Blog

Merle, also known as dapple in some breeds, is a distinctive pattern of colours used to describe the coat of some dogs. Merle dogs can come in a range of colours, but the pattern is usually a splash of darker shades, marbled against a lighter background. This type of coat is inherited, and the gene that causes this pattern can also affect the colour of a dog’s eyes and some parts of their skin, usually their nose or paw pads. Some merle dogs, specifically those that have two merle parents, have an increased risk of certain health issues.This type of coat is caused by a variation of a particular gene. Each dog has two copies of every gene; one that they inherit from their mother and one they inherit from their father. The merle gene variant is dominant, which means that a dog only needs one copy, inherited from either of their parents, to have a merle coat.

To help you through this difficult process, the best way to track down a new puppy is to get in contact with a trusted breeder through the American Kennel Club or other breed-specific clubs. Breeders should be very knowledgeable and forthright about the benefits and downsides of purchasing a merle.

Merle dogs can come in a wide range of colors, the pattern is often a splash of darker shades against lighter highlights. This particular type of coat is inherited and the gene that causes the pattern can also affect the color of the dog’s eyes and other parts of the skin.

That depends entirely on the breed in question. For some breeds, red or blue merle is one of the most common coat patterns. For other breeds, it’s kind of a novelty coat pattern but not among the most common coats. Both red merle and blue merle are among the few accepted Aussie coat patterns. Other common merle breeds include Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Great Danes, Dachshunds, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, and Catahoula Leopard Dogs. The merle coat pattern arises from a modification in the gene that produces black and brown pigments in the hair. Merle puppies will always inherit this modified DNA strand, whereas non-merle puppies inherit DNA with the merle trait absent. This section will get a little technical about genetics. Essentially, all animals inherit two copies or variants of the same gene from both parents.

Merle is perhaps the most fascinating and misunderstood coat pattern in the pet world. The striking markings are only found in certain dog breeds; no other animal has this trait. Technically, the merle coat pattern can be bred into just about any line, but in practice, merle breeding is highly restricted to only certain breeds.

These variants can be either dominant or recessive, the former usually being expressed over the latter. If the offspring inherits two dominant copies or one dominant copy and another recessive, then the dominant trait will be expressed. If the offspring inherits two recessive copies, then only the recessive trait will be expressed.Suffice to say, it has something to do with the length of the DNA segment that produces the pigmentation. Shorter or longer segments have different effects on the patterns.Because of the health problems associated with the double merle coat, some breed clubs will even forbid a merle-merle cross to prevent any double merle puppies from emerging in the litter. They will instead recommend crossing a merle with a non-merle dog, which dramatically reduces the chances of health problems ever arising.In addition to the coat colors, the merle gene also changes the color of other parts of the body. The eyes are much more likely to be colored blue, while the nose and paw pads may have a more mottled pink appearance.

While it is possible to breed a red and blue merle coat into other types of dog (like, say, a Pitbull), that may disqualify them from purebred status in the eyes of many dog organizations. This can lead to some serious problems with finding a trustworthy breeder, because if the merle trait isn’t part of the breed standard, then reputable breeders usually won’t bother with it, opening the door to all kinds of untrustworthy sources.

Dogs with the merle gene but little to no actual merle patterns are called phantom merle or cryptic merle. The patches are so small it barely looks like a merle at all, but it can still pass on the merle trait to their offspring.In these cases, it’s even more imperative that you do your homework and ask the right questions (especially regarding the dog’s health and any tests they’ve done). Pitbull breeding in particular can sometimes fall prey to these low standards. Be extra careful about buying Pitbulls.

Merle dogs are thought to be at low risk of developing health problems, and their life expectancy is about the same as any other type of dog, but there is one exception: double merle dogs are much more likely to suffer from vision and hearing problems. Various studies have been conducted to understand the risks of a merle coat. One study found that a standard merle dog had a 2.7% chance of deafness in one ear and a 0.9% chance of deafness in both ears.For most breeds, however, merle is completely disallowed by legitimate breeders. This makes it difficult to estimate your likelihood of locating one. While most breeders may try to avoid merles altogether, some do specialize in merle breeding, so you may need to do some research first.The merle coat is unique to certain types of herding dogs and other closely related breeds. This is because the merle coat arose from a unique genetic change in a common ancestor of many modern herding breeds. The Australian Shepherd is probably the one breed that immediately comes to mind when someone mentions merle.

