suggests that she may in fact just be a high-white normal merle with extreme spotting. Double merles are often partially or completely white in coat colour (sometimes termed albino, though this is not entirely accurate). homozygous merles (MM). Kiwi the Australian Shepherd shows how merle can darken with age. Lastly, merle can be hidden if the dog has very heavy markings, so a blue merle could appear almost completely black if the patches are large enough - you may need to look very closely to see the grey areas. A missense mutation in PMEL17 is associated with the Silver coat color in the horse: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/7/46 which are partly pink. Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. Sometimes a light merling pattern can be seen at birth, but this generally fades as the dog ages. The nose is generally mostly or all pink, and the eyes are generally wall or blue (see eye and nose pages). There may be a link between pale coloured eyes and eye problems, but so far the scientific research to back this claim has not emerged in the public domain. the only ones which cannot produce double merle puppies. It is unable to produce any pigment, like an albino, As you can see from these two Dachshunds, sable and recessive red can hide merle very well. hidden very easily by long fur). therefore apply to harlequin double merles as do to normal double merles - the patches will generally be smaller and confined to the head and the back, and there will often be a more pronounced But that is one of the reasons why the AKC doesn't accept them. In addition, if the dog Sometimes a recessive red merle will have blue or partially blue eyes, but otherwise there may be no indication that the merle gene is present. Noddy the Dachshund. Links to studies: Note that due to patents in place, not all laboratories will test for the Merle gene. Blitz the double merle Aussie, submitted by Jennifer Mclean. The intestine is therefore Double Merles dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also This Dachshund is a blue (black) double merle with tan (called a double "dapple" in this breed). contracted and lethal white foals are unable to pass faeces. She has a large amount of colour on her body, but she does have a lot of white on her face. Real life examples of the variation in base colour of merles. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Double merle to non merle The merle allele only occurs in a small selection of dog breeds. The greying gene can also make it very difficult to see merle markings, as can the dilution gene (dd), because it dilutes Lethal white (also known as Overo Lethal White Syndrome) Shaded sables will often show merle For some more examples of merle on different coat colours and types, click here to go to the "Merle (continued)" page. Double merle to non merle Sequoia (right) is a sable merle, and has some very faint visible merling on the head and side. dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. Recessive red and merle can be a dangerous combo, simply because you may not know that a recessive red dog is a merle. Noddy is both deaf and blind, showing the very serious consequences of irresponsible double merle breeding. Sometimes a light merling pattern can be seen at birth, but this generally fades as the dog ages. However, the length of this genetic insertion is not very stable, and as cells divide during embryogenesis, which is the process of the development of an embryo, it may shrink or expand. contracted and lethal white foals are unable to pass faeces. Merle in Dachshunds is known as "dapple", but it's the same gene as merle in other breeds. Let's quickly have a look at some Punnet squares again to see how merle breeding works. The gene causing merle in dogs is PMEL17, also known as SILV. Breeding merles can be done responsibly, but in general, if I see someone breeding a merle that is a HUGE red flag to me of irresponsible (and unethical) breeding practices. I say breed for ability and use enough common sense to not breed a merle dog with obvious double merle characteristics to another merle but don,t get hung up on that old hogwash that you have to breed a merle dog to a solid colored dog to insure that you will get good genetically sound pups cause it just ain,t so. (gg), merle (Mm), no white spotting (SS), and solid black (KBKB). Lastly, merle can be hidden if the dog has very heavy markings, so a blue merle could appear almost completely black if the patches are large enough - you may need to look very closely to see the grey areas. In the US, double merles of any breed are sometimes referred to as 'lethal whites', though many consider the term derogatory. It's found in horses, where it is recessive, unlike the dominant merle gene in dogs. The random coat dilution caused by merle also affects the eyes and nose. These dogs are defined by icy blue eyes and liver or black coat variations. but I have a tri-colored border collie (red, white, and a couple tan markings) who has some red merle siblings. Merle can be completely hidden by recessive red, as recessive red dogs can't make eumelanin pigment and merle only affects eumelanin. This dog also has tan points (atat) and white spotting For some more examples of merle on different coat colours and types, click here to go to the "Merle (continued)" page. However, he was born with an abnormally small eye (micropthalmia), which has had to be removed. Clear sable can "hide" merle almost as effectively as recessive red. A Guide to The Merle Bully - What They Are And Are They Acceptable? above have a blue eye or a butterfly nose, which give away their merle gene, but often there is no sign at all that they are merle. The base colour (the diluted parts) on a merle can vary greatly, from a very pale "powder blue" to a dark grey with a ticking pattern on the grey areas, known as a muddy merle or ticked merle. Even his eyes are solid brown and don't give any clues as to his true coat pattern. The length of the insertion determines how much merle you see on the dog. Bergamasco This eventually results in death. Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/5/1376.long Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. Note that due to patents in place, not all laboratories will test for the Merle gene. All of these mean that anyone who breeds merles must be very careful to avoid breeding double merle puppies. at birth, but it tends to fade as the dog grows up, so all that remains on an adult is usually a few darker brownish patches on the coat (which can be This can severely impair its ability to make pigment. However, he was born with an abnormally small eye (micropthalmia), which has had to be removed. Cardigan Welsh Corgi Harlequins are merles with a modifier that changes the way the merle looks (see the page on merle modifiers). Further Info and Links Double merle French Bulldogs have created a lot of controversy in the dog world with many official bodies refusing to register dogs that are a product of merle-to-merle breeding. the only ones which cannot produce double merle puppies. The dog on the right also appears to have ghost tan, which can become more obvious in a merle as some of the black pigment is stripped away. therefore apply to harlequin double merles as do to normal double merles - the patches will generally be smaller and confined to the head and the back, and there will often be a more pronounced There are no genes equivalent to this in dogs. Sometimes dogs may appear to have normal coat colouring but are in fact merles and will produce puppies with the merle colouration. We purchased a puppy about 2 years ago, a beautiful blue merle male. Some breeders believe that it is unethical to do so, as it can increase the chances of health problems in the offspring. Can a merle carrier produce merle puppies? It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. this if you're not sure what a Punnet square is. Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/5/1376.long will assume they are for ease). is always risky. While ignorance is no real excuse, what's far worse is those who know the risks and still choose to breed merle to merle. Two solid blue merles (the Border Collie also has white in the irish spotting pattern and bronzing on its side, which can sometimes be connected to the merle pattern). Further Info and Links Harlequins are merles with a modifier that changes the way the merle looks (see the page on merle modifiers). A double merle can only be bred from two merles, as it requires an M gene from each parent. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. A DNA test can tell you if your dog has zero, one, or two M alleles. The patches can be any size and can be located anywhere on the dog, unlike the patches on a piebald dog (which are generally confined to the body and head). Some double merles Also known as 'lethal whites,' double merles are prone to health issues. This Dachshund is a blue (black) double merle with tan (called a double "dapple" in this breed). small amount of merling. The random coat dilution caused by merle also affects the eyes and nose. Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. Most of the merling is on the muzzle, with much of the rest of the dog appearing almost solid black-and-tan. Their nose pigment is black and their eyes are brown or blue. "Double merle" is a term often used for a merle that is homozygous. Photo provided by Tina West The pictures above show the range of markings found in merles. Dilute Spots Though double merles do not usually have fatal disabilities due to their genetics (negating the term 'lethal'), the implication that double merles are unhealthy compared to normal coloured dogs in their breed has some basis. Casey the longhaired Dachshund, photos by Mascara from the PKC forum Merle can be completely hidden by recessive red, as recessive red dogs can't make eumelanin pigment and merle only affects eumelanin. The dogs above are called "blue merles" because of the bluish colour between the patches in their coat. Noddy the Dachshund. All links are provided for advertisement and/or information purposes only, and I am not affiliated with any genetics testing labs or other companies. the dog - the top of the head, the back and the base of the tail, similar to the extreme spotting pattern. The merle gene is usually dominant, so a merle dog will have inherited the gene from one of its parents. These include: This Wirehaired Dachshund is actually a dapple (merle), but it's very difficult to tell due to his coat type. As you can see, Blitz's eyes are small and not formed properly (known as micropthalmia). KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER TODAY. The last dog is known as a minimal merle. Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/5/1376.long gene is not lethal, however it is problematic, as explained above. The first dog has very few black patches, and they're mainly quite small. Read Also: 21 Facts You Need To Know Before Getting A French Bulldog. is always risky. These dogs are sometimes called "phantom" merles. in the irish or pseudo-irish pattern. Especially when one of the merle dogs in question is obviously the result of merle to merle breeding. Among their findings, they recorded research on deafness in Dachshunds with the merle gene. Everything about the Blue Merle Border Collie (Breeding Secrets Sequoia (right) is a sable merle, and has some very faint visible merling on the head and side. The breeding of double merles is generally problematic, not just because double merle dogs rarely match breed standards (for example, Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. ** Please note that I am not a research scientist, and the information on this page comes from my own knowledge and observation of dogs, observational and testing data provided via e-mail by site visitors, any research papers linked on the page, and the information provided by Dr Sheila M. Schmutz on her excellent website http://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dogcolors.html If you are considering breeding a merle dog then please make sure to read all of the information below first. All of these mean that anyone who breeds merles must be very careful to avoid breeding double merle puppies. The truly unfortunate pups are destroyed days after they are born when the breeder realises they are disabled and doesn't want to have to raise such pups knowing they are hard to home. The reason behind this is if two Merle Poodles are both bred, there's a 25% chance of their litter inheriting the double merle gene. Breeding merles of any sort (single or double) together There are problems with this form of mating too and there can be risks of deafness due to the heavy amount of white (like with dalmatians, the white coat gene carries problems). Double merles are typically mostly white and may have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. This is sadly a known issue in some double merles. All links are provided for advertisement and/or information purposes only, and I am not affiliated with any genetics