However, the full pigment on the nose and around the eyes Having even a single M allele actually raises the chance of being deaf, although the chance of an Mm merle being bilaterally deaf is still less than 1 percent. Photos by Cat of Dog Rad Design Catahoula Information Catahoula Issues The Merle Gene The lucky ones end up in a good rescue that specialises in dogs with such disabilities and will find them appropriate homes. Sequoia (right) is a sable merle, and has some very faint visible merling on the head and side. completely white. The recessive ee genotype inhibits the expression of any dark pigment, including the dark pigment in merles. This can severely impair its ability to make pigment. Harlequin is a modified type of merle where the areas between the patches are diluted completely to white. the patches on a blue roan or ticked dog will be more regular than on a merle (appearing only on the back and head in the piebald or extreme white pattern, rather than all over the dog). A recessive red merle is sometimes known as a phantom merle. A clear sable ( Breeding a Merle Poodle is quite a controversial topic. New research has shown that the gene is actually more complex than this, so after you have read through the information here, you may wish to do further reading by clicking HERE to go to the new page on advanced merle genetics. 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. However, being deaf, blind or both is surely bad enough? These are known as 'cryptic merles', but the exact reason why such dogs do not display the merle pattern remains unknown. 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. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. Merle can be very difficult to see on a brindle too, due to the stripes. It is unable to produce any pigment, like an albino, Thanks! and because in horses the cells in the intestine are linked (embryonically) to the cells which control skin pigment, they don't develop properly. It's clear from this that breeding a double merle to a non merle is the only way to get a completely merle litter. There are no genes equivalent to this in dogs. Breeding merles of any sort (single or double) together For some more examples of merle on different coat colours and types, click here to go to the "Merle (continued)" page. Depending on the honesty of the breeder, you could ask about the parents, question the possibility of her being a double merle and then consider if you would be prepared to take on a dog with potential hearing and eyesight issues. A merle dog has problems making eumelanin pigment, causing random patches of dilution in the coat. Lethal white is a completely separate gene that does not occur in dogs. In at least some breeds, the base colour on a merle also seems to darken as the dog ages. However, it turns out that there isn't just one version of the M allele, but a number of different ones that produce different effects in the coat (both on their own and in combination with each other). ** 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 Sometimes black and white dogs with heavy ticking or roaning can be mistaken for merles. the patches so that there is less of a distinction between them and the base colour. Though a variety of merle colours are referred to by breeders and dog owners, the two most commonly seen types of merle are blue merles and red merles. Quick Summary! blue because of the lack of pigment, and she has a butterfly nose. It is unable to produce any pigment, like an albino, However, it turns out that there isn't just one version of the M allele, but a number of different ones that produce different effects in the coat (both on their own and in combination with each other). Photo provided by Tina West The intestine is therefore 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. If they didn't have the Variation in Base Colour Stanley, the Dachshund above, has relatively little white for a double merle. 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. We've now covered the basics of merle and how it works, and unless you have a particular interest in breeding merles, that might well be enough. Recessive red dogs are unable to produce any eumelanin pigment in their coat, making them solid red (phaeomelanin). Equally, though fewer studies have been done on eye conditions, double merles are very prone to various forms of eye deformities, right to the point of having very deformed eyeballs. Double merles have large amounts of white in their coat and deafness and eye abnormalities are common. Lethal white (also known as Overo Lethal White Syndrome) Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. Merle Look-A-Likes Can You Breed A Merle To A Merle? - Explained - TastingBritain.co.uk dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also The first photo was submitted by Dee Allison and the others by Stephanie. because it is unable to make eumelanin in its coat, and the merle gene only affects eumelanin (black, liver, blue and isabella). this if you're not sure what a Punnet square is. Some double merles Links to studies: merle pattern - a mixture of larger and smaller patches, covering roughly 50% of the body. In horses, SILV affects eumelanin pigment only and causes the colour "silver" (see link below), and in chickens it causes dominant white, "dun" and "smoky" variations. A Merle Great Dane refers to a unique pattern that is caused by a specific gene. contracted and lethal white foals are unable to pass faeces. "Lethal White" the only ones which cannot produce double merle puppies. dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also and merle to non merle are the only "safe" breedings - i.e. m (non-merle) allele to help them to make it, but double merles Double merles have large amounts of white in their coat and deafness and eye abnormalities are common. 