The double merle dog (meaning a dog that inherits two dominant copies of the merle gene) had an astonishing 10% chance of deafness in one ear and 15% deafness in two ears. Double merle dogs also run the risk of developing microphthalmia, in which the two eyes are unusually small and sometimes even non-functional. These risks also vary by breed. The rate of hearing problems was particularly high in double merle Australian Shepherds but a lot lower in double merle Catahoulas. The pronunciation of merle is just as simple as it looks: it rhymes with “girl” or “hurl.” The modern word and its pronunciation probably come to us from the Latin name for the blackbird. It may have entered English usage through the French language in the Middle Ages. Over the years, two other types of merle variations have gained recognition beyond just the “standard” and cryptic merle types: these are called the diluted merle and the harlequin. The diluted merle has light red or black coat colors with no patches at all, whereas the harlequin has a white background with a few large patches of dark pigmentation.Merle can be defined as a mottled coat pattern that combines lighter and darker splotches of the same color. The random patterns are usually unique to the dog, so no two coats may be exactly alike. The merle coat typically comes in either red merle (which is more like liver) or blue merle (which is black or gray); this is surrounded by solid areas of white.

It might be difficult to tell just from looking at them that these are merles, because they don’t exhibit the usual mottled pattern, but they do carry the modified merle gene that can be passed on to their descendants.There is some debate about how serious the double merle trait is. It’s generally true that most double merle dogs will go on to live mostly healthy lives with a normal life expectancy. It’s not a life-threatening problem at all. Still, there’s no reason to put a dog at risk of vision and hearing problems by breeding a double merle dog (especially since it doesn’t even produce the full merle coat colors).

Despite the name, this double merle coat barely looks like a merle at all; it resembles the harlequin, in that it has a lot of solid white fur and relatively few patches. The double merle is generally avoided by responsible breeders for health reasons (which will be covered in the section below).

Their limited vision and hearing causes them to often be startled and surprised. Owners have to take a very careful approach to training these dogs to show them that the world is a friendly and predictable place.

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.Some breeders want to produce more merle dogs as they are more desirable and can be sold for a higher price. They pair two merles together. This pairing produces 1/4 solid dogs, 1/2 merle dogs and 1/4 double merle dogs. Unfortunately, some breeders strive to breed merle dogs for financial reasons. They often do not do health-testing on the parents or even breed dogs with known issues in their lines (such as epilepsy). This is especially prevalent in “high demand merle dog breeds”, such as merle Pitbulls or Fluffy Frenchies. A dog with a single copy of a merle gene is not less healthy than his solid-colored relatives. Double merle dogs however are very different – they are highly impacted by their two copies of the merle gene.Merle dogs of all kinds are beautiful, unique and fascinating. But are they healthy dogs as well? Are any inherent conditions associated with the merle coloring?As long as a dog only has one copy of the merle gene, this is not bad or unhealthy at all. The problems only arise when a dog has two copies of the merle gene and is a double merle – then he will experience an array of health issues.A difficulty in breeding merles is that certain colorings might hide the merle pattern, leading to accidental merle-to-merle breedings. E.g. in Border Collies the rare color ee red/gold hides the merle pattern. Dogs appear to not be merle, but genetically they can be. If such a dog is crossed with another merle dog, this could be an unwanted merle-to-merle breeding, with the unfavorable results of double merle puppies.

Double merles can have varying levels of these conditions. Some dogs are stillborn or pass away soon after birth. Some fail to thrive and never reach the quality of life of their littermates.Others are able to live fairly normal lives, reaching the full size of their breed, being able to go for walks, learn tricks or even participate in dog sports.

In some breeds, merle can be present even if it is not visible (such as in the ee red color in Border Collies). In this case, dogs should have genetic testing done to determine whether only one of them has the merle gene.