testing labs or other companies. a double merle Dachshund like Casey above would be disqualified for too much white and lack of pigment), but also because of the health problems linked to them. Sometimes black and white dogs with heavy ticking or roaning can be mistaken for merles. Blitz is deaf and has impaired vision. That means it has two copies of the dominant M gene, so its genotype is MM. The eye on the side with the white is Most normal-looking merles are Mm, as two copies of the merle gene (MM) generaly results in double merle. Sometimes double merles are even born health problems for more information. Merle can be very difficult to see on a brindle too, due to the stripes. The same principles Most of the merling is on the muzzle, with much of the rest of the dog appearing almost solid black-and-tan. suggests that she may in fact just be a high-white normal merle with extreme spotting. not show any merling because there is no eumelanin to be merled, unless it also has a mask (which does show merling). This mixed breed has very heavy patching, and one side of the dog is almost completely solid black. Let's quickly have a look at some Punnet squares again to see how merle breeding works. To expand your knowledge of merle and find out more about the different merle alleles, click here to go to the new page on advanced merle genetics. Its a lot to think about, I know, but taking on a double merle is a big step. A lethal white will be completely white with blue eyes. Double merles have large amounts of white in their coat and deafness and eye abnormalities are common. The genotype translates as: no liver colour (BB), no dilution (DD), no mask or recessive red (EE), no greying Harlequin is a modified type of merle where the areas between the patches are diluted completely to white. The merle gene causes the coat hair to produce a faded, or shaded colour (hence the merle pattern), two merle genes together often cause the coat to be white or with limited merle shading. Sometimes double merles are even born All of these photos were submitted by Laura Kelsh. It is almost completely black with just a very For more photos please see: http://www.facebook.com/noddyensaartje While some argue other health problems for double merles there is no evidence that, aside from ear and eye deformities, they have any higher risk of other conditions. Harlequin is a modified type of merle where the areas between the patches are diluted completely to white. NEVER! Doodles with this gene are more likely to be deaf and blind , which can cause a lot of developmental problems when raising them. "Double merle" is a term often used for a merle that is homozygous. The merle suggests that she may in fact just be a high-white normal merle with extreme spotting. accidentally bred to another merle, some of the puppies will be doubles. It is highly recommended against breeding Merle to Merle, (as in both parents carry one copy of the Merle gene), you will end up with 25% of the puppies being Double Merles, which have a chance of being blind and/or deaf. Interestingly, merle Beaucerons are known as "harlequins". The two genes occur together in a number of breeds, including Pomeranians and Chihuahuas, and in such breeds it's advisable to never breed a clear red dog (with any merle in its ancestry) to a merle, due to the risk of accidentally breeding double merles. However, there is a 3% chance of a cryptic to merle breeding producing double merles, defined by excessive white and/or typical eye defects. hidden very easily by long fur). Breeding two dogs that possess any of the merle variants may produce "double merle" offspring (homozygous) which may be prone to health problems. It's clear from this that breeding a double merle to a non merle is the only way to get a completely merle litter. Other double merles suffer from microphthalmia, where the eye is smaller than normal. Can I Breed Two Merle Dogs Together? - Explained - TastingBritain.co.uk It's found in horses, where it is recessive, unlike the dominant merle gene in dogs. Merle can also be hidden by long or wire coats, although the merling should be obvious at birth or if the dog is shaved down. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. Photo provided by Tina West For more photos please see: http://www.facebook.com/noddyensaartje A recessive red merle is sometimes known as a phantom merle. because it is unable to make eumelanin in its coat, and the merle gene only affects eumelanin (black, liver, blue and isabella). Dogs with N/### or ###/### (### = any number from 200-280) may display a merle pattern. Due to the unstable and variable nature of the merle gene, sometimes merles have patches that are only partially diluted, and are between the base and the patch colour. Unfortunately, Any didn't understand a single word of it. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. Further Info and Links They do not necessarily have the allele for piebald (although if they do, they're likely to have even more white than double merles without a white spotting allele), but the MM genotype causes loss of pigment to such an extent that it tends to remain only on the upper areas of and because in horses the cells in the intestine are linked (embryonically) to the cells which control skin pigment, they don't develop properly. The second dog shows the normal will have very uneven grey areas, with flecks of white showing through. Phaeomelanin cannot be merled (at least not in a heterozygous merle - see below for examples of double/homozygous merles, where the merling affects all pigment), so a recessive red dog with the merle allele will just appear to be a normal clear red. Double Merle Problem in Dogs . Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. A cross between a merle and a cryptic usually produces puppies of each type. possibly pass on the M gene, so all puppies will be MM (double). For this reason, care should be taken when breeding any solid red dogs in breeds where merle is present. Note that in Shelties, all blue merles imported to this country can be traced in direct merle-to-merle line to crosses involving blue merle Collies. There are no genes equivalent to this in dogs. Very pale dogs can appear almost white with black spots and can look very similar to a harlequin Great Dane, although only that breed actually has the true harlequin gene. Merle can be completely hidden by recessive red, as recessive red dogs can't make eumelanin pigment and merle only affects eumelanin.

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