They may then be passed to a rescue or euthanised if the owner does not think they can cope with the pup's problems. It can also affect the retina, an optic nerve. As long as there are merle coated dogs, double merles will be produced, usually by accident or through ignorance on the part of the breeder. Its the array of colors admirers of this fluffy herding dog know by sight, if not by name. If we have convinced you to give one of these amazing dogs a try in your home, please share this guide to the Blue Merle Australian Shepherd on Facebook and Twitter. I have recently been looking into getting a Border Collie puppy, and this is how I got here. Sometimes the solid blue merle can have white markings on the fact, chest, or underbelly but still be solid. (Were still working that one out.) Aussie Shepherds are a popular breed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Answered by Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, MRCVS (Vet), Dog Breaks or Tears a Nail? This coloration has the same history as all other colors of Australian Shepherds. This can lead to problems with vision when going from light to dark areas. This was a favorite of sheep herders in the area. She limps but very hard to control , very high energy . They are getting coordinated, beginning to show personality and beginning to play with their litter mates. This litter is doing very well and all have nice markings. There are several answers to this question, the first being pure ignorance. She is a pretty low price compared to a lot of other puppies, only $350. Very useful article. Licensed under CC BY-S. Double merles may also be deaf due to lack of pigment in the inner ear. No, Amy it is not safe to breed a merle dog with another merle dog. Dedicate time for regular, daily exercise sessions. By continuing to browse this site, you give consent for cookies to be used. In this section, well take a look at why its important to take account of genetics when looking at Blue Merle Aussies. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2009. The irises can be defective, or the lens can be off-center. Dogs with one copy of the blue merle gene (from one parent) and another copy of a different color gene (from the other parent) are known as heterozygous merles. Heres What to Do (Vet Answer). Your email address will not be published. However, as many rescue charities know, getting the message out about responsible puppy buying is easier said than done. But as this is unlikely to happen, accidental creations of double merles will continue to occur. Another study [Light microscopy studies of the cornea of Merle dachshunds] found that merles had a "significantly greater" frequency of eye abnormalities than non-merles. This means that looking at the dog wouldnt be enough to tell its merle. Is that true? Subsequent breeding with Border Collies left the Australian Shepherd appearing more like the dog we recognize today. Unfortunately, Any didn't understand a single word of it. There may be a link between pale coloured eyes and eye problems, but so far the scientific research to back this claim has not emerged in the public domain. Since then, Aussie Shepherds have been popular ranch dogs and rodeo dogs, as well as showing their suitability as service dogs. The question many ask is, if breeding merle to merle has such a high chance of producing a disabled puppy, why would anyone do it? Their eyes are just as unusual. Merle is a semi-dominant trait, meaning that the odds of it taking over in the offspring are very high but not guaranteed. Weight: 45 - 65 lbs. Boston Terrier puppies. I offered to take him, and she accepted. Other big ones to look out for with Australian shepherds are hypothyroidism, Collie nose, and cancer. In breeds such as the Shetland Sheepdog there is also a form of coat colour known as 'colour-headed white' (seen more often in the US than the UK, where it is an undesirable pattern for showing). The way genetics work is that a puppy inherits one colour gene from each parent, this means that puppies in a merle x merle litter could be normal merles (Mm), non-merles (mm) or double merles (MM). For example, in a litter of mixed colour puppies the non-merles will be (mm), while a merle will be (Mm), meaning it has inherited one merle gene and one non-merle gene. Myth vs Reality, My Dog Ate Raw Chicken! They often go blind or deaf if theyre not already born that way. Both parents are on site. Featured Image Credit: Vera Reva, Shutterstock. This breed is prone to health conditions like nasal dermatitis, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy. The exact function of Silv and how it affects pigment is unknown and remains controversial. The American Kennel Club ranks them 16 of the 193 breeds they recognize. In this case, even if bred with a non-merle (mm), the large Ms tend to take over (hence the gene being semi-dominant), and can create an all merle litter. I am very emotionally attached to all my pets, as I have a loving Corgi and a cat that doesnt show affection like her brother, but I know she loves me deep down inside. Blue merle Shetland Sheepdog (sheltie). If he lacks activity, he will often become extremely destructive and develop other severe behavioral problems. That said, these dogs do have serious disabilities. Ideally, anyone selling a merle puppy should explain to the new owner the risks associated with breeding merle to merle, especially if that person already has a merle dog of the opposite sex to the puppy. Sometimes there are small patches of evidence, but they could be hidden in white swaths of fur and be indistinguishable. Hepper is reader-supported. Weekly brushing is often sufficient. The name stuck. Do you have a Blue Merle Aussie? The entity may operate under an alternate, assumed, and/or fictitious name in certain jurisdictions as approved, including MetLife Pet Insurance Services LLC (New York and Minnesota), MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions Agency LLC (Illinois), and such other alternate, assumed, or fictitious names approved by certain jurisdictions. Merles commonly have blue eyes. Some fail to thrive and never reach the quality of life of their littermates. Required fields are marked *. This is especially prevalent in high demand merle dog breeds,such as merle Pitbullsor Fluffy Frenchies. She is a blue merle, but she only has it small patches on one of her shoulders her back and a small bit of the base of her tail. Some irresponsible breeders do this in order to produce more merle puppies. The dog would need to be genetically tested to be certain. Other studies have shown that double merles regularly have ear problems, ranging from slight to complete deafness. (2022 Update), Whatever Happened To Lark Voorhies? It absolutely depends on your future plans and what you want from a dog. The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd is a special type of Australian Shepherd that has received a semi-dominant gene resulting in bluish-grey fur mixed with splotches of black or reddish-brown and white. Jeffersonville, IN 47130, What You Need to Know About Australian Shepherds. There are those who