Many extremely healthy, athletic and smart dogs are merle, such as many dogs in dog agility. Some merle dogs have even won the Agility World Championship – definitely a sign that the gene are not unhealthy or bad!Many dog owners have heard before that merle dogs are unhealthy and have vision and hearing issues. Is that true? Does it depend on which kind of merle pattern the dog has? The quick answer is that a well-bred merle dog with one copy of the merle gene will be as healthy as a solid-colored dog. If a dog is a so-called “double merle” however, he is likely to suffer from vision, hearing and skin problems. 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. In some embryonic cells, it shrinks to the point of being nearly normal, and the matrix these cells produce is almost complete. During development, cells derived from these near-normal embryonic cells give rise to patches of the fully pigmented coat. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.You may notice that some dogs only have the merle pattern on their face, for example, while others show splotches on their entire body. There’s some additional science behind that. The SILV gene involved with merle in dogs is responsible for producing a matrix that essentially holds the pigment in place. In a non-merle dog, the matrix is completely formed and pigment stays put. But if one SILV allele has this insertion of extra genetic material in it, the matrix has holes in it. Pigment granules escape from the holes, leaving a faded coat color.

Merle in dogs is one of the most intriguing coat patterns in the dog world, both in its appearance and its genetics. Also known as dapple, merle is characterized by irregular blotches of fur set on a lighter background of the same pigment, such as solid black on gray (called blue merle) or solid brown on tan (red merle). Blue and partially blue eyes are often seen with the merle pattern, as well.Regardless, it’s best to avoid breeding a merle to a merle. Because both parents will have the Mm genotype, on average only half the offspring will be merle (Mm). More importantly, you’re likely to produce a quarter that are double-merle (MM). Although beautiful and unique, this color can also be associated with health problems, primarily deafness and blindness. Awareness is key to responsible breeding; it is not recommended to breed two merles together. The merle allele was first discovered at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2006. The merle coat color is governed by a type of mutation called a SINE insertion in the SILV (also called PMEL17) gene.The merle coat color lies in basic genetics, where there is a dominant and recessive trait to produce those gorgeous splotches. This is the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m). The merle (M) allele is a semi-dominant gene, meaning it only takes one copy of the M allele to produce a merle. So, every merle dog has one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m), meaning every merle dog has an Mm genotype, and, therefore, every non-merle dog has an mm genotype.What about dogs with two merle alleles (MM)? These “double merles” (or “double-dapples”) don’t look like merles. They usually have much more white on them—and some can be almost pure white. The fully pigmented splotches are much smaller, and the background color is much whiter.Although not all double-merles have auditory or visual problems, it’s best to avoid taking the chance. That sounds simple enough: Just don’t breed two merles together. The problem is that not all merles are obvious, such as “hidden” merle and “cryptic merle.”

In hidden merle, the merle pattern is hidden by the action of genes at another location. The recessive “ee” genotype inhibits the expression of any dark pigment, including the dark pigment in merles. If a dog were Mm and ee, it would just look cream or red in any pigmented area since the merle mutation only affects dark pigment. In cryptic merle, the merle pattern is expressed only in very small areas, so small you might not notice them unless you searched the dog’s entire body for a trace. But these dogs can also carry the M allele and may produce merles as well.The merle pattern can lead to a slew of health problems. The most common is hearing loss in one or both ears. 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. The presence of two M genes, however, greatly increases the chance of deafness, depending on what breed it’s in. For example, in one study, about 10 percent of MM Catahoula Leopard Dogs, about 56 percent of MM Australian Shepherds, and about 85 percent of all other MM dogs studied were deaf in both ears.

Merle is a complicated and fascinating color pattern—both in appearance and in genetics. That’s why dog breeders and geneticists alike consider merle in dogs beautiful.

As you can see, while the inheritance of merle in dogs seems simple at first, it can get pretty complicated. Fortunately, you don’t really need to know any more about the science to appreciate its beauty and to make wise breeding decisions.

