registered (even if they were to simply give us the option much
the way they have with sables *who do not have any health 'rumors' but are
simply not wanted/favored by the breed standard*) as responsible breeders
and owners of merle cocker spaniels several of us have taken steps towards
identifying our merle cocker spaniel lineage versus non merle cocker spaniel
lineage.

Here at KatTeryKennels we require in our purchase contract any merle
progeny (those dogs who have a merle parent even if they are not visibly
merle) to register their AKC name as follows.

Merle: Kattery'Z  Non Merle: Kattery'S
AKC Registration of the Merle Cocker Spaniel
Proposed Method to 'trace' Merle Lineage until the
ASC and thus the AKC can agree to cooperate.
Why can't I register my 'merle' as its
proper color/pattern?
Currently the merle cocker spaniel is not an
'approved' or favored color (its actually a
pattern) with the parent club (ASC) so the
AKC according to its own policy will not be
able to allow for that 'code' in its registry.  If
you contact the AKC and ask them what to do
you will be advised to register your merle
cocker to the color it most resembles from
the available choices.  PLEASE do NOT
register your merle as a Roan!  It is not a
roan (which is a much different genetic
pattern) and the mis identification of a merle
can lead to problems for future generations of
puppies.  Please instead read the proposed
method for registering your merle.  This
method was proposed and is used by those
of us who breed merle cocker spaniels as a
way of addressing the concerns of other
cocker spaniel breeders in relation to the
potential 'health' problems of breeding 2
merles together.
For More information regarding the
controversy of Merle Cocker Spaniels
please visit this Merle Info page or use
the links above to read about various
related topics to Merles.
It is in fact filled out on the AKC Registration Papers for our new puppy owners.  Another fact is if you google the word
Kattery'z you will find as one of the top results our Merle Information Page.  We also fill out (and it is expected by the AKC
that the breeder fill out the sex and color of each puppy) the color that your merle puppy would have been had it not
expressed the merle pattern.  For more on color of merles please read this page about MERLE COLORS.  We also
encourage any 'blue merle' puppies to have the word "BLUE" in its registered name and or for other color merles to use
the word "MERLE" or an alternate spelling (many use Merel, or Meryl) in the pedigree name.
Past Registration of Merle that might be found in
your pedigree and what you can look for.
Many of the older merle lineage cocker spaniels are unfortunately mislabled as Roans (which they are completely
different from) and so if you are intending to breed your merle cocker spaniel please research the lineage of the intended
mate and try to avoid a dog with roan as a color (unless you can verify that the cocker is in fact a roan!).  Another
'indicator' can be the use of the word BLUE in the name.  Unfortunately until we can properly label merle in cocker
spaniels (there isn't even a reliable genetic test for it yet!) we have to rely mostly on pedigree research and looking for
known merle cocker spaniels who are mislabeled.  There is a website (one that has given me alot of help and information)
that is working to list known Merle Cocker Spaniels and their Pedigrees so that more breeders (of both merle and non
merle cocker spaniels) can be educated about it.MerleCockerWebsitePedigreeList.
MOST of our merle cocker spaniel puppies are not given 'breeding rights' and thus we haven't felt it necessary to list our
pedigrees online at this point in time.  We carefully screen any homes and those that are interested in breeding their
cocker spaniel are evaluated even closer.  We feel it is important as a breeder but especially as an ethical responsible
breeder to educate those that are wanting to become involved with breeding and one of the topics we discuss at length is
the potential concerns for merle cocker spaniel breeding.
This website contains our photos and info about our Breeding Program and some other related information.  We invite you to check out our
website to learn more about us and the cocker spaniels here.  Please use the links on the left or upper portion of each page to navigate
this website.  For those on slower speed connections we have a plain text Directory Page for your convenience.
Kattery Kennels is owned and operated by Kat & Terry Reck and is not affiliated with any other identity.  The graphics and material found
within is the sole property of Kattery Kennels and is watermarked and copyrighted to Kat.  Requests for further information should be
directed to Info@KatteryKennels.com
Please view our Conditions of Use Page.