Because of this trait a person is often unaware that they are a part of the blue merle group.
Blue merle coat dogs.
There s the joyful mix of blue black and white commonly seen on australian shepherds as well as the smoky look popular among pit bulls.
Health of merle colored dogs the merle gene is unfortunately linked with impaired function of the auditory ophthalmologic systems and immune systems of dogs.
The coat doesn t impact the dog s ability to learn.
A dilution gene its presence can lighten the color of the dog rsquo s coat often creating a dappling effect as well as vary the eye rsquo s colored part iris.
The blue merle and white australian shepherd is a merle variation as marvelous as the blue merle tri color.
The problem with merle coat patterns in dogs merles are popular so it seems logical to breed two merles together to get more.
Borders are known for their high energy levels and willingness to work with humans.
These dogs have the iconic blue merle coat as a base color.
So they should find training fun.
A variety of coat and iris colors in dogs are the result of the merle gene.
There are two general types of colored patches that will appear in a merle coat.
A merle coat in dogs is one of the most interesting and beautiful variations to come from breeding.
Merle patterning is a distinguishing trait in several breeds particularly border collies australian shepherds and catahoula leopard dogs the merle gene also plays a key role in producing the harlequin coat in great danes.
The merle gene creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat blue or odd colored eyes and can affect skin pigment as well.
A true blue merle blue will have a very subtle coat and a varied coloring.
Generally characterized by a coat full of dots and dark colored swirls on top of a lighter base color merle is an in demand look in the dog world.
Merle dapple adorable whatever your name for it there s no mistaking this eye catching coat pattern.
As a result they re considered the second most popular variation among blue merles.
Blue merles can exhibit a range of coat markings.
Merle acts upon eye pigment in the iris as well so a blue eyed merle dog or merle dogs with partially blue eyes are common.
The most common merle pattern and the one described in most breed standards is a coat that is approximately 50 percent merle or gray blue and 50 percent black patches.
So just treat them as a normal border collie.
Merle is a genetic pattern that can be in a dog s coat merle comes in different colors and patterns and can affect all coat colors.
Unfortunately the intriguing dog merle coat is associated with.
Owners of blue merle border collies need make no special allowances for training.
But here s why breeding merle to merle is actually a bad idea.