Research shows that the gene responsible for merle in dogs is the same in every breed, indicating that it is an ancient mutation that predates the formation of dog breeds. It is unlikely to have arisen independently in different breeds.

Double-merle dogs also often have microphthalmia, in which the eyes are abnormally small (sometimes barely there) and often nonfunctional. They may also have abnormal pupils.Researchers don’t yet know why any of these abnormalities are associated with double merle; possibly it’s because the merle mutation affects melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin pigment, and melanocytes are found not only in the skin but in the eye and inner ear, as well as the bones and heart.

Yes, some are registered with AKC but the majority are MSCA, APRI, or CKC registered. Registration is just a piece of paper stating the dog is purebred. It does not matter with what registry it comes from as long as the dog is in fact registerable. A Blue Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas all over their body. Blue Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. They come in many shades. But you will never see banded shades together if it is pure. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. Parti Merles are just the same as Blue, Black & Silver, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Platinum silver, and Wheaten Merles except they have patches/spots of the merle marking on their body. Merle Parti can be a combination of any color above with White that goes over the top line of the dog. Usually, they will have mostly White legs too. Eye and nose color will follow suit of the dog’s base color. If they are Blue, Salt& Pepper, Black & Silver, or Silver Parti Merle they usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. If they are Liver, Liver Pepper, or Liver & Tan Parti Merles, then they will have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.Sable Merle is the hardest color for people to understand. Most breeders will mistake them at birth as another color. They come in Cream, Peach, or Apricot looking colors. Their birth spots are not true and not jet Black. Sables will most likely fade out to the Cream color by six months old due to the sable gene working like the slat and pepper since they are both on the “a” locus You will not see their Merle markings at all for the rest of their life. This is a proven fact about color. Most will call them Blue Merle at birth, but they are not Blue at all. For this color, I have posted each line with the same dog so you can see some of the significant color changes in this color. True Wheaten Merles will have black noses, black pads, and brown, or blue eyes

Liver Pepper Parti’s possess a Liver Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The spots on a Liver Pepper Parti sometimes fade out into a light liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.

Black Parti’s possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The patches on a Black Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Some Partis have a solid color on their backs, that is why some breeders call them blanket partis. This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name “Blanket Parti,” they are still registered as a Black Parti. Their markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.(Diluted Black & Silver) Born with blue bodies and tan on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have dark brown or hazel-looking eyes, blu pads, and a blue nose.

A Liver Pepper Merles base coat color is Liver with a Peppering gene on top, they have diluted colored areas all over the body. Just like in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Liver Pepper can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Your dark spots can also be peppered. Some breeders are calling their dogs (Liver, Chocolate, or Brown) Merles when in fact they are Liver Pepper Merles. To know the difference look for the banded hair. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.

Born with solid black bodies. It is common for black schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.Liver & Tan Parti’s possess a Liver base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. They are just the same as a Liver parti but have white eyebrows, a white chest and a white beard just like al Liver & Tan would have. The spots on a Liver & Tan Parti sometimes fade out into a liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown noseBorn with solid chocolate bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, chocolate pads & a chocolate nose.A Liver Merles base color is Liver (brown) with diluted colored areas all over their body. Liver Merles are the primary color of a brown cream color with true Liver (Brown) spots. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.This color Merles base coat is Salt & Pepper with diluted gray colored areas all over their body. Salt N Pepper Merle is the same as a true Salt N Pepper Schnauzer, banded shades of gray with Black Spots. As in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Salt N Pepper’s can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Some breeders are calling their dogs Salt N Pepper Merles when in fact they are Blue Merle. To know the difference, look for the banded hair. They usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose.

Black & Rusts are born with a Black base coat and have orange or rust-colored eyebrows, beard, chest, and, patch under the tail. Black & Rusts are born in many different shades of orange/rust, the darker the orange/rust, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as a Black & Silver through AKC and typically have brown eyes; black pads and a black nose. Creams are born in many different shades. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose. A true White Chocolate Schnauzer is born solid white. The skin underneath their hair is usually pink. They typically have brown, hazel, OR green eyes; brown pads, and a brown nose.

