In the following article on my site, I’m going to discuss the subject that is titled “What Is A Merle Catahoula?.” I will provide you with all of the pertinent information that pertains to the topic. I have high hopes that you will find this essay to be really helpful.
Catahoulas are most commonly seen in blue or
red merle
(leopard) patterns Other colors seen in the breed include patchwork (a variation of the merle pattern), solid black, solid red/liver, solid blue, yellow, and brindle. Various amounts of tan, brindle, and/or
white trim
may also be present.
Are Catahoulas considered merle?
Catahoulas:
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.
Merle Catahoulas: Can you breed 2 merle Catahoulas
Similarly, puppies born from two merle dogs have a 25 percent chance of being born as double merle Double merle puppies may be born blind, deaf, or both. Compared to other breeds, it is rarer for double merle puppies to be born deaf and blind, but the possibility is still a
significant problem
for the breed.
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.
What does double merle mean?
Merle:
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. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice.
How do I know if my Catahoula is purebred?
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.
Catahoula Leopard Dogs Rare: Why are Catahoula leopard dogs rare
Breed History The most likely of them is that around the 1700s, when people were settling the Louisiana area, they noticed that the nearby woods were overrun with wild hogs As a solution to this issue, settlers bred their dogs with those of the local Native Americans.
Blue Merle: Can you breed a red and Blue Merle
In a breeding where one parent is red, such as blue merle to red tri or red merle to black tri, we typically get more red’s in the litter, usually 70%, such as 3 red merle, 3 red tri, 1 black tri, & 1 blue merle.
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.
Catahoulas Bark Alot: Do Catahoulas bark alot
Protective and Territorial Catahoulas make good watchdogs. They will bark when strangers approach the house. However, excessive barking should not be encouraged.
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.
Health Problems: Do merle dogs have health problems
When inherited in the homozygous state, the merle mutation causes dogs to be white and have an even greater incidence of deafness, blindness and sterility The auditory and ophthalmologic abnormalities linked to merle are similar to those observed for the human auditory-pigmentation disorder Waardenburg syndrome.
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.
Merle Carrier: Can a
merle carrier
produce a merle
It is recommended that a merle dog only be bred to a non-merle/non-cryptic Merle dog. Cryptic merle dogs do not appear to be merle, but contain the merle gene. Many solid dogs are actually cryptic, also known as phantom, merles and can produce both merle and double merles if not careful.
Merle Gene: Is the merle gene carried
All dogs exhibiting the
harlequin pattern
are also carriers of the merle gene Common in Great Danes, (and registered as Harlequin) it is less commonly seen in other breeds such as the Catahoula Leopard Dog, Shetland Sheepdog and Collie, where the dogs are registered simply as merle.
Catahoula Dogs: Do Catahoula dogs make good pets
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.
Catahoula Leopard Dog Cost: How much does a Catahoula Leopard Dog cost
These dogs usually cost around $600 to $900 , depending on the breeder. This is extremely inexpensive compared to other breeds out there.
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.).
Blue Merle: What can you breed a blue merle with
Unless you have done a lot of merle breeding and really know what you are getting into, the safe rule is still that a blue merle should be bred only to a black (tri or bi).
Merle Puppy: How do you make a merle puppy
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. All non-merles are mm.
Merle Gene: What breeds carry the merle gene
The Merle pattern can be seen in various breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd Dog, Australian Koolie, Border Collie, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Louisiana Catahoula, Labradoodle, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Pyrenean Shepherd, Rough Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Welsh Sheepdog, Cardigan.
Citations
http://www.blackoakcatahoulas.com/breed.html
https://www.fairmatecatahoulas.com/merle-gene.html
https://www.dogzone.com/breeds/catahoula-leopard-dog/