One of the most debating topic among many poodle breeders is the merle gene. One thing for sure is that poodles have a lot of different coat variations, but none of them can be compared to the uniqueness of the merle. These poodles are said to be rare which is why the topic can be controversial. One of the number one question being ask by most people are what is merle poodles? What’s the main reason for their unique color pattern?
Let’s start by saying that merle poodles have a unique color pattern with patches. The solid colored based has a pattern on top in the same color as the base. These eye-catching color pattern is said to be a result of the merle gene inherited from one or both parents. The downside with these breeds is that they are not a purebred and is not recognized in any shape or form by the AKC.
The thing is that merle poodles actually comes in all poodle varieties. You can find standard, miniature and toy poodles in merle. Continue reading so that you can learn about the merle breeds.
Can Poodles Be Merle?
The short answer yes, poodles can be merle, it’s just not a common thing. There are breeders who bred poodles so that they can display a merle pattern, though this process can be quite challenging. Merle are very attractive due to the fact that there are patterns across the entire dog. Other merle breeds that you’ll also hear about is Australian shepherds, great danes or dachshunds.
Are Merle Poodles Purebred Dogs?
This topic on whether or not a merle poodle is purebred can be quite controversial.
There are many breeders out there who actually think that the merle pattern is a result of breeding outside the breed with other dogs including the Great Danes and Australians Shepherd, which is known to have a natural merle coat.
Due to the fact that these dogs comes at a high price, you have many poodle breeders who actually loses their ethics over time. Because of this it is pretty much safe to say that these breeders doesn’t really care about carrying forth a purebred poodle.
There also have being a debate on whether it is effective to bred a standard poodle with an Australian Shepherd-poodle mix. Even though you will get a poodle by no means, it will actually have a terrible merle coat.
On the other you have breeders who thinks that the merle gene has always being present in the poodles, just that it was under the radar all these times. The reason why we weren’t aware of this gene is because breeders tend to rather use a more solid color coat in the breeding process.
Why Don’t The American Kennel Club Recognize Merle Poodles?
There are many theories going around stating why the AKC doesn’t accept merle poodles within their guidelines. One of the main reason for this is because the merle coat is a sign that another breed was introduced in the family line.
There have been a huge debate circulating for many years around registering merle poodles. Base on studies it is said that merle gene was actually added into the purebred poodle blooding many years ago.
A few breeders have made it clear that in their blood line, poodles were registered as a different color and over a period of time the merle gene was introduced so breeders took the opportunity to register their merle gene carrying poodles with the AKC.
We have compiled a list of some of the breed standard colors for poodles within the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club.
- Gray
- Brown
- Silver
- Blue
- White
- Black
- Red
- Cream
- Apricot
- White
Are Merle Poodles Unhealthy?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, there are two types of merle poodles which includes the merle and double merle and it has to do with their genetics. Because of their genetics, both poodles tend to have different health issues.
Same as all dog breeds out there, merle poodles has the ability to develop several health issues including:
- Illness
- Genetic mutations
- Predisposition
It is safe to say that merle does have a higher chance of developing these health issues when compared to a poodle that doesn’t have the merle gene.
Health Issues With Double Merle Poodles
Let’s not forget about the double merle poodles. They are very well known to have a higher chance of developing health problems. With double merle poodles you can expect to see serious health issues including:
- Deafness
- Blindness
- Deformed
Keep in mind that double merle poodles are normally born from each parent that has a copy of the merle gene. This tend to cause a lack of pigment throughout their bodies, which may result in them not having the ability to hear or see properly. There are even rare cases where double merles may even be born with missing eyes or ears.
There are lots of breeders who deny the fact that there are high chances of your merle poodles having health risks, while there are many who acknowledge the fact that there can be huge risk when it comes to breeding double merle.
Are Merle Poodles Expensive
Merle poodles are known to be quite expensive. While a regular standard, toy or miniature poodle can cost you around $1,500 to $3,000 for a purebred dog. The price ranges tend to differ a lot when it comes to merle poodles as they are known to cost as much as $6000.
Do Merle Poodles Fade?
No, you don’t have to ever worry about your merle poodle fading in color. The good news is that merle poodles actually keep their color for life. The only difference you might see when they are growing older is grey hairs growing where the black patches are located. With that said, a merle poodle will keep their exact color from the day they were born throughout their entire life.
The only poodles that tend to change colors over a period of time are red, blue and silver. Bear in mind that they all start out with black color until their color starts to change around age three. The main reason for this is because they have a dilute gene that actually takes sometime to be apparent. With the merle poodle coat, it has been diluted from the day they were born.
Merle Poodle Temperament
Apart from their unique eye-catching color, there are many people who are also concerned about their temperament. It is said that merle poodles are usually calm, loyal and obedient. They also try their best to make others comfortable while showing love and affection towards their owners.
There are several breeders who have cracked the code over the years and observe the difference between their coat and temperament.
It is said black coat merle are the more intelligent kind but doesn’t gree well with strangers, while cream and apricot merle poodles are more calm and gentle and the kind to show affection.
Most merle owners think it is accurate and this is probably because the color is usually passed down from one generation to another. Not saying you will experience the same result in all merle poodles, but the chance is a bit higher.
Conclusion
Before you even consider investing in a merle poodle you should do your background check on the breeder and their practice. As you already know, poodles are an investment which is why you should spend your money wisely. Merle poodles are known to be quite unique with their eye-catching patterns. The only downside with these breeds is that registration can be a bit tricky.