A Pomeranian puppy with the
merle pattern
will be about $1,500. Mini Aussies of all colors puppies average $1,200 The prices for a merle Mini or Toy Aussie will be in this range.
Are merle Aussies healthy?
While
merle australian shepherds
are still prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and epilepsy, they’re relatively healthy Other big ones to look out for with Australian shepherds are hypothyroidism, Collie nose, and cancer. Australian shepherds are anything but rare.
What is a merle Aussie?
The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd is a special type of Australian Shepherd that has received a semi-dominant gene resulting in bluish-grey fur mixed with splotches of black or reddish-brown and white.
How rare are blue merle Australian Shepherds?
Blue Merle Australian shepherds aren’t considered rare and are more common than Red Merle Aussies. The color patterns of a blue merle coat can vary. They may have a piebald or
solid coat
with black patches. They often have white markings, especially on the legs and face.
Do merle dogs have more health issues?
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.
What is the rarest Australian Shepherd color?
Red merles are far less common than blue merles because the red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning both parents have to have it for their offspring to inherit the coat. Red is the rarest color in Aussies generally, although the red merle coat is one of the more common red-colored coats in the breed.
What is wrong with merle dogs?
An autosomal, incompletely dominant trait, merle coat coloring predisposes dogs to inherited deafness 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.
Are merle dogs smart?
Merle Dog Intelligence Some of the breeds that have merle coloring as one of their distinguishing characteristics are known to be quite intelligent !.
How do you tell if an Aussie is a merle?
Red merle Australian Shepherds often have marbled eyes as well, with flecks of color in their irises granting them a deep, vivid gaze The dominant colors are blue with
brown marbling
, brown with blue marbling, and in very special dogs, one of each.
Do all merle Aussies have blue eyes?
The short answer is no. Not all Blue Merle Aussies have blue eyes However, it is prevalent. The blue merle color and pattern are caused by a gene that varies the amount of pigment in the hair, skin, and eyes.
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.
Do Aussies bark a lot?
Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot , making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the ‘speak’ command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.
What color eyes do blue merles have?
However, most of these dogs will have specks of colors on their colored eyes. We call this “marble eyes” and they’re amazing to look at. The solid eye colors of blue merles include either brown or blue And in some instances, blue merles can have eyes with two different colors (one blue and one brown).
Why are dogs called blue merle?
The dogs above are called “blue merles” because of the bluish colour between the patches in their coat.
What is the difference between merle and Tri?
Red merle makes up this
base coat
for this color combination. They have red spots on top of an buff (a light orange-brown) to silver base color. The tri colored version has white markings found on the face, chest, legs and belly. They also have copper highlights usually seen on the face and legs only.
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.
How long do Australian Shepherds live?
Aussies are best suited for families with an active lifestyle and a large fenced yard. They need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom. They can weigh between 35 and 70 pounds and have an average life span of 12-13 years.
What is the most expensive Australian Shepherd?
The average price of the Australian Shepherd ranges from $650 to $850. However, an Aussie can cost anywhere between $300 to $1,800+ USD depending on breeder reputation, coat colors, pedigree and location. Australian Shepherds are not the cheapest dog breed available, but they’re not terribly expensive either.
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.
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 I know if my dog is 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.
Do Australian Shepherds like to cuddle?
While Australian Shepherds can be very affectionate, loving, and cuddly dogs with their family members, they may not act the same way at all with someone they don’t know. This dog will enjoy snuggling with the people he trusts.
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.
What happens if you breed two merles?
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 color dogs make a merle?
The most defining characteristic of a merle dog is a mottled coat of black, tan, or white colors Odd or blue-colored eyes also define these breeds. We have two main categories depending on the coat colors-red merle and blue merle.
Is merle a mutation?
Merle is among the most exciting coat color mutations of dogs both phenotypically and genotypically The autosomal semidominant inheritance of this mutation was described nearly a century ago. Two alleles have been identified and distinguished: the wild “m” allele and the mutant “M” (or merle) allele [8].
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 the difference between a red 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 dilute merle Australian Shepherd?
Red merle dilutes have medium-toned dark patches on a pale background with pale liver on the nose and other exposed skin Given the extreme variation in red pigmentation in “normal” reds and red merles it is possible that a dilute might not be recognized as such.
How do you get a merle dog?
Double Merle pups are born when both of the parents are merle It doesn’t matter what color merle, how much merle the parents have, how little (or how much) white trim, what breed they are, or even that the parents are the same breed. Statistically, 25% of the pups from two merle parents will be Double Merles.
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.
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.
How much is a blue merle cost?
If it’s a blue merle Aussie puppy, the estimated cost is around $1,500 to $2,500.
How do you tell if a puppy’s eyes will stay blue?
Their eyes can go from blue to grey to blue again, or they can change from blue to grey to brown over the course of a month or so. By the time your dog is about 6 months old, their eye color is likely set and will not change as they get older.
Are Aussies good family dogs?
An active yet easy-going dog, the Australian shepherd loves to romp with children and tends to get along well with other pets. Australian shepherds are great family pets , herding animals, police dogs and competitors in obedience trials.
What should I look for when buying an Australian Shepherd puppy?
In a non-confrontational manner, tell breeders you are interested in the breed but want to learn more before you buy. Ask about things like temperament, grooming, activities, necessary training, as well as health When you get to health, ask what they know about common breed health issues.
Sources
https://spiritdogtraining.com/breeds/mini-aussie-colors/
https://www.lancasterpuppies.com/puppy-search/breed/australian%20shepherd
https://spiritdogtraining.com/merle-dog-cost/
Merle Australian Shepherds – 12 Things You Should Know Before Buying or Adopting