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. Merle in Dachshunds is known as "dapple", but it's the same gene as merle in other breeds. Sometimes black and white dogs with heavy ticking or roaning can be mistaken for merles. Merle can be hidden through the recessive red allele (ee, see the E locus page for more info). small amount of merling. These are known as dilute spots, and they may sometimes appear brownish. For some more examples of merle on different coat colours and types, click here to go to the "Merle (continued)" page. Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. health problems for more information. They consider the merle pattern an indication of weakness, casting aspersions on otherwise healthy dogs. There are those who perceive the breeding of dogs as a negative practiceno matter the reason and believe dog owners should only pick a potential pet from rescues. They will charge more for a merle pup, and guaranteeing every pup is a merle makes the litter more lucrative. Merle can be very difficult to see on a brindle too, due to the stripes. 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. Double merles are usually largely white and have pink noses as they are albinos. The merling is only visible on the right side (first photo). (gg), merle (Mm), no white spotting (SS), and solid black (KBKB). 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 merles are typically mostly white and may have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. All merles may have blue or partially blue eyes, and pink or partially pink noses. This is sadly a known issue in some double merles. Other breeders believe a mating involving a double merle will produce the best merle pattern on all the puppies, so they choose to produce or use a double merle in the hopes of getting the best 'show quality' dog. Photo provided by Tina West Stanley, the Dachshund above, has relatively little white for a double merle. It is unable to produce any pigment, like an albino, possibly pass on the M gene, so all puppies will be MM (double). small amount of merling. More importantly, youre likely to produce a quarter that are double-merle (MM). The genotype translates as: no liver colour (BB), no dilution (DD), no mask or recessive red (EE), no greying Can You Breed Merle To Merle French Bulldog - Bullifieds Blog FAQ - AUSSIE COLOR AND BREEDING - Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics At the opposite end of the double merle scale to Casey and Stanley is this completely white Dachshund, Noddy. Border Collie Real life examples of the variation in base colour of merles. Photo provided by Tina West The second photo shows her at 10 months old. The question many ask is, if breeding merle to merle has such a high chance of producing a disabled puppy, why would anyone do it? Double merle to non merle Blue merles are, in fact, grey. No time to read the whole thing? The merle allele only occurs in a small selection of dog breeds. small amount of merling. The eyes may be all or partly blue, and the nose may be all or partly pink. If they didn't have the The second photo shows her at 10 months old. This can lead to problems with vision when going from light to dark areas. A recessive red dog will not display any merle Links to studies: In addition, if the dog Double merle to non merle this if you're not sure what a Punnet square is. 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. Blitz is deaf and has impaired vision. Stanley, the Dachshund above, has relatively little white for a double merle. The illustrations on the left and right above show the extremes of the base coat colour. will have very uneven grey areas, with flecks of white showing through. It is almost completely black with just a very However, this should not detract from the fact that many double merles suffer from eye or ear abnormalities due to their breeding. Note that due to patents in place, not all laboratories will test for the Merle gene. 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. White double merle Shelties Sasha and Vixen, submitted by Nancy Edmonds, and Muffin the deaf liver-pigmented double merle Australian Shepherd, submitted by Jennifer Mclean. Even his eyes are solid brown and don't give any clues as to his true coat pattern. has very large black patches, sometimes referred to as blanketing. 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 Merle Problem in Dogs . In addition, if the dog However, it turns out that there isn't just one version of the M allele, but a number of different ones that produce different effects in the coat (both on their own and in combination with each other). A clear sable ( In horses, SILV affects eumelanin pigment only and causes the colour "silver" (see link below), and in chickens it causes dominant white, "dun" and "smoky" variations. Similarly, a red merle will have faded patches of red and will often look more mottled than the blue merle. Great Dane A clear sable ( Sometimes black and white dogs with heavy ticking or roaning can be mistaken for merles. If they didn't have the In cryptic merle, the merle pattern is expressed only in very small areas, so small you might not notice them unless you searched the dogs entire body for a trace. "Double merle" is a term often used for a merle that is homozygous. accidentally bred to another merle, some of the puppies will be doubles. We talk about coat colour being "diluted" in a merle, but note that dilute spots don't have anything at all to do with the Dilution gene (d), and are just a normal variation of the merle pattern. There is scientific evidence to suggest that the merle gene may be linked to a higher rate of ocular (eye) or auditory (ear) problems. gene is not lethal, however it is problematic, as explained above. The greying gene can also make it very difficult to see merle markings, as can the dilution gene (dd), because it dilutes We've now covered the basics of merle and how it works, and unless you have a particular interest in breeding merles, that might well be enough. 