The merle coat is one of the most sought after coats in dogs, and there are many breeds that have this type of coat. The merle coat is a dilute version of the normal dog coat, and it comes in many different colors.
The following is a list of dog breeds that have a merle coat:
- Australian Shepherd
- Border Collie
- Collie
- Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler
- Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
- American Cocker Spaniel
Merle coats in dogs are most often seen in various breeds of Australian Shepherds, Collies and Dalmatians. Merle coats are also seen in some breeds of cats, which is why they’re sometimes called “merle cats.”
Merles are a type of coat pattern that occurs when two recessive genes for the color gene (which controls whether a dog has a black or solid coat) combine. The colors that can be produced by two merle factors are blue, gray, red and cream.
Dog Breeds With Merle Coats
The most common method used to identify merles is by looking at the eyes. If your dog has one blue eye and one brown eye, it’s likely he’s a merle. If both eyes are the same color (such as blue), then he’s likely not a merle.
Though there are many variations of this coat pattern, all of them share similar characteristics:
- They have white spots scattered over their bodies (usually around their faces)
- Their noses tend to be pinkish or liver colored instead of black like other dogs’ noses
- They have blue eyes
Merle is a coat pattern that’s often associated with Dalmatians and other dog breeds. It’s also sometimes called dapple or splotchy, but it can appear in any breed and isn’t limited to just one coat color.
The merle gene is actually a group of three genes that control the distribution of black pigment in the coat. A dog with two copies of the merle gene (one from each parent) will have a merle coat and other physical traits that are associated with this patterning.
Merle coats often have spots or patches of darker pigment on them, giving them a speckled or mottled appearance. These spots vary in size and intensity depending on how many copies of the merle gene a dog has — some dogs have large spots while others have small ones.
In addition to their coat patterns, merles also tend to have less pigment in their eyes than non-merles do. This means their eyes may appear blue or even partially green because they don’t have as much black pigment as other dogs do.
Merle coats can come in any color combination, including white, cream or tan (which are technically shades of yellow). Some breeds lend themselves better
Merle is a coat color pattern that occurs in dogs, horses and sheep. Merle has been associated with several genetic conditions, most commonly deafness, blindness and skin disease. The merle gene is responsible for the dilution of pigmentation and can be found in many different dog breeds.
The merle gene has been associated with several health problems, which are discussed below. This does not mean that every dog with a merle coat will have these health issues.
Deafness: Some dogs with a merle coat are deaf due to the loss of pigment in their inner ear. If a dog inherits two copies of the merle gene from each parent, he may have bilateral (both ears) or unilateral (one ear) deafness because there is no pigment present on the inner ear to allow sound waves to pass through and reach his brain.
Blindness: Some dogs inherit two copies of the merle gene from both parents and develop bilateral blindness as a result of lack of pigment on their retinas which results in poor vision. It is important to note that not all dogs that have two copies of the merle gene will be blind or deaf; however, there are some estimated 50% deaf/blind dogs due to this condition
Merle is a coat pattern that can be found in many dog breeds. It’s characterized by splotches of color on a lighter base coat, which usually has a white or light brown background. The merle pattern can appear on any of the dog’s body parts and may occur on either the full or part-bred parent — but it will never show up in both parents’ offspring.
Because of their unique coloring, many people have misconceptions about merle dogs and how they should be treated differently than other dogs. While these animals do require special care, they’re just as loving, loyal and protective as any other pet — if not more so!
Here are some facts about merle dogs:
It may seem counterintuitive, but having two merles in your breeding program can make your pups more likely to inherit certain genetic defects that should be avoided if possible. For example, one study found that puppies born from two merle parents were highly prone to deafness and eye abnormalities.
A puppy with two merles could potentially be born deaf or blind (or both). If this happens, it won’t be apparent until after he’s born and can’t be helped by any treatment or surgery later on in life.