You Might Want to Think Twice About Double Merle Dogs
Lately, it seems pet owners are actively seeking merle dogs and puppies. It’s understandable because merle dogs are strikingly beautiful. However, possessing a gorgeous merle coat color comes with a price that is it carries a recessive gene. This recessive gene becomes a massive problem when two merle dogs are bred together, producing double merle dogs.
What’s the Difference Between Merle & Double Merle Dogs?
Merle dogs have white patches intertwined with blue-and-gray or red-and-tan marbling throughout their bodies and heads. All merle coat dogs carry a recessive gene, as that’s part of inheriting their merle coloring. When two merle dogs are bred, they pass on their recessive genes, which ensures 25% of their litter will inherit two recessive genes (double merle).
Double merle puppies and dogs have large white patches along their bodies and heads more so than merle dogs. Some double merles have completely white coats with little or no merle coloring at all. Dapple and piebald are other names for merle coloring, which means they carry the recessive gene too.
Double Merle Dogs Have a Slew of Health Issues
Double merle dogs are certainly a problem. Recessive genes cause dilation of pigment and coat, producing white dogs. In addition, they carry health issues, including:
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Severe skin issues
- Lack of pigmentation (pink skin)
- Light eyes affected by sunlight (pale blue eyes)
Now, it’s important to understand, merle dogs carry a recessive gene along with a normal dominant gene, and may not exhibit any health issues. But some merle dogs do; it just depends. When two merle dogs are bred together, a puppy inherits double recessive genes. He or she now has a double dose of health issues that could’ve been prevented.
Double Merle Coats are Produced Unethically
Genetics is a fickle game, and much more complicated than filling out a Punnett square with possible genetic outcomes. One thing we do know is breeding two merle dogs will produce a double merle puppy (or puppies, depending on litter size). Knowingly breeding two merle dogs together isn’t fair to puppies and their pet owners. It’s unethical and irresponsible.
Responsible breeders, on the other hand, not only health test all dogs before breeding, but they also have a complete understanding of genetics with possible outcomes. Check out this link for more information on the devastating effects caused by this unethical breeding practice.
Why is This Happening?
Due to the overwhelming request for merle and double merle dogs, uneducated breeders are breeding two merle dogs together assuming this will increase the likelihood of an “all-merle” litter of puppies. Plus, unethical breeders advertise and charge more money for merle or “rare” white coats, which is despicable.
If someone advertises “rare white” puppies for a breed that rarely produces white coats, you can beat your bottom dollar that these puppies are double merle or albino. Breeding dogs should only be done to improve a dog breed and not create puppies with severe health issues that impact their lives forever.
Please, if you decide to purchase a dog or puppy, only purchase from a responsible and educated breeder.
UP NEXT: White Australian Shepherd Dogs