perceive the breeding of dogs as a negative practiceno matter the reason and believe dog owners should only pick a potential pet from rescues. You can read more about the general health conditions that can affect all Aussie Shepherds here. To ensure this doesnt happen, puppy training and socialization at a young age is vital for this breed. Equally, there are those who mistakenly think that the issues with double merles indicate that the normal merle (Mm) dog is somehow less healthy than a standard colour. While merle Australian shepherds are still prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts, and epilepsy, theyre relatively healthy. Many ranchers who made the move from Australia to California brought their faithful dogs to the United States. Only a couple years later, did I realize this was the result of double Merle breeding. Yes merle dogs can be just as healthy as dogs that have a solid color. Especially when one of the merle dogs in question is obviously the result of merle to merle breeding. One brief walk per day is not sufficient for this breed to keep a healthy body and mind. Blue Merle Australian Shepherd Puppies Before You Buy, 10 Interesting Facts About Blue Merle Australian Shepherd. The diseases observed in those long-ago studies may have been an artifact of the particular group of dogs studied rather than the fact they were double merles. This is because almost the only way to have a white puppy is by breeding two merle parents. The Australian shepherd is known for this specific mutation. Steffi is the founder of SpiritDog Training. Your Australian Shepherd does not require a significant amount of grooming. Double merle dogs however are very different they are highly impacted by their two copies of the merle gene. Its been suggested that dogs with a lot of de-pigmentation can be more prone to nervousness. Double merles are often partially or completely white in coat colour (sometimes termed albino, though this is not entirely accurate). Others are able to reach adulthood, but suffer from vision and hearing issues and have a strong tendency to develop skin cancer. Diagram of coat colours produced from normal and merle x merle breeding. Whatever the exact reason behind choosing to create and then breed from a double merle, the truth is that along the line it is highly likely a significantly disabled pup has been created. Hearing impairment ranging from light deficits to complete deafness, Vision impairment up to complete blindness, Microphthalmia: a rare condition causing very small eyeballs that sometimes have to be removed, Skin cancer, due to the lack of pigmentation and no protection from UV light. Why Do Dogs Hate the Mailman? It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from a veterinary medical professional. Needless to say, the deliberate breeding of double merles causes a lot of controversy in the canine worldcertain official bodies (such as the Kennel Club in the UK) have clamped down on the practice, refusing to register dogs that are a result of merle-to-merle breeding. Limited research has been done into the links between the merle gene and eye problems, though a great deal of anecdotal evidence is presented on the subject. It should come as no surprise that Aussies are active dogsdue to their history as a herding dog. The Blue Merle gene is dominant. However, this should not detract from the fact that many double merles suffer from eye or ear abnormalities due to their breeding. But does this coat pattern affect any other traits, like personality or general appearance? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dogsnet is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk Dogsnet is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Best Dog Food For Maltipoo From Puppies to Seniors. Dogs appear to not be merle, but genetically they can be. Merle dogs can also suffer from eye problems, which are again more common in double merles. Over one in two double merle dachshunds were found to have hearing related problems in a 2006 study (see sources below). They pair two merles together. They often cannot communicate appropriately with other dogs, cannot be off-leash because they dont have a good recall and struggle with fear and anxiety. This can produce a pup with a large amount of white (or all white coat). Please Email Charlse at https://miraclebostonterriers.com/ to see the litter. Even single merles. Want to get a sniff on what SpiritDog's online training is all about? Consider protecting them withadog insurance policyfrom MetLife Pet Insurance.1 Our dog insurance policies can provide the coverage and care your furry family member deserves. However, as yet there is no firm scientific evidence to imply that a dog with white ears will be deaf, or a dog with white patches around the eyes will be blind. While there are suggestions in scientific papers dating back several decades that double merles are more prone to a variety of health issues other than those mentioned above, most particularly heart and digestive issues, this appears to be inaccurate. It is thought this may be due to the way the Silv gene (the gene that causes the merle pattern) affects the pigment of the skin around or within the ear, and the colour of the eyes. Funnily enough, the Australian shepherd is not registered as a native breed in Australia. The Australian Shepherd is very good with children and quickly becomes part of the family. Bear in mind that this is anecdotal, and we cant find any scientific studies that have examined this in more detail. talk to a vet online for advice >. This combination of deafness and eye problems is sometimes known as merle ocular dysgenesis. In this case, dogs should have genetic testing done to determine whether only one of them has the merle gene. We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide, and it has helped answer your questions concerning this breed. I do have a beautiful blue Merle , she is almost 3 , apparently she got hurt running, her back , her vet after x-ray found some damage on her left shoulder. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER TODAY. These Basque farmers then relocated once more, with their interbred pups, to the Wild West of America. The breed standard notes that for dogs over one year of age, the amount of pink spotting should not exceed 25 percent on the nose. The merle gene causes the coat hair to produce a faded, or shaded colour (hence the merle pattern), two merle genes together often cause the coat to be white or with limited merle shading. See where this beloved breed ranks in comparison to other breeds in 7 key categories. The fur can be wavy or straight. Puppies receive one set of genes from their father and one from their mother. Obviously the result of merle to merle breeding diagram of coat colours produced from normal and merle x breeding! To this question, the first being pure ignorance 's problems the first being pure ignorance Joanna,! Never reach the quality of life of their littermates play with their interbred pups, to United. 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blue merle australian shepherd health problems