Not Just Fawning over Fawn
Solid fawn is probably the most popular and commonly seen color for Chihuahuas in the United States. Other colors seen with some regularity are cream (solid or particolor), black with tan markings or a splash of white on the chest, and red, also often with white markings. Less commonly seen are solid black, blue (a dilution of black), or chocolate. Unique markings, such as white with splashes of color, brindle (darker stripes running through a coat color), sable (black hairs in another color, such as red or fawn), and merle.
Rare colors — such as merles and many of the dilutes (such as the blues and chocolates) — often command prices in the thousands of dollars. If you are dealing with a reputable breeder, however, he will charge the same amount for a rare color as he would for a more common color, such as fawn. The only time he might charge more for a certain puppy is if she is show quality rather than pet quality.
What exactly is a merle coat?
Present but uncommon in Chihuahuas, the merle coat is typically blue-grayish in color (but can also be reddish) and has varying patches of black throughout. Merles usually have one or two blue eyes or a brown eye that is marked with a splash of blue. Double merles (the offspring of two merle parents) have a higher risk of deafness and eye disorders.
Be wary, too, of the breeder who breeds for a certain rare color. A quality breeder will breed for health, temperament, and conformation. To breed for color alone is to put the most important companion dog qualities on the back burner, which can be disastrous. If you must have a rare color, make sure that the breeder has tested for (and has proof that the dam and sire are free of) deafness and blindness, as well as luxating patella, heart disease, and other potentially debilitating conditions common to the breed.
