This is taken from this website  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smooth_Collie
        Funny how they have a clearer understanding than the 
CCA!!!!!  Tho they kinda screw up counting the colors.

Color

Smooth Collies come in four colours: 1)sable (Lassie's colour; can be 
light gold to deep mahogany), 2) tricolor (black, with tan and white 
markings), and 3) blue merle (silvery gray marbled with black, and tan 
markings), all marked with white areas on the chest, neck, feet/legs, 
and tail tip. An additional color is white (these Collies are 
predominantly white, with heads and usually a body spot of sable, tri, 
or blue color). The fourth color is sable merle, which is a light 
stippled version of sable, sometimes (as with blue merle) accompanied 
by blue or merled (parti-colored) eyes. Blue eyes or merled eyes in a 
non-blue merle collie are not disqualifications in the AKC standard 
although they are heavily penalized. There are, however, plenty of 
blue-eyed or merled-eyed sable merle collies who are AKC breed 
champions.

Cole was BOV the first day of Winterfest. I missed his class the second day!!!! What a LOSER!!!! I have never missed a class. I had him all groomed and poofy and went to pick up my armband and the other Collie exhibitors were " Where were you???" I got the time mixed up in my head. I was 45 mins. EARLY to ALL my classes the rest of the weekend!!!!

Grace was WB BoW and BoS two of the days at Winterfest!!! She showed beautifully and I am so proud of her. The photo from one of the days is not very good!!! So I am just using the one taken by V. Holloway.

Ella got an Open JWW leg this weekend with a First Place!!!! What a wonderful run. I was just trying to keep up with her and didn't even get half of my commands out and she was just moving!!
No photographer AGAIN!!!! I just hate that!!! Well I am just going to have to have someone get a photo of us running with my camera. I hate blog posts without photos!!!

Ella ran well all weekend… all the flub ups were ME!!! hahahahah I feel bad that I am her biggest handicap.

  Posted by: "Marion L. Johnson" raincrow@centurytel.net colliesncardis
  Date: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:42 am ((PST))

It seems to me that things are getting worse with our parent club and not better. No matter what a few vocal people say, no matter what the majority votes to approve or initiate, nothing really gets done.
Our first concern should be for the collie: how to better the breed (dog) in every way. The 2nd concern should be for the rank and file members, who expect only a few things for their membership dues: timely yearbook, bulletin, newsletter, a national specialty to plan to attend /dream about.
Thirdly, a board of directors that listen to their members and then try to support what the general membership (the people in their states) want.
There is so much discord and so much stalemate, nothing is really getting done…

I think we are out of touch with the real world and while maintaining "status quo" has merit, it will not benefit the  one reason for the CCA's existence: namely: bettering the collie….
Representing the state of MO,I know my members want an accessible ,affordable, and  friendly national, a timely yearbook, . Mo  members has asked that the sable merle issue be addressed, they supported a regional herding trial in this area, they support donating funds to help various collie interest-based organizations. In return they get timely updates from me and a monthly newsletter. They are informed and  their opinions are expressed, but still, on a national level, their voices are ignored.

I believe this is a national not just a MO malady. Is maintaining the same old status quo REALLY WHAT IS BEST FOR THE COLLIE?

I am asking that our officers and DD put aside personal agendas and work as a team to serve both the collie and the general membership who support us, When any committee is formed and approved, it then behooves said committee to perform its function and purpose with dispatch.

Thank you for listening
Marion
DD MO
permission to cross post.

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Please call or email any questions.

"Since the standard does not specifically preclude a Sable Merle it is
covered under the Sable and White color."

This theoretically is true…. but in real life the judges only have their standard books ringside… not any statements from parent clubs. So they also run into issues regarding the blue eyes…. On Blue Merles blue eyes are allowed but not on Sable merles under this "myth #2". If the sable merle is "allowed because it falls under the sable color then we run into the problem of matching eye color and brown eyes.

The merle gene can produce blue eyes and in a color that is recognized like the blue merle no problem….
in a color that is NOT included in the standard this becomes an issue.

The Blue merle and sable merle BOTH carry the same Merle gene…. So blue eyes are part of it. Fair is fair. I just think that it should be spelled out in print in the standard. No questions and the judges have the info right there ringside.

A friend of mine just had a lovely litter of 7! 4 girls and 3 boys. They are located in Southern Ca.