 Merle/Dapple/ Harlequin
carries
the Gene Formula (ay,at,ABCDEgMrSt). This color is dominant in nature and
will be produced bred to a dog of any color. Only one (M) gene needs to
be present in order to produce the color. Depending upon the (A) gene that
is carried, the merle color will show itself in many patterns. On a Black
dog the patterns can be quite spectacular with patches, blotches, and stripes
of different colors including browns, grays and blacks intermingled with
white. On a Black and Tan dog or Blue and Tan dog the most visible patterns
will be seen only in the areas where the dog is black or blue. On a Tan
dog the Merle patterns may fade away and not be detectable other than at
birth. Many times a Merle dog will have blue, green, amber, or brown colored
eyes in any combination. When this gene is in double dose a dog may turn
completely white in color making it difficult to distinguish from a pure
white dog unless the White Merle dog has a different color eye. It will
also be hard to detect which white gene the dog has due to the pulling
in of white from the Merle color itself. This gene in double dose is also
called a lethal dominant and can cause deafness and blindness in some animals.
The Merle gene can also take pigment out of the dogs nose leaving patches
of pink color.
It can be seen in breeds like the Great Dane, Dachshund,
Australian Shepherd, Beauceron and Catahoula Leopard.
MATING
RESULTS |
