is this a real color?

They do come in merle...but there is a lot of controversy surrounding the color, including whether or not other breeds were mixed in at some point to produce it.  Chihuahua breeders/enthusiasts/etc. tend to be very divided on the issue.

ETA:  To be more precise:  the color is currently accepted by the AKC, and merles can currently be shown -- although that could change in the future.  But while it is a "real" color, there are also a whole lot of BYB's and puppy millers trying to capitalize on its popularity.  Claiming that it is a "rare" color is of course a major red flag.  FWIW, I have seen many more out of standard merles than otherwise.  So, (as with any color, of any breed) it is important to find a GOOD breeder.  :-)

That being said, I personally love the color.

I'll second what GypsyNBeau said :) and add that another one of the reasons for the division is that there are health problems associated with the merle allele. In a nutshell, breeding merle to merle is NOT good.

The Chi Club of America has a page on this: http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/mrlstat.htm

I believe their membership recently voted on whether or not to disqualify merles----I have no idea where this stands. Right now the standard calls for "any color" so no color pattern is dis-allowed.

Last year the Kennel Clubs in England and Canada voted to disqualify merles.

http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/akc_notices.htm

Does this help????

well the brindle one is.... different.... i had heard that ages ago when Chihuahuas were still royalty the blues were more valued or something. i have only seen one blue chi - and sadly he was bred by my cousin and promptly run over by a car thanks to her being too lazy to walk him on a leash......  

polarexpress

I believe their membership recently voted on whether or not to disqualify merles----I have no idea where this stands

It's a DQ, is how they voted.