Reds are born in many different shades of orange/red, the darker the color, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.

Please look up Cora, Rose, Duke, Davie & Daisy’s full DNA genetic vet report done on both of my merles. They have been tested for over 168 different hereditary issues that can be passed down to puppies and not a single one is affected by any issue, not even a carrier. So all this bad talk on merles is not even true, it’s all made up. Words are words but evidence or proof is far more valuable!! Merles ARE healthy and are just the SAME as any other Schnauzer. I own a few, and I see nothing different about them at all, and NO they DO NOT shed.A Black & Silver Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same as the blue merle, but it has white eyebrows, a white chest, and white under the tail just like a black and silver Schnauzer. Black & Silver Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.

Black & Silver Parti’s possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Black & Silver Parti’s are just the same as a black parti but have white eyebrows, white chest and white beard just like a Black & Silver would have. The spots on a Black & Silver Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Their Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.Salt & Pepper Parti’s possess a Salt & Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Every parti has different markings; Some have their Entire back one color and the underside white, some breeders call those “Blanket Parti’s.” This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name “Blanket Parti,” they are still registered as a Salt & Pepper Parti. Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light just like the Salt & Pepper. Salt & Pepper Partis have banded hairs of gray & white on the gray patches that usually always fade out into a lighter gray as they age. They typically have brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.

This is another rare colored schnauzer as well. They are registered as a Salt & Pepper or wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel, or green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose. Sable is on the same “a” locus as salt and pepper are.Born in many different colors just like a regular parti does except where the white is, whatever color the dog’s spots are will start growing in with white hair making it look smoky. It’s gorgeous; this is also a more rare marking. One thing you need to know is that Ticked Parti markings change drastically over time. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose depending on the color of the dog.

The answer is YES, AKC does recognize and register all these different colors as purebred Schnauzers. You’re welcome to contact AKC for more information at (919) 233-9767 regarding these colors and their registration color codes are. There are a lot of crazy (what I call color racist) people out there who just can’t accept any color other than the three colors that are allowed in the show ring. They make up things like they are not purebred or they are fakes, and NO they are not. I spoke to one lady who was one of those snooty show dog people, and she told me I would have to fix my white male and sell him before she would ever sell to me. She also said back in the day when white puppies were born they would dispose of them or euthanize them!! How sad is that, all because it was not one of the three main colors the AMSCA decided to keep out of all the other colors that came into the breed from the poodles and pinchers that were bred back in the 1800s? to create the mini schnauzer. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I own one of just about every color they come in, and I can tell you there is no difference and they all are purebred dogs. So my advice is, make your own decisions don’t let someone tell you what to do. Educate yourself and learn all about the history of schnauzers. As you choose a puppy, keep in mind that a lot of schnauzers fade over time. So black & Silver could end up looking like a Salt & Pepper, Liver could end up looking like a Liver Pepper, and so on. So we encourage you to do your research, this way you can be comfortable with all the colors and what to expect. Then you can have a blast picking out your favorite one!(Diluted Black) Born with solid blue bodies. It is common for blue schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, blue pads, and a blue nose.

No, absolutely not or we would not keep breeding them neither would any other responsible breeder. What had happened was, when merle Schnauzers first came about some breeders bred Merles to Merles, and that is bad. If people did a little research, they would find out that in just about every breed of dog that has merle coat colors, breeding Merle to Merle is a MAJOR no-no. If you breed Merle to Merle 1 in every four puppies is born with blindness or deafness. So it’s simple, we NEVER breed Merle to Merle. So, therefore, there are NEVER any health issues. If you would like to see it for yourself, you are more than welcome to come here. Just give us a call, and we can schedule a day for you to come.

