In other words, a ”
harlequin merle
” is simply a beautiful and unusual variation of the more
common merle color pattern
When a Merle Aussie possesses the Harlequin gene, the already uniquely beautiful Merle coat pattern becomes even more “exciting”.
What’s the difference between merle and Harlequin?
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.
Can a merle produce a Harlequin?
A white dog will produce only merle and harlequin progeny when bred to a mantle. Merlequin (or Merlekin) Great Danes are double merles (MM) that do not carry harlequin (hh). A merlequin can produce harlequin progeny if bred to a mantle that carries harlequin.
What is a Harlequin merle bully?
Harlequin is a completely unique modifying gene which affects only dogs with the merle gene It turns the areas between the dark patches into pure white (occasionally with some grey ticking or patches).
What color is Harlequin?
Harlequin (color), a color located between green and yellow ChromaFlair, a pigment used in paint systems, primarily for automobiles.
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.
Are Harlequin dogs healthy?
It is also true that these beautiful dogs make wonderful companions and get along with just about everyone. Unfortunately, Harlequin Great Danes can be susceptible to a number of health issues including congenital deafness and bloat , and due to their large size, they have a shorter lifespan than most other breeds.
Can you breed a harlequin with a Harlequin?
HARLEQUIN to HARLEQUIN: You can expect, in a litter of 7, to see 2 (likely mismarked) black or Mantle pups, 1-2 merle pups, 2-3 harlequin pups & one deaf white pup (two are statistically conceived, but one of two whites conceived generally dies prior to birth).
What is the difference between Harlequin and tweed?
In harlequins and tweeds the different colors are quite distinct and do not muddy or bleed into each other The fuel for the controversy is that a very few harlequins have small lacy white areas on the body where the patch is depigmented completely.
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.
Can you breed a Harlequin to a fawn?
A Fawn or Brindle cannot be bred into a Harlequin line It eliminates what are called “sable merles” in the
herding breeds
.
Can you breed a Harlequin Dane with a merle Dane?
Double Merles are a result of bad breeding practices, most commonly known as spot x spot breeding. For Great Danes this could be Harlequin x Merle, Harlequin x Harlequin, Merle x Merle, any Quin x Quin and any Quin x Merle breeding.
Is merle a defect in dogs?
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 are ghost eyes in Aussies?
Legend has it that Native Americans called Australian Shepherds “ghost eye” and thought they were sacred. These dogs do not always have blue eyes, but pale blue , “ghostly” eyes are common among the breed.
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.
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 does atypical merle mean?
Atypical Merle expressed as Ma (247-254 bp) is the next measurement up the ruler scale of the Merle length These are the puppies that can often look like dilute puppies.
What is a mismarked Aussie?
Dogs with excess white markings , sometimes referred to as mismarks, or over-marked. Australian Shepherds with too much white are usually healthy(exceptions noted below). There are entire breeds that allow far more white than typical of Aussies.
What happens when you breed 2 merle dogs?
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 does merle mean in dogs?
Merle is an incompletely dominant coat color pattern characterized by irregularly shaped patches of diluted pigment and solid color Miniature Australian Shepherd puppy with merle pattern.
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 is a cryptic merle Australian Shepherd?
Cryptic merles are either liver or black, usually with one or a few small areas of merle However, since you can’t see what color coat would have been anywhere there are white markings, there will be some cryptics which appear to be non-merle.
Can you breed two Australian shepherd merles?
If you don’t want to produce homozygous merles in your litters, it’s easy to avoid doing so: Don’t breed two merles together.
Are merle bullies real?
Merle is a fad. It will pass, just like the many other fads that have crept up in the American Bully breed only to disappear later on. It is not an accepted color in the breed according to the American Bully Kennel Club’s (ABKC) breed Standard.
Are merle bullies healthy?
The main reason that the merle coat and mutation are not acceptable by ethical breeders and most canine associations and kennel clubs is that the mutation, and lack of pigment that it causes, can lead to a number of health problems for the American Bully breed.
What does Harlequin mean dog?
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 Harlequin a shade of green?
The color harlequin green with hexadecimal color code #46cb18 is a shade of green In the RGB color model #46cb18 is comprised of 27.45% red, 79.61% green and 9.41% blue. In the HSL color space #46cb18 has a hue of 105° (degrees), 79% saturation and 45% lightness.
Is Harlequin a breed or color?
The Harlequin is a colourful breed of rabbit originating from France. It is a breed based around the coloration and markings, rather than fur and body type.
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.
What is harlequin pattern?
Harlequin print is a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end.
Do Harlequin Danes have blue eyes?
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.
What is brown merle?
English: Merle is a colour combination in dogs’ coats. It is a solid base color (usually red/brown or black) with lighter blue/gray or reddish patches, which gives a mottled or uneven speckled effect.
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.
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.
Is the merle gene dominant or recessive?
Merle is dominant , and so denoted by the capital letter M. Non-merle is recessive, and denoted by m. There are a number of different merle alleles, which are dealt with on their own page here.
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.
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 all merles 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.
References
https://www.clemsoncaninegenetics.com/harlequintesting.htm
http://champagnekennels.com/merle-modifiers-harlequin-and-tweed-the-h-series/
https://www.facebook.com/105205467873221/posts/cooper-is-harlequin-blue-merle-100-clear-on-aussie-panel-pictured-is-cooper-next/119849713075463/