RARE COLOURS

ARE THEY REALLY A PROBLEM?

Rare colours’ is a term we often hear these days in the dog world, and despite the repeated warnings from experts advising the public to avoid them at all costs, people still seem to seek them out actively.

WHO BUYS THEM?

Many people seeking out these ‘rare colour’ dogs aren’t interested in the health testing or pedigree of the dog they are purchasing but rather just want a ‘different colour’. This seems to be a symptom of current society, with many born into a culture of endless choices, rampant consumerism and an insatiable need for Instagram approval. People seem to simply want to stand out from the crowd, and sadly, there are scores of unethical breeders lining up to take money from these ill-informed individuals.

WHICH BREEDS ARE AFFECTED?

‘Rare colours’ seem to only plague the popular breeds, supporting the longheld conviction of many people in the show world that these dogs are simply being bred for profit – another reason for puppy shoppers to avoid them. And it is not, contrary to popular belief, only the smaller breeds that are plagued by this problem. Yes, ‘platinum’ Pugs, ‘blue and tan’ Dachshunds and ‘lilac’

Frenchies are commonly seen, but there has been a recent surge in interest in ‘fox red’ and ‘silver’ Labradors, showing the larger breeds are not immune to this phenomenon.

THE DARKER SIDE OF ‘RARE COLOURS’

‘Rare colours’ are nothing more than a clever marketing ploy, one that, sadly, often reels in the gullible with money to burn. Yet, if this wasn’t enough, there is a darker side to this ‘rare colour’ breeding that cuts far deeper than fashion and consumerism.

Many of these rare coloured breeds have been found to harbour health issues not usually found in their respective breeds. One example of these (found within the currently ‘trendy’ dilutes) is called Colour Dilution Alopecia, and it is so prevalent in blue dogs that it has actually been named ‘Blue Dog Syndrome’. The affected dogs develop patchy coats, and the condition can eventually result in distressing skin inflammation. This problem was undoubtedly known about by historical breeders of these dogs, which is why ‘blue’ is not a recognized colour for so many breeds.

As if the health concerns were not enough, many of these rare coloured dogs are exhibiting personalities and temperaments that are entirely at odds with that described in their respective breed standards. For instance, some of the rare coloured Frenchies have been seen to be aggressive, a trait that is almost unheard of in the breed generally.

DID YOU KNOW?

At the request of the Whippet Breed Council, the Kennel Club brought in a ban on the registration of merle Whippets. Merle is not a naturally occurring colour in Whippets, and unscrupulous breeding of this colour (merle to merle) can result in an increased incidence of deaf and blind puppies.

TACKLING THE PROBLEM

The only real way to tackle the problem is to keep trying to get the message out to the public about the dangers of this style of breeding and the kind of unscrupulous people who are involved. If we can avoid members of the public lining the pockets of these unethical breeders, they will soon stop breeding these kinds of dogs.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The bottom line is clear – please don’t fall for the hype or super-cute puppy pics. Ethical, responsible breeders are the people to go to if you want a pedigree puppy to add to the family. And, as the French Bulldog Club succinctly writes on their website: ‘Don’t buy a dog as a fashion accessory, buy a new handbag or pair of shoes instead’.