I have little to add to this convo, but I found this quote interesting, because many Koolie breeders would concur... and still use two merles.
While most breeders have begun including solids in their breedings programs, the reality is that the population of solids in Koolies so small that breeding based on whether dogs are merle or solid could cripple the breed's gene pool. Many Koolie breeders who do merleXmerle and it has nothing to do with color, just reproducing the quality of dog they want.
It's a tough situation to be in, when most of the breed is merle. Do you breed two high quality dogs together, regardless of color? Do you settle for a lesser solid or one from unideal lineage? Do you spend years waiting for the right solid to pop up from the right litter?
This issues are little more complex in what has always been a "merle breed" until recently than in breeds like Aussies, BC's, Cardis... etc.
While most breeders have begun including solids in their breedings programs, the reality is that the population of solids in Koolies so small that breeding based on whether dogs are merle or solid could cripple the breed's gene pool. Many Koolie breeders who do merleXmerle and it has nothing to do with color, just reproducing the quality of dog they want.
It's a tough situation to be in, when most of the breed is merle. Do you breed two high quality dogs together, regardless of color? Do you settle for a lesser solid or one from unideal lineage? Do you spend years waiting for the right solid to pop up from the right litter?
This issues are little more complex in what has always been a "merle breed" until recently than in breeds like Aussies, BC's, Cardis... etc.