In this essay, I will talk about the topic “What Is A Double Merle Catahoula?,” and I will do my absolute best to incorporate as much pertinent information as I possibly can.
Dogs which carry the heterozygous mutant version of the SILV-Gene (MM,
double merle
), are mostly colored white, or have
great white areas
on their body/ head. These kind of ogs can have very severe damage and malformation of the internal ear which can lead to deafness.
Are Catahoulas conside
red merle
?
Catahoulas come in many different colors, including blue merle, red merle, brindle, and solid colors Often,
solid coat catahoulas
have small splashes of other colors such as white on their face, legs or chest. The leopard-like coat of most Catahoulas is the result of the merle gene.
What two breeds make a Catahoula?
Catahoula:
Named for a Choctaw Indian word meaning “sacred lake,” the Catahoula originated in
northern louisiana
near Catahoula Lake. They’re probably the product of breeding between local dogs and the Bloodhounds, Mastiffs, and Greyhounds brought to the area by Spanish explorers.
Double Coated Dog: Is a Catahoula a double coated dog
Coat: Catahoulas Leopards have a single , short, dense coat in a variety of colors though they are mostly black, grey and white. These dogs are actually solid colored dogs that have been affected by the merle gene which dilutes a normally dark coat.
Double Merle: Can a double merle be healthy
Double merles, despite their deficiencies, are generally quite healthy dogs capable of living long, otherwise normal lives And they are no more aggressive, unpredictable or untrainable than hearing and sighted dogs.
Double Merle: How do you tell if a dog is a double merle
Dogs with the double merle gene may be/have: All white in color, or have patches of merle/mottled coloring on the top half of their body – their head, back, and base of the tail. Light-colored paw pads. Have light blue, green or brown eyes, perhaps even eyes that are different colors.
Merle Catahoulas: Can you breed two merle Catahoulas together
To prevent this defects from happening, you should avoid to breed two merle animals Even if its rare, but there are dogs which dont show the merle colour, but still carry the merle gene and when breed can have merle coloured offspring. Such dogs are called
cryptical merle
.
Double Merle: Can you breed a double merle to a non merle
Double merle to non merle and merle to non merle are the only “safe” breedings – i.e. the only ones which cannot produce double merle puppies. Breeding merles of any sort (single or double) together is always risky.
Catahoulas Good Family Dogs: Are Catahoulas good family dogs
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is very loving with family , but may be wary with strangers if it’s not socialized early on. Catahoulas are protective of the family, and make excellent watch dogs. This breed is not aggressive; however, similar to other herding breeds, it is a natural leader.
Is a Catahoula a Pitbull?
Catahoula:
Catahoulas have become more popular over the last decade. This dog is less well known compared to the Pitbull That is of course unless you live in Louisiana, where the breed is their state dog. In fact, this breed is named after the largest natural freshwater lake in the state.
What does a purebred Catahoula look like?
Catahoula:
Catahoula Leopard Dogs have single coats that are close and flat on the body In length, they are either short or medium, and they may feel anywhere between coarse and smooth. Expect any color other than white. A Catahoula may be nearly any color, combination of colors, or pattern.
Do Catahoula dogs bark a lot?
Catahoula:
Catahoulas make good watchdogs. They will bark when strangers approach the house. However, excessive barking should not be encouraged.
Do Catahoula have webbed feet?
Catahoula:
Catahoula leopard dogs have webbed feet For example, they have webbed feet. Some webbing on a canine foot is common, but a Catahoula dogs webbing extends much more prominently down the toes than normal. This trait would have allowed these dogs to more easily traipse through the soggy and boggy Louisiana marshland.
Catahoulas Hard: Are Catahoulas hard to train
Catahoula Leopard Dog Trainability Due to their independent qualities, the Catahoula is not the easiest breed to train As previously stated, they need an owner who is willing to put in a lot of work and determination in order to train them.
Merle Dogs Unhealthy: Are merle dogs unhealthy
Yes – merle dogs can be just as healthy as dogs that have a solid color They have the same life expectancy, they are just as strong and athletic and smart as their counterparts without the merle gene. In lines with responsible merle breedings, all offspring will be healthy and live a long life.
Double Merles: Are double merles always white
Double Merles are often partially or completely white in coat color sometimes referred to as albino, though that is an entirely inaccurate statement.
Double Merle: What happens if you breed a double merle
If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. One copy of the merle gene causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat.
What is Catahoula coloring called?
Catahoula:
In the Catahoula breed, some dogs have a ” spotted-up” coat This
unique pattern
is known as Leopard in the NALC Standard. Other breeds may have a similar coat pattern called “merle.” Please note that not all Catahoulas have leopard coats – this is what makes the breed so unique and diverse.
Do Catahoulas have blue eyes?
Catahoulas:
There is no standard eye color for Catahoulas. The eyes may be any color or combination of colors, although glass eyes are preferred The eyes do not have to be the same color and may have partial glass in one or both eyes, commonly called “cracks”.
Cryptic Merle: Can you breed a cryptic merle to a merle
A cross between a merle and a cryptic usually produces puppies of each type. However, there is a 3% chance of a cryptic to merle breeding producing double merles , defined by excessive white and/or typical eye defects. (Keep in mind that excessive white may also be due to white marking genes and unrelated to merle.).
Catahoula Puppy Cost: How much does a Catahoula puppy cost
These dogs usually cost around $600 to $900 , depending on the breeder. This is extremely inexpensive compared to other breeds out there.
