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 makes an Aussie a merle?
The breed standards state that
australian shepherds
can come in some combination of two basic body colors (black and liver), one pattern (merle), and two trim colors (white and tan.) Of these, the pattern merle is described as two “colors”: Blue merle and red (liver) merle.
Can Aussies be brown?
The American Kennel Club writes that Aussies can only be “blue merle, black, red merle, red-all with or without white markings or tan (copper) points” In layman’s terms, it means that their base color can be blue, black, or red, and specific white and tan markings are acceptable.
How can you tell if your 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 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.
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.
Are merle dogs healthy?
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 much is a merle Aussie?
The average pricing of a standard-colored Australian Shepherd from a
trustworthy breeder
is between $750 to $1,000. If it’s a blue merle Aussie puppy, the estimated cost is around $1,500 to $2,500.
Do merle Aussies have more health problems?
Many other breeds risk severe health problems with their ears and eyes. Even single merles. Australian shepherds seem to only risk these more severe problems when they’re double. While merle Australian shepherds are still prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and epilepsy, they’re relatively healthy.
What is the difference between tri color and merle?
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.
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 is a cryptic merle Aussie?
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.
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.
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.
How do I know if my dog is merle?
The merle gene modifies the dark pigment in the eyes, occasionally changing dark eyes to blue, or part of the eye to be colored blue. Since merle causes random modifications, however, both dark-eyed, blue-eyed, and odd-colored eyes are possible. Pigmentation on paw pads and nose may be mottled by pink.
What are the most expensive Australian Shepherds?
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.
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.
Can you breed two merle Australian Shepherds?
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.
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.
Do Australian Shepherds 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.
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.
What is a Harlequin Australian Shepherd?
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”.
Can you breed a red merle with a black tri?
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.
Are male or female Australian Shepherds better?
As you can tell, there are no major personality differences between female Australian Shepherds and their male counterparts Both genders have wonderful personalities that make them fit companions and family members. Choosing a male vs female Australian Shepherd is a matter of personal preference.
What is a minimal merle Aussie?
The last dog is known as a minimal merle. It is almost completely black with just a very small amount of merling This pattern is generally discouraged because it can “hide” the merle gene if the black covers up all the merle in the coat (particularly when combined with white markings).
What does a merle Australian Shepherd look like?
Australian Shepherds come in several colors: blue merle, red merle, red, tri-color (white, black, and tan), and black. A merle coat has a patchwork of dark blotches against a lighter background , so a blue merle dog has black patches on gray and a red merle dog has red patches on beige.
Is the merle gene dominant or recessive?
The merle gene exists as two alleles: the dominant allele Merle (M), and the recessive Non-merle (m) If a dog inherits the dominant M allele from at least one parent, it will have merle characteristics. As a result of the M allele, random sections of the dog’s coat will be diluted or mottled.
What is a 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.
What is a chocolate merle?
The most recognizable is the blue or red merle, but chocolate merle is also possible (see photos below). Merle refers to the pattern in the coat and is not a color as such The white and gray patterns that appear on a black make them appear to have a blueish cast.
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 ).
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.
Is merle and dapple the same?
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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’s the most expensive dog?
A golden-haired Tibetan mastiff puppy has reportedly been sold for a whopping $2 million in China, potentially making it the world’s most expensive dog.
Are Australian Shepherds easy to train?
With an Aussie’s boundless energy, channeling it into something constructive can do wonders for your dog. These dogs bond strongly with their families. Their loyalty with their intelligence and high energy makes them very easy to train.
What is the smartest dog?
- Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man
- Poodle
- German shepherd
- Golden retriever
- Doberman pinscher
- Shetland sheepdog
- Labrador retriever
- Papillon.
Are red merles rare?
Red is a recessive gene, so that means it is a rarer coat color than the other Aussie colors Aussies can inherit one of two coat patterns.
Do red merles darken with age?
Red merle Aussies may darken with age, as well , and they have a marbled reddish coat. Red merle puppies can be very light in color, but the red in their fur will usually turn a rich, brownish-red by adulthood.
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.
Why do some Aussies have tails?
6. Many have naturally short tails. In addition to having a genetic predisposition for heterochromia, Aussies have a one-in-five chance of being born with a naturally bobbed tail,. Ranchers purposely bred Aussies that had these naturally short tails because they are safer when it comes to herding.
How much does an Australian Shepherd puppy cost?
Depending on the breeder and availability in your area, an Australian Shepherd puppy can cost between $800-$1,800 and even be higher in some cases. On average, you can expect to pay around $1,000.
References
Australian Shepherd Dog Colors: A Complete List Of All 15 Recognized Coat Colors