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 dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also Merle in Dogs: The Science Behind This Unique Coat Pattern merle gene, they would be solid black. This Border Collie type has a typical double merle coat pattern. which are partly pink. Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/5/1376.long will have very uneven grey areas, with flecks of white showing through. Dilute Spots Technically they should be "black merles". The Merle pattern itself appears as . "Lethal White" Blue Merle French Bulldog Health Defects | Maxime's French Bulldogs this if you're not sure what a Punnet square is. It doesn't matter what color merle or what breed they are. 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. Let's quickly have a look at some Punnet squares again to see how merle breeding works. These dogs are sometimes called "phantom" merles. The intestine is therefore In fact the opposite can occur. A missense mutation in PMEL17 is associated with the Silver coat color in the horse: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2156/7/46 But these dogs can also carry the M allele and may produce merles as well. Border Collie However, occasionally merle can be hidden by other genes. Links to studies: Most of the merling is on the muzzle, with much of the rest of the dog appearing almost solid black-and-tan. The dogs above are called "blue merles" because of the bluish colour between the patches in their coat. Puppies with (MM) genes tend to have health issues, particularly with their eyes and ears. As you can see from these two Dachshunds, sable and recessive red can hide merle very well. The dogs above are called "blue merles" because of the bluish colour between the patches in their coat. Further Info and Links Their blue eyes are a clue that they are genetically merle, although blue eyes can also occur entirely separately from the merle gene, so can't be taken as solid proof. 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. It has also recently been bred into other breeds, including the Chihuahua, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Cocker Spaniel and Pomeranian. Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. They are able to make normal eumelanin in their coat, so their patches are black. These problems are unusual in heterozygous merles (Mm) but more common in Its a lot to think about, I know, but taking on a double merle is a big step. Double Merles Though the dog is not technically blind, it can suffer from light sensitivity as the eye does not react as well as it should to light. Or they might be called lilac? All of these photos were submitted by Laura Kelsh. This mixed breed has very heavy patching, and one side of the dog is almost completely solid black. Double merles are often referred to as "lethal whites". is always risky. Real life examples of the variation in base colour of merles. Interestingly, merle Beaucerons are known as "harlequins". It is sometimes referred to as a colour, but this colouration is actually due to a gene that alters the way pigment appears in the dog's coat. 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. A Guide to The Merle Bully - What They Are And Are They Acceptable? At the opposite end of the double merle scale to Casey and Stanley is this completely white Dachshund, Noddy. the patches on a blue roan or ticked dog will be more regular than on a merle (appearing only on the back and head in the piebald or extreme white pattern, rather than all over the dog). dog with a red coat due to the sable gene, but no visible black sabling) will also Merle can be completely hidden by recessive red, as recessive red dogs can't make eumelanin pigment and merle only affects eumelanin. Links to studies: They don't appear to be a merle but can give birth to a merle dog. You should do extensive genetic DNA research to prevent a possible health disaster. Can You Breed Two Merle Frenchies? All You Need to Know - PawsGeek In the UK, double merles of any breed are not recognised by the Kennel Club, the UK's official governing body for dog breeding. That means that any black, liver, blue or isabella in the coat, eyes or nose will be merled, whether it's the whole Most normal-looking merles are Mm, as two copies of the merle gene (MM) generaly results in double merle. A clear sable ( If such a dog is Both dogs look like red piebalds, however the "split face" marking seen on both is strongly associated with double merle patterns, as are the blue eyes, and indeed both are double merles. We purchased a puppy about 2 years ago, a beautiful blue merle male. A clear sable is one with no dark (eumelanin) hairs in its coat, and clear sables may be almost indistinguishable from recessive reds. This Dachshund is a blue (black) double merle with tan (called a double "dapple" in this breed). the patches so that there is less of a distinction between them and the base colour. Casey the longhaired Dachshund, photos by Mascara from the PKC forum Lethal white (also known as Overo Lethal White Syndrome) Noddy is both deaf and blind, showing the very serious consequences of irresponsible double merle breeding. hidden very easily by long fur). 