Dilution and Health

It's often claimed that dilute dogs are less healthy than those with normal pigment. This misconception has most likely come from the prevalence in some breeds of a condition known as Colour Dilution Alopecia (CDA). Colour Dilution Alopecia affects the coat texture and length only, and not all breeds or dilute dogs are affected. The majority of blues and isabellas are completely healthy, and as testing is not currently available, the best way to avoid CDA is to only breed dilute dogs with normal coat. See the Health Problems page for more information on CDA.

Similarly, some breeders claim that dilute dogs should never be bred together. There is no genetic basis for this claim. In fact, breeding healthy dilute to healthy dilute is the only way to reduce CDA in lines (until testing becomes available), and breeds that come only in dilute (e.g. Weimaraner) or have very high incidence of dilute are far less likely to have CDA. You may read more at: http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/dilutes.html