What is a dilute merle?

Dilution. A dilute is a dog that is dd on the D locus. dd turns a black dog into a blue dog (with a blue nose and amber eyes) and a liver dog into an isabella. A merle with the dilution gene will appear very washed-out. The black or liver patches will be diluted almost to the same shade as the base colour.

What can you breed a merle with?

The following breeds carry merle and are recognized by the AKC as an acceptable color: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Catahoula Leopard Dog, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Collie (rough or smooth), Dachshund (called dapple), Great Dane (harlequin acts the same), Mudi, Old English Sheepdog.

Can you breed dilute Aussies?

The gene is recessive, so both parents have to carry it for a dilute puppy to be produced. If a dilute dog were bred, all of it’s offspring would carry the dilute gene. The mode of inheritance for dilution spots is not known, but dogs which have them are more likely to throw them. Thank you!

What is wrong with breeding merle?

The merle gene is known to cause a number of health problems, mostly deafness and blindness, and also sun sensitivity and higher rates of skin cancer. These problems are unusual in heterozygous merles (Mm) but more common in homozygous merles (MM).

Is the merle gene bad?

Is the merle gene bad? 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.

What does dilute mean in dogs?

Quick Summary. Several gene variants are known to produce dilute coloration in dogs. Colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades as a result of the variants’ effects on pigmentation.

Are dilute Aussies rare?

Also called the “Maltese dilution” or MLPH for short, the dilute color is a recessive gene that’s become one of the most common non-standard color on Aussies.

Can you breed two Blue merle Aussies?

This term refers to a puppy bred by two merle colored Aussie parents. Many people are unaware, but when two merles (of any breed) are bred together, each puppy has a 25\% chance of being born as a double merle. In the rescue world, we tend to refer to these Aussies as “Lethal Whites”.

Why are Merle dogs bad?

It is known that merle coated dogs have a slightly increased risk of hearing problems, possibly due to the Silv gene. So when a dog inherits two copies of the gene, the risks of hearing problems would seem likely to double.

Can you breed a Merle dog with a Merle carrier?

Merle to Merle breedings is a big NO NO and breeding a Merle dog to a dog that doesn’t show any visible signs of being Merle but has a Merle parent should not be bred together. You should do extensive genetic DNA research to prevent a possible health disaster.

What happens if you breed two merle dogs together?

Thus, if you breed two merle dogs together there is a 25\% chance that your dog will be a double merle which typically results in blindness and deafness depending on the severity of the dilution. In general, you should never be breeding two merle colored dogs together. The Downsides of a Double Merle Dog

Can a merle dog have a dilute DT?

Spontaneous changes in oligo (dT) length can also occur in the germline, such that a standard merle dog can produce a “surprise” dilute or harlequin merle puppy. The dilute merle phenotype resembles the characteristic grey coat of a recessive disease of collies, cyclic neutropenia, that requires humane euthanasia of puppies.

What should I look for when buying a merle dog?

If you ever see a litter of Australian Shepherds, Great Danes, or Border Collies with white coats you should definitely be wary because that is not a reputable breeder. In addition, before purchasing a dog with merle coloring, make sure that the breeder is reputable.

What is a dilute merle Collie?

The dilute merle phenotype resembles the characteristic grey coat of a recessive disease of collies, cyclic neutropenia, that requires humane euthanasia of puppies. Harlequin merle can resemble another common coat pattern, piebald, which can be troublesome for breeders in countries or breed clubs where this phenotype is prohibited.