Merle is a distinguishing marking of several breeds, particularly the
australian shepherd
and Catahoula Leopard Dog , and appears in others, including the Koolie in Australia, the Shetland Sheepdog, various collie breeds, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, the Pyrenean Shepherd and the Bergamasco Shepherd.
Do blue merle dogs 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.
Are blue 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.
What does blue merle mean in dogs?
Merle is a
genetic pattern
found in a dog’s coat Merle comes in different colors and patterns affecting all coat colors. The merle gene creates spotted patches of color, often blue or odd-colored eyes, and can affect skin pigment as well. These are beautiful patterns!.
Why are blue merle dogs 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.
How much does a blue merle cost?
If it’s a blue merle Aussie puppy, the estimated cost is around $1,500 to $2,500.
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 blue-eyed puppies stay blue?
Blue eyes during puppyhood All puppies have blue (or bluish) eyes when they first open them But by the time they’re about 16 weeks old, their eyes change to their true color—typically brown. So, if you’ve got a young, blue-eyed pup at home now, keep in mind their eye color may change.
Does a blue eye mean a dog is blind?
Blue eyes does not indicate that your dog will eventually go blind, deaf, or have any other genetic defects Variation in pigmentation in the iris can occur for varying reasons, and doesn’t necessarily point to health concerns.
How do I know if my merle puppy has blue eyes?
Merle Gene If your dog has dominant light patches of fur or is completely white , the chances that their matured eye color is blue are higher because of the fact that their cells are unable to develop pigmentation. These types of dogs carry the merle gene.
What is a ghost merle?
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 can you breed a blue merle with?
Unless you have done a lot of merle breeding and really know what you are getting into, the safe rule is still that a blue merle should be bred only to a black (tri or bi).
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.
How can you tell if a dog is merle?
You can do a DNA test to see if the dog has the merle gene or what breeds are in the dog, if the dog is adopted or a rescue. A DNA test can be done through Paw Print Genetics or Embark, to find the merle gene.
What does a blue merle look like?
Blue merles can exhibit a range of coat markings. Some blue merle dogs will have a mostly gray-blue coat with a few small, black patches The most common merle pattern and the one described in most breed standards is a coat that is approximately 50 percent merle, or gray-blue, and 50 percent black patches.
What is difference between blue merle and 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 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.
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 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 dogs come in merle naturally?
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.
What does the word merle 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.
Are blue eyed dogs deaf?
Blue eyes, resulting from an absence of pigment in the iris, is common with pigment-associated deafness but is not, in and of itself, an indication of deafness or the presence of a deafness gene; however, in several breeds (Dalmatian, English Setter, English Cocker Spaniel, Bull Terrier), dogs (and cats) with blue eyes.
How long do puppies eyes stay blue?
However, the process occurs slowly and doesn’t happen overnight. It often takes nine to 12 weeks , starting from this point, for a puppy’s eye color to settle in and “stay.” The permanent eye color change can even happen as late as 16 weeks in age.
Can dogs with blue eyes see well?
In some dog breeds, blue eyes can be an indicator of possible vision defects. However, they do not necessarily mean a blue-eyed dog will eventually go blind While Siberian Huskies and other breeds normally have blue eyes, in other breeds this eye color occurs when two merle-colored dogs produce offspring.
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 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.
Is merle dominant or recessive in dogs?
The merle coat in dogs is incompletely dominant The merle allele “M” is dominant and the non-merle allele “m” is recessive. For a dog to have a merle coat, it requires both alleles. This makes merle heterozygous.
How much is a blue merle pitbull?
However, you should be aware that these dogs can be costly. One breeder charges $35,000 for the 1st pick of a merle litter If you want a very merle puppy, you’ll need to plan on spending quite a bit on your puppy. A puppy’s parents should be health tested before they are bred.
How much is a merle bully worth?
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.
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 is 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.
What is the meanest dog?
- Chow Chow.
- Doberman Pinscher.
- Dalmatian.
- Rottweiler.
- Jack Russell Terrier.
- German Shepherd.
- American Staffordshire/Pit Bull Terrier.
- Siberian Husky.
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.
How long do blue merles live?
With proper care, they can live for 12-15 years As with all dogs, they have predispositions for certain medical conditions that will need to be monitored. This is a very striking dog, with a gorgeous blue merle coat, and sharp “herding eyes.” They are very affectionate, loving, loyal, and active.
What is the rarest eye color for dogs?
Eye color in dogs is determined by the amount of melanin found in the iris. Brown eyes contain a high concentration of melanin, while green or blue have less. Most dogs have brown eyes, but there are breeds with pale blue, speckled, golden, or hazel colored eyes. The rarest color of all is green.
What should I name my blue eyed dog?
Some of the best and most unique names for male blue-eyed dogs are Calvin, Denim, Diesel, Levi, Wrangler, Navy, Admiral, Polar, Ridley, and Frosty What is this? Some of the best and most unique female names for blue-eyed dogs are Atasi, Agave, Bluebell, Azure, Indigo, Mavi, Sandy, Icky, Doli, and Blau.
What happens if a dog’s eye is blue?
Lenticular sclerosis or nuclear sclerosis is the medical term for a bluish transparent haze that develops in the lens of the eye in middle-aged to senior dogs. This is considered a normal change in the lens associated with aging, and is observed as a cloudiness or bluish discoloration on the pupil.
Does blue eyes mean merle?
Other dogs with a particular coat color, specifically merle (mottled patches) or piebald (a white coat with spots), tend to get blue eyes passed on to them If your dog has the merle or piebald gene, it cannot consistently create pigment, which would explain the light eyes.
Do merle dogs have eye problems?
The most severe abnormalities occur in homozygous merles with an excessive white hair coat involving the head region. There are other, more serious ocular problems associated with the Merle gene. Microphthalmia is a congenital defect characterized by a small eye Severely affected dogs may be blind at birth.
Are dogs with blue eyes more sensitive to the sun?
If Your Dog Has Blue Or Light Eyes. Australian shepherds and huskies are known for their striking blue eyes, but a light-pigmented eye can mean trouble and discomfort in the bright sun Make sure they have a shady place to rest their eyes if needed. They even make sunglasses for dogs if they’re in real discomfort.
Do all Merles have blue eyes?
All merles may have blue or partially blue eyes , and pink or partially pink noses. Merle can be completely hidden by recessive red, as recessive red dogs can’t make eumelanin pigment and merle only affects eumelanin.
Do Double Merles have blue eyes?
Double merle eyes (when they have them and they are not deformed) are usually blue or very pale Unscrupulous breeders will sometimes sell double merle puppies as ‘rare albino’ versions of the breed.
Citations
https://www.thesprucepets.com/dog-breeds-with-blue-eyes-5089039