Catahoulas Intelligent: Are Catahoulas intelligent
As with most smart dog breeds, the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard needs to have a fair amount of stimulation in order to stay energized and happy. These dogs are highly intelligent and quick to assess situations, making them perfect helpers in law enforcement.
How long do Catahoula dogs live?
Catahoula:
The average life expectancy for Catahoula dogs is 10-14 years With that in mind, a dog’s lifespan can be affected by numerous factors, including their diet, exercise plan, health, and living environment.
Sight Hound: Is a Catahoula a sight hound
The Catahoula Cur, a.k.a. the Catahoula Leopard Hound (which is not actually a hound ), is an American breed and the official state dog of Louisiana. They’re not well-known outside of their home region, but they deserve to be!.
Solid Black: Can a Catahoula be solid black
The Catahoula has a wide variety of solid colors as well as leopards (merles). Solid colors may be Black , Brown (Chocolate), Red, Yellow, White, and although not a true solid, Brindle is included in the list.
Are Catahoulas cuddly?
Catahoulas:
The Catahoula Leopard Dog is known for being affectionate, loyal, and gentle when they are settled in a family This loyalty is great if you’re looking for a guard dog or watchful breed. But, it can pose problems if you don’t socialize them properly.
Merle Dogs: Are merle dogs inbred
No. Don’t do it The merle pattern is produced when a dog has a single copy of the M< allele. All merle dogs have the genotype Mm, meaning they have one allele for merle and one allele for non-merle.
Double Merle: How do you test for double merle
Testing Tips Genetic testing of the PMEL gene will determine whether a dog has no copies or one or more copies of the merle insertion variant However, breeding of dogs with known merle insertion variants to each other may increase the risk of “double merle” pups with hearing and vision problems.
Ghost Merle: What is a ghost merle
Dogs with cryptic merle (also called phantom or ghost merle) typically display little to no merle pattern and some may be misclassified as non-merles The cryptic merle alleles occur in the lower end of the range (typically from 200-255, however, this range and designation varies by study).
Can a dog carry merle and not be merle?
Merle:
A cryptic or phantom merle is a dog which phenotypically appears to be a non-merle (solid-colored) or a dog that has very faint patches of merle that can go unnoticed. Animals that do not present the merle phenotype may possess the merle genotype and subsequently produce merle offspring.
Eye Problems: Do merle dogs have eye problems
The most severe abnormalities occur in homozygous merles with an excessive white hair coat involving the head region. There are other, more serious ocular problems associated with the Merle gene. Microphthalmia is a congenital defect characterized by a small eye Severely affected dogs may be blind at birth.
Harlequin Merle: What is a Harlequin merle
Harlequin is a pattern seen in Great Danes resulting from the complex interaction of the Merle (PMEL17) and Harlequin (PSMB7) genes on black pigment The dominant Merle gene by itself produces dark spots on a dilute background on eumelanistic dogs.
Merle Dogs: Why are merle dogs more expensive
In a nutshell, merle dogs are expensive because puppy buyers are willing to pay a lot of money for them The pattern is very sought-after, and the more demand there is, the higher breeders can set their prices. In addition, merle breedings can be quite rare in some breeds.
Double Merle: Can a double merle have puppies
They are thrown away and even killed for being born with disabilities. A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. It doesn’t matter what color merle or what breed they are. If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle.
Merle Puppies: Do merle puppies change color
Merle Dog Puppies Merle coloring can become darker with age So, be aware that those white areas on your merle puppy may start to look grayer as your dog ages. But other than that, a merle dog puppy will have all the attributes of an adult of the breed.
What does double merle mean in dogs?
Merle:
When two merle-patterned dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of inheriting that gene from both parents The resulting offspring is referred to as a double, or homozygous merle. Double merles often have a predominantly white coat.
Catahoula Dog: What is the demeanor of a Catahoula dog
The Catahoula Leopard Dog temperament is intense, serious and focused when working out in the field, and protective, playful and affectionate at home with their family If properly socialized from puppyhood, Catahoulas aren’t aggressive toward people, but they do tend to be wary and aloof around strangers.
Do Catahoulas get along with cats?
Catahoulas:
If Catahoulas are brought up with cats, they can get along with them , but they may view outdoor cats as something to chase up a tree. If you want to add another dog to your family, it’s best to choose one of the opposite sex. A Catahoula needs plenty of companionship and activity to be happy.
Blue Merle Pitbull: How do you get a blue merle Pitbull
Adopting a Merle Pitbull. You can usually only find these dogs at breeders , as they are rare and typically don’t occur naturally. Breeders often must pick dogs that have the merle gene specifically to breed them. After the puppies are produced, they can cost thousands of dollars.
Merle Pitbull: How do I know if I have a merle Pitbull
Merle Pitbulls have a coat that is covered with unique swirls and blotches of color This pattern often has dark blotches of black, red or brown on top of lighter shades of blue, liver, or tan. This is a very popular, but rare color in pitties. It is so rare that some breeders have sold them for over $35,000!.
Sources
https://www.facebook.com/AustralianDeafDogRescue/posts/-catahoulas-and-the-merle-gene-as-most-of-you-know-we-secured-a-grant-from-the-v/2348531112054129/
https://www.fairmatecatahoulas.com/merle-gene.html
http://www.catahoula-leopard.de/merlegene_en.htm