Double merles are pitbulls which result from the breeding of one merle pitbull with another merle pitbull The idea behind the mating is that based on genetics and the extreme popularity of dapple pitbulls, mating two such animals increases the chance of producing merle puppies.
Can a purebred pitbull be merle?
Purebred Merle Pitbulls Are Extremely Rare Merle was a natural Pitbull color, but nowadays it is very rare to find a purebred merle puppy. The gene in pitbulls has always naturally existed, but historically it was not popular. Merle was often associated with health issues.
How much are merle Pitbulls worth?
For those who are eyeing to get a merle Pitbull, make sure that you choose a reputable and honest breeder. On average, top of the line merle Pitbulls can cost from $15,000 to $30,000 They cost double and even triple the usual price of
non-merle pitbulls
. Usually, kennels sell their puppies by picks.
What does merle mean in Pitbulls?
Merle pit bulls are simply pit bulls who display the merle color mutation The
merle color pattern
varies greatly, but it typically causes dogs to have patches and swirls of both full and
diluted colors
. Unfortunately, the merle gene can also cause other changes in a dog’s appearance and health.
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.
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.
What’s the rarest pitbull color?
Blue. Like Lilac, the tri-color blue Pitbull is one of the rarest combinations. Blue is usually a rare color in Pitbulls, so you won’t see many of these dogs. The blue variety are unique from other tri-color Pitbulls because they will always have a blue nose.
What is the rarest type of pitbull?
The Blue Nose Pitbull is a rare breed of Pitbull and is a result of a recessive gene which means they are bred from a smaller gene pool.
Are merle Pitbulls rare?
Once upon a time, the merle gene did exist in Pitbulls. However, it is associated with some health problems. Therefore, these dogs were not bred, and the gene wasn’t passed on. Today, these gene is extremely rare if not impossible to find.
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.
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.
How is a merle dog created?
Merle is a
coat pattern
found in Australian Shepherds, Collies, Shelties, and a number of other dog breeds. This particular phenotype is inherited as an autosomal, incompletely dominant trait The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, blue or odd-colored eyes, and affects skin pigment.
What is a ghost merle bully?
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).
What is a Phantom merle?
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.
How is a merle bully made?
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.
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.
Are double merles always deaf?
Double Merle dogs are highly likely to suffer from hearing and vision impairments and in some cases complete blindness and deafness Deafness and hearing impairment happens due to lack of hair pigment produced in the inner ear. Double Merles can also be blind or have vision problems due to congenital eye defects.
What breeds can be double merle?
“Double merle” refers to a dog that inherited two copies of the merle gene, a gene that can be present in many breeds from aussies and collies to danes and catahoulas to dachshunds and chihuahuas.
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 is a gator Pitbull?
They have a short and glossy coat with a highly muscular body structure, just like other types of Pitbull Their tail is short and they can weigh up to about 65 pounds. They normally reach a height of around 15 – 20 inches. The Gator Pitbull can occur in many forms and based on this, we have the: Black Gator Pitbull.
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.
Do merle dogs always have blue eyes?
No, the merle gene does not always cause blue eyes The merle gene causes the lightening of pigment in patches throughout the body. If these patches do not coincide with the eyes, the dog will have brown eyes instead. They may also have multicolored eyes.
Can merle dogs be UKC registered?
Any color, color pattern, or combination of colors is acceptable, except for merle Disqualifications: Albinism.
How do you get a tri color Pitbull?
Tri color Pitbulls are considered rare because in general breeders have not been trying to make them until very recently. The gene that creates the three colored coat is a recessive gene. This means that both parents must have this recessive gene in order for any of their pups to end up with the three colored coat.
Can a double merle be black?
A double merle is one which is homozygous. That means it has two copies of the dominant M gene, so its genotype is MM. This impairs its ability to make pigment. Double merles are typically mostly white and have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body.
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.
Is it safe to breed a double merle?
Unfortunately, there are health problems associated with the merle mutation , and the risk of these problems occurring increases when two merle coated dogs are mated together. The resulting litter of puppies has a high chance of containing ‘double merles’ or ‘lethal whites’.
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.
Do merle puppies have health issues?
Health Issues The merle gene is known to cause a number of health problems, mostly deafness and blindness, and also sun sensitivity and higher rates of skin cancer These problems are unusual in heterozygous merles (Mm) but more common in homozygous merles (MM).
How much does a merle bully cost?
Despite this, Merle American Bully can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 or more This is because they are quite rare, although even then, you run the risk of your American Bully not actually being a purebred dog.
Which pitbull color is best?
While Pitbulls are best known in black, red and brindle , there actually are over 20 different colors and patterns for these cool dogs.
What is a GREY pitbull called?
Grey Pitbull Terrier The Grey APBT, also known as the American Grey Pitbull and American Pitbull Terrier Grey , is the most notorious Pitbull breed. The AKC does not recognize these dogs, and many countries forbid owning Grey American Pitbull Terrier puppies.
What 3 breeds make a pitbull?
Most pit bull-type dogs descend from the British Bull and terrier , a 19th-century dog-fighting type developed from crosses between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier. A selection of dog breeds sometimes classified as pit bull-type dogs.
What is a Gotti pitbull?
A Gotti Pitbull is an American Pitbull Terrier belonging to the Gottiline bloodline This line quickly became one of the most popular dog breeds among American bullies. This is a fairly new bloodline, as they were first bred in the late 1990s.
What are the 4 breeds of pit bulls?
- American Pit Bull Terrier. About: The breed behind the “pit bull” name is the American pit bull terrier or APBT
- American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog.
Does AKC recognize merle?
The Kennel Club has announced that it will no longer accept registration applications for merle-coloured dogs in breeds where there is no documented evidence of the colour having been well established over a sustained period.
How much is a blue brindle Pitbull worth?
What’s the Price of Brindle Pitbull Puppies? Also, a brindle coat is not rare and should not increase the price. Expect to pay between $300 to $500, with rare Blue Nose Brindle Pitbull puppies costing upward of $3,000 Finding a reputable Brindle Pitbull puppy breeder can be tough, though.
Are merle dogs hypoallergenic?
Does Being Merle Affect The Hypoallergenic Trait? Good news for all you guys suffering from allergies: merle poodles are hypoallergenic ! Still, some dog experts might claim that the merle poodle isn’t hypoallergenic because of its coat color; it’s because the poodles, in general, don’t usually trigger allergies.
Is merle and dapple the same?
Do you have a Dapple? Dappling, a splotchy multi-color coat pattern found in Dachshunds, is called merle in other dog breeds such as the Collie, Great Dane and Australian Shepherd. It’s important to understand that dapple is NOT a color, it is a pattern.
Can you breed a merle to a Tri?
Breeding tri to tri produces all tri’s therefore, the preferred color crosses are blue merle to black tri, blue merle to red tri, red merle to black tri, & red merle to red tri. In addition, red to red yields all reds so breeding a red merle to a red tri produces ONLY red merle & red tri puppies.
References
https://spiritdogtraining.com/breeds/merle-pitbull/
https://pethelpful.com/dogs/What-is-a-Double-Merle-Dog-The-Dangers-of-Merle-to-Merle-Breeding