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. Shaded sables will often show merle In some cases, it appears as if there is no eye at all (anophthalmia). has a butterfly nose or any blue in its eyes then it is most likely a merle as these pigment issues do not generally affect roaned dogs. Links to studies: There are some exceptions to this, which are explained on the Advanced page. Double merles are typically mostly white and may have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. Another study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2009 set out to discover if there was a link between increased deafness and the Silv gene. However, the pictures and information are provided entirely for educational purposes Quick Summary! Here's the quick version! The Australian Shepherd above has a large dilute spot on its knee. Both dogs look like red piebalds, however the "split face" marking seen on both is strongly associated with double merle patterns, as are the blue eyes, and indeed both are double merles. The most common is hearing loss in one or both ears. Catahoula Leopard Dog The nose is generally mostly or all pink, and the eyes are generally wall or blue (see eye and nose pages). It would be unusual for a double merle to have so much pigment. This simply comes from a French term and is not related to the true harlequin patterning seen in Great Danes. Sometimes double merles are even born A double merle can only be bred from two merles, as it requires an M gene from each parent. The M locus consists of M (merle), and m (non-merle). These three dogs are all phantom merles. 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. The harlequin Great Dane here also shows a butterfly nose and wall eyes (one blue, one brown). Non merles are not circled. It would be unusual for a double merle to have so much pigment. Note that this "ticking" is not the same as the ticking that appears on the white areas of a dog due to the ticking (T) gene, and doesn't have the same genetic basis. Health Issues 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. All merles may have blue or partially blue eyes, and pink or partially pink noses. The M locus consists of M (merle), and m (non-merle). Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog: http://www.pnas.org/content/103/5/1376.long 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. Merle French Bulldogs - Everything You Need To Know A merle dog has problems making eumelanin pigment, causing random patches of dilution in the coat. Note that due to patents in place, not all laboratories will test for the Merle gene. These dogs are sometimes called "phantom" merles. We've now covered the basics of merle and how it works, and unless you have a particular interest in breeding merles, that might well be enough. This can severely impair its ability to make pigment. 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. A recessive red merle is sometimes known as a phantom merle. 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. "Lethal White" Great Dane people consider it safe to breed a Harlequin (Mm) to a blue dilute (dd). has a butterfly nose or any blue in its eyes then it is most likely a merle as these pigment issues do not generally affect roaned dogs. Note that due to patents in place, not all laboratories will test for the Merle gene. 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). A recessive red dog will not display any merle Double Merles There is also a possibility that she is not and is actually a product of breeding two collies with a lot of white colouration together. However, it turns out that there isn't just one version of the M allele, but a number of different ones that produce different effects in the coat (both on their own and in combination with each other). That means it has two copies of the dominant M gene, so its genotype is MM. Other double merles suffer from microphthalmia, where the eye is smaller than normal. The main giveaway is that a ticked or roaned dog 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. This Wirehaired Dachshund is actually a dapple (merle), but it's very difficult to tell due to his coat type. Yes by: Anonymous Yes. 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 Clear sable can "hide" merle almost as effectively as recessive red. Eyes and Noses Juniper (black pigment, left) and Pekoe (blue pigment, middle) are either sables or recessive reds, and have no visible merling at all. Here we have a probable harlequin double merle. completely white. These include: Australian Shepherd However, the full pigment on the nose and around the eyes The length of the insertion determines how much merle you see on the dog. It doesn't matter what color merle or what breed they are. this if you're not sure what a Punnet square is. 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. She has a large amount of colour on her body, but she does have a lot of white on her face. Training isn't just for pets - here's your chance to learn too. All rights reserved. health problems for more information. The merle gene carried by the Catahoula is the same that is found in other breeds. Merle affects eumelanin. White double merle Shelties Sasha and Vixen, submitted by Nancy Edmonds, and Muffin the deaf liver-pigmented double merle Australian Shepherd, submitted by Jennifer Mclean.
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