The height of a
male merle great dane
is between 30 and 32 inches, whereas a female can stand up to 30 inches at the shoulder Generally, male Great Danes are also observably more muscular than their female counterparts. Male merle Great Danes can weigh 120 to 200 pounds while females are 100 to 130 pounds in weight.
Are Merle Great Danes rare?
TIP: Important! None of these colors are “rare” and YOU should not pay extra for a merle. Some unscrupulous breeders intentionally produce merles to “cash in” on the uneducated Dane buyer! For more color info don’t miss our Great Dane Colors main page.
What does merle mean in Great Danes?
The word “merle” describes a coat color pattern that is separate and distinct from all other Great Dane coat colors and color patterns But it can still cause a great deal of confusing variation within the merle color pattern itself.
Is a harlequin Great Dane a 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
.
Is blue merle rare?
Blue merle is actually one of the rarest Border Collie coat colors This coat color can only be produced in puppies by dogs who carry the dominant merle gene.
How much is a merle dog?
What’s the price point you can expect for a merle dog? The quick answer is – somewhere between $800 and $2,000, with an average of $1,300.
Why can’t 2 merles breed?
The unethical practice of breeding double merles is generally condemned worldwide, not only because so many are considered defective and put down at birth by their breeders, but because of the health problems that plague them, namely, partial or complete deafness and blindness.
How do you tell if a Great Dane is a double merle?
There are a few ways to tell if your dog might be a double merle by looking at the dog. 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.
What is a double 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.
Do Merle Great Danes have
blue eyes
?
Great Dane Like humans, most Great Danes are born with blue eyes and then change to brown as they get older. Though in the Harlequin Great Danes, one of the largest breeds of dogs, their eyes can remain blue throughout their adult lives.
How long do Great Danes live?
For such big dogs, Great Danes sure get the short end of the stick when it comes to longevity. Great Danes live between 8-to-10 years, with some living only 6 or 7 years , and a lucky few reaching the ripe old age of 12. Compared to small dogs, which can live almost twice as long, this hardly seems fair.
Can you breed a merle and Harlequin?
HARLEQUIN to MANTLE: This is the preferred breeding, all things considered, as it does not produce the Dominant (deaf ) White Dane Expect the litter to be about 1/2 mantle, 1/4 merle & 1/4 harlequins. So in a litter of 8, expect 2-3 harlequins, 1-2 merles & 4 mantles.
What is a Phantom merle dog?
A phantom merle or cryptic merle is one with such small patches of merle—or none at all—that it appears to be a non-merle This is commonly seen in dogs who are recessive red, clear recessive reds in particular, though patches can still be seen in certain red dogs.
Is merle the same as brindle?
Like merle, brindle is also a coat color pattern , it is often described as being “tiger-striped.” The stripes are irregular and dark against a lighter base color that is often fawn, brown or gray. The brindle coat pattern is found in several dog breeds including great danes, bulldogs and boxers.
What does merle coloring mean?
1 : a coat color pattern of some dogs (such as the border collie, dachshund, and Great Dane) that consists of a typically bluish- or reddish-gray mixed with splotches of black or reddish- brown and that occurs as a result of the lightening or dilution of the normal base coat color so that only dark patches of normal.
What is the difference between a merle and a blue merle?
A blue merle is a black dog with the merle pattern ; a red merle is a liver dog with the merle pattern. All the merle gene does is determine whether or not a dog is merle. This gene is an incomplete dominant. Two dominant copies produce a “double merle” which will most likely have serious eye defects and may be deaf.
What is a double merle Great Dane?
Double Merle (Homozygous Merle) is the common term for a dog with two copies of the Merle gene Double Merles are a result of bad breeding practices, most commonly known as spot x spot breeding.
What kind of Great Dane is Scooby Doo?
Scooby Doo’s dog breed is a Great Dane , which probably is what most dog-lovers already suspected, given his appearance. Like a typical Great Dane, Scooby has lanky, skinny legs and a long, stocky torso. However, Scooby has a less refined frame and body type than most Great Danes.
What is the rarest Great Dane color?
What Is the Rarest Great Dane Color? White is the rarest Great Dane Color. When Dane puppies possess two Merle Genes, they are usually completely white in color.
Are Merle Great Danes AKC?
Event Info: On January 1, 2019 the AKC will recognize the merle color as an official addition to the Great Dane Standard , which will allow this color to be shown as of the first of the year.
Do blue Great Danes have more health problems?
Health and Conditions This is because the gene that predicts coat color is linked to the gene that can lead to congenital deafness in dogs. However, blue Great Danes are no more likely to suffer from congenital deafness, or any other hereditary disease, than any other colored Great Dane.