Platinum silvers are the lightest shade of salt & pepper schnauzers you can find. They are born a very light gray color and may have banded hairs that turn into an extremely light silver, and some can even appear almost white. AKC registers Platinums as Salt & Pepper. They usually have Brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.Merles come in many different colors. There are Blue, Blue & Tan, Black & Silver, Lilac, Lilac & Tan, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Silver, Sable, and Red Merles. They come in parti markings as well in the same colors. Whatever the merles base coat color is, the merle gene dilutes the coat color in different areas, that is how the Merle pattern is createdA Liver & Tan Merle base coat color is Liver & Tan with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same same as a Liver Merle except it has tan eyebrows, tan beard, and, tan under the tail just like a regular Liver & Tan Schnauzer. Some Liver & Tans can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.Born with solid lilac bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, lilac pads & a lilac nose. @Jon Doe, Did you not read the article? This article even says that there’s more health problems associated with Merle. So how is it a lie? Also please don’t dilute the term gaslight. If you don’t know what it means please don’t use it. A purpose bred mutt is one thing. But cross breeding with a
breed that already has substantial health issues to get a not naturally occurring colour associated with even more health issues does NOTHING to benefit the breed. It is irresponsible, has a hugely negative impact on the breeds longevity, and dilutes the breed so preservation is more of an issue. It puts a huge risk out there for double Merles because people let them breed because they’re uneducated and have no business breeding and have no idea how bad it is, or they do it to get more Merle puppies cos they can get $10k+ per puppy. Buying Merle frenchies is is just paying way too much for a mutt, that’s likely gonna have a rough life, and it supports backyard breeding which should be made illegal at this point. If you want a Merle dog, get a breed where Merle is naturally occurring. These 8 colors are officially recognized by the AKC as an “official” French Bulldog color — any others aren’t officially considered a Frenchie to the AKC.It’s also important to note that some solid-colored French Bulldogs may actually be “cryptic” or “phantom” Merles, meaning that they carry the Merle gene even though they don’t appear to be Merle.

This means that you’re going to pay at least a couple thousand dollars for a well-bred Frenchie… did you know that the average cost to breed a Frenchie is $7,000!

When a Merle French Bulldog (Mm) is bred with a non-Merle French Bulldog (mm), on average, half of the puppies produced will inherit the “M” allele and be Merle (Mm) and half will inherit the non-Merle allele and be non-Merle (mm).

It’s important to note that breeding two Merle French Bulldogs together (MM) can result in the production of double Merle puppies, which are associated with a higher risk of health problems.

A double Merle is usually the result of breeding two Merle dogs together — a practice that is generally frowned upon by breeding organizations and veterinarians due to their health issues.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.With that being said, there is lots of variation in Merle Frenchies… so one might look nothing like another. Just compare the Frenchie above to the next one below!

A Merle French Bulldog will cost more than your average Frenchie — expect to pay $6,500 or more for a well-bred Merle Frenchie from a reputable breeder.@Jennifer Darcy, to everyone that supports their own ignorance towards the breeding of Merle’s please… at least support Rachel Keech of Facebook who takes in the damaged puppies of your breeding Merle’s. Don’t breed Merle’s! @Renee, if it’s Merle, it’s not a frenchie. Frenchies can’t be Merle without crossbreeding. You esentially have a backyard bred mutt. There’s no such thing as a well bred Merle frenchie. And no reputable breeder will breed designer colours not naturally occurring in the breed. No one should buy a Merle French Bulldog and it is completely irresponsible to breed them. There are numerous health issues associated with this color. Do your research.Official breeders of Rare-Coloured Schnauzers based in Greater Essex Area, Ontario, Canada. We aim to gift every family only the finest Schnauzers that comes from non-incest breeding. With years of experience, all our schnauzers have been raised in a family home located in the county. We provide nurture and discipline to ensure all our Schnauzers will be impeccable family dogs that will bring a lifetime of joy.