Do Great Danes need their tails docked?
The breed is known for its “happy tail,” when the tail is wagged very hard, smacking whatever is in its way, which can lead to tail trauma. This can become a chronic issue which can lead to docking the dog’s tail ; consider preventive, protective methods for your Great Dane’s tail before agreeing to amputation.
Are double merles always white?
Double merles often have a predominantly white coat Keep in mind though, that just because a dog has a white coat, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a double merle, because there are other genetic combinations that can produce a white puppy.
Are Harlequin Great Danes rare?
Your Harlequin Great Dane Yes, it’s true that the Harlequin Great Dane is gorgeous, sort of rare , and oh-so-massive! It is also true that these beautiful dogs make wonderful companions and get along with just about everyone.
Can I breed a red merle to a Blue Merle?
There are NO OTHER CHOICES on the puppy applications for the breeder to mark on the registration documents at time of transfer of ownership. Breeding merle to merle is unacceptable as each puppy has a chance of being born blind & deaf as a result.
What Great Dane colors should not be bred together?
- A Blue cannot be bred to a Fawn or Brindle. This eliminates tainting the Fawn/Brindle gene pool with the d blue-dilution allele
- A Blue cannot be bred to a Harle, or Black-from-Harle
- A Fawn or Brindle cannot be bred into a Harlequin line.
Are Great Danes good guard dogs?
Even though they are kind souls, Great Danes do make good guard dogs as they are very protective of their family and home, so can put that giant frame to good use when scaring off burglars.
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.
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.
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.
Is merle a bloodline?
The merle is a color adaptation based on a mutation, so the bloodline of the merle is based on which type of pitbull it is and has nothing at all to do with whether it is dapple or not. In fact, merle pitbulls are not recognized at all by the American Dog Breeders Association and similar organizations.
What is a Isabella merle?
Isabella “True Lilac” Merle French Bulldog It’s a new shade of lilac also called “true lilac” Just like a lilac French Bulldog, an Isabella bulldog is a result of blue and chocolate DNA. However this shade is a lot more champagne looking compared to the regular lilac.
What is the difference between merle and dapple?
The merle (also called dapple) pattern is the pattern in which random splotches of dark pigment are overlaid over a lighter shade of the same color.
Can you breed merle and brindle?
The resulting offspring are known as being: Double-Merle, Double-Merled or Double-Dappled. We do not condone this type of breeding and consider it as Irresponsible, Unethical and “Quick Sells” methodology Breeding just for color with no regard for the betterment of the breed.
How do I know if my dog has the merle gene?
The merle gene modifies the dark pigment in the eyes, occasionally changing dark eyes to blue, or only part of the eye to blue Since Merle causes random modifications, both dark-eyed, blue-eyed, and odd-colored eyes are possible. Color on paw pads and nose may be mottled pink and black.
What is the difference between Harlequin and merle?
Harlequin dogs have white between the darker patches of merle Merle dogs often look “marbled.” They have grey coloration alongside black spots. Harlequin dogs also have the merle gene. However, instead of the larger grey patches, their harlequin gene makes their base coat entirely white.
What is a hidden merle?
Some dogs do not look to have a merle pattern but genetically are merle. These merle dogs are called cryptic, phantom, or hidden merles. Merle pattern can be masked by other genes or heavy patching Each gene has it’s own labeling including the recessive red (“ee”) and clear sable (a y ).
Can you breed a white dog with a merle?
If you plan to breed a dog with the merle gene, you should not breed it with another of similar genetic makeup If lucky, the dog will be colorful and healthy, but there is a substantial chance that the double merle gene offspring could be blind, deaf or both. In other words, don’t do it.
What happens if you breed two merle dogs together?
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 2 breeds Make a Great Dane?
He’s the gentle giant of the dog world! The Great Dane is huge, and that’s no accident. Most agree that his pedigree is a combination of English Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound , though we do know what the Great Dane is a very old breed.
Which Colour Great Dane is best?
The best color to get in a Great Dane is fawn Of course, a color is just that – a color. There are other things to look for in a Great Dane when choosing your best friend to bring home. Fawn is one of the most popular colors as well as the most common.
Should you crop a Great Danes ears?
You should never attempt to crop your Dane’s ears at home ! 3) Bear in mind that any surgical procedure results in some degree of pain. Your veterinarian will likely prescribe antibiotics and pain medicine to help keep your Dane comfortable during recovery.
Sources
https://www.pawlicy.com/blog/great-dane-growth-and-weight/
http://www.all-about-great-danes.com/merle-great-danes.html
https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/harlequin-pattern-great-danes