Additionally, we and our advertising partners store and/or access information on your device and also process personal data, like unique identifiers, browsing activity, and other standard information sent by your device including your IP address. This information is collected over time and used for personalized ads, ad measurement, audience insights, and product development specific to our ads program.Hello there! We take your privacy seriously, and want to be as transparent as possible. So: We (and our partners) use cookies to collect some personal data from you. Some of these cookies we absolutely need in order to make things work, and others you can choose in order to optimize your experience while using our site and services. It’s up to you!Unlike the other non-standard colors, merle is not the result of recessive genes hiding from the original outcrossing done to downsize the Standard Schnauzer. In fact, the introduction of the merle gene by crossing to other breeds (especially Australian Shepherds, Pomeranians, and Poodles) is well documented. The initial cross was made specifically to introduce the merle color into the Miniature Schnauzer gene pool, with subsequent generations using only these Schnauzer mixes and purebred Schnauzers. Some breed enthusiasts argue that a merle Schnauzer cannot be purebred due to the color, while proponents argue that after the fifth generation they breed true with essentially none of the traits from the original crossbreeding remaining. This is a striking pattern with a lot of controversy behind it due to the health problems associated with the merle gene.Eye Color: The Merle gene can affect the pigmentation of the eyes in Miniature Schnauzers. It is not uncommon for Merle Schnauzers to have partial or complete blue pigmentation in one or both eyes. This blue coloration can range from a light blue hue to a deeper, more vibrant shade.

The merle gene is a dilution gene that lightens whatever the color coat would have been. It can affect all colors as the alleles that produce the pattern are dominant. Also, the merle gene can affect the coloring on the nose and paw pads as well as modify the dark pigment in the eyes to complete or partial blue.If you’re considering bringing home a Miniature Schnauzer, there are plenty of color options for you to choose from including black, white, salt & pepper, and black & silver. All color variants share the same amazing personality, so you can expect your furry friend to be affectionate, curious, alert and playful. They also have the same appearance: robust, sturdy and nearly square built.

Genetic Inheritance: The merle gene responsible for the distinctive coat pattern in the Merle Miniature Schnauzer is inherited in a dominant manner. This means that if a Merle Schnauzer is bred with a non-merle Schnauzer, there is a chance that some of the offspring will inherit the merle gene and display the characteristic coat pattern.

Blue Merle: Blue merle Schnauzers have a base coat color that ranges from a light silvery-gray to a dark bluish-gray. The random patches or marbling on their coat consist of darker shades of blue-gray, creating a visually striking and elegant appearance. Like all other variants of the Miniature Schnauzer, the history of Merle Miniature Schnauzers can be traced to the emergence of Schnauzers, which were originally a German breed dog. They were crossed with other breeds like Affenpinchsers and poodles to reduce their size so they could serve as ratters and guard dogs on farms. The result of the cross-breeding is the Miniature Schnauzers. The merle coat pattern in Miniature Schnauzers can display a variety of colors and appearances. Here are some common merle coat variations and their characteristics: Heterochromia: Heterochromia refers to a condition where an individual has different-colored eyes. While not exclusive to Merle Miniature Schnauzers, it can occasionally occur in dogs with the Merle coat pattern. Some Merle Schnauzers may have one eye that is blue and the other eye that is brown or another color, resulting in a striking and unique appearance. Merle-associated deafness occurs when the Merle gene is present in a dog and affects the development of the inner ear. It can lead to varying degrees of hearing loss or complete deafness in one or both ears. This condition is more commonly observed in dogs with excessive merle patterns, such as those with double merle (two copies of the Merle gene).It’s important to note that Merle-associated deafness is not exclusive to Merle Miniature Schnauzers and can occur in other dog breeds with the Merle coat pattern as well. Isabella Merle: Isabella merle Schnauzers have a base coat color that ranges from light cream to pale fawn. The merle pattern on their coat includes patches or streaks of diluted chocolate or taupe color, creating a unique and delicate combination. Sensitivity to Sunlight: Some Merle-coated dogs, including Merle Miniature Schnauzers, may have increased sensitivity to sunlight. The lighter patches of their coat, particularly if they lack pigmentation, may be more susceptible to sunburn. It’s important to provide adequate protection from the sun, such as by limiting sun exposure during peak hours, using pet-safe sunscreen, and providing shade.

Chocolate Merle: Chocolate merle Schnauzers have a base coat color that ranges from light tan to rich chocolate brown. The merle pattern on their coat consists of patches or speckles of darker brown or chocolate color, creating a warm and appealing overall look.