https://welovedoodles.com/double-merle-dog-aussie-great-dane Double Merles are often described as "shy" or "'spooky." On every spot x spot litter, each puppy within the litter has a 25% chance of being born a Double Merle. People frequently associate Double Merles (White Danes) with being albino when in reality being a Double Merle and suffering from albinism are completely different conditions. We specialize in double merle, special needs, and medically needy Great Danes. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. Great Danes of this pattern can come in many different colors and all look unique from one another. That means it has two copies of the dominant M gene, so its genotype is MM. Double Merle and Albinism are not the same. EIN: 81-5108507 Registration # CH53194 These colors are considered show-acceptable. His deafness is a result of breeding two spotted coat Great Danes together and he is what is referred to as a Double Merle (DM). OZR Great Dane Rescue Inc. is a non-profit Florida based rescue. The puppies in this litter can have a wide array of health issues as well as mental issues. We rescued in the past more than one DM from a spot x solid and solid x solid breeding. In a double merle, the marbling/lightening effect is doubled and the coat becomes predominantly white. Size of the Merle mark could be miniscule or huge, there could be singular or multiple Merle spots. We are dedicated to their rescue, and strive to educate the public on the dangers in merle to merle breeding. Our goal is to rescue special needs dogs. Common breeds with the merle trait include: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Catahoula Leopard, Chihuahua. When we say Quin x Quin, we are speaking of Harlequins, Merlequins, Brindlequins, Fawnequins, etc. While not every special needs Great Dane is adoptable because of some of the issues mentioned above, most of them are. von: Brittany G AKC claims to be upholding standards in the dog world and looking out for the better of dog breeds yet they allow Great Dane owners to fully register and breed double Merle dogs. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. To play, press and hold the enter key. Other Health Concerns Linked to Merle Gene As she grew into an adult, the small eye that was present in each socket needed to be removed. Double Merles. One copy of the merle gene causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat. Merle is a dominant gene. … Previous post; Next post; It all comes down to responsible dog ownership and preventing the 25% of happening. Double Merles are often partially or completely white in coat color sometimes referred to as albino, though that is an entirely inaccurate statement. Note. Are all White Great Danes deaf and /or blind? Linken Bark is a Great Dane that came into our care as a puppy in the spring of 2017. Unfortunately, DM Great Danes are more common than they should be. Here are some examples of health issues DMs can have: Social instability and inadequacy: Dogs with sensory defects are often unable to interact with their own species or humans with full & satisfactory success. These dogs are also sometimes (inaccurately) referred to as lethal whites (this is considered by many to be a derogatory term). Follicular dysplasia: A hair-coat problem of broken / dull hairs & "pimply" infection with a high incidence in white coated (& other dilute colored) dogs. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. Double Merles are a result of bad breeding practices, most commonly known as spot x spot breeding. Deafness and hearing impairment happens due to lack of hair pigment produced in the inner ear. A dog needs only one copy to have a merled coat. All about the double merle's and bad breeding. We rescued in the past more than one DM from a spot x solid and solid x solid breeding. Linken Bark was born 100% deaf. Knowledgeable and responsible breeders who want to produce merle puppies mate a merle … This can result in vision impairments, limited vision or blindness. We have a foster based program and are always looking for new fosters. (German Shepherd and Poodle mix), St. Berdoodle Guide (Saint Bernard Poodle Mix). at a pet shop they had this double merle great dane puppy. The merle … Double merles also have a very high chance of being deaf, blind, or both because they lack pigment where it would normally be. $800 firm. Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! We foster and adopt out nationwide. Training is not impossible, but it does require time, patience and consistency. They are identified by their unique coat pattern. This impairs its ability to make pigment. It doesn't matter what color merle, how much merle the parents have, how little (or how much) white trim, what breed they are, or even that the parents are the same breed. We find that most Backyard Breeders are either uneducated about breeding or in it for the money. Sometimes the eyeball(s) must be removed. Double Merle (Homozygous Merle) is the common term for a dog with two copies of the Merle gene. If the colored areas are Merle, the Dane would be a Merlequin carrying double Merle genetics. Even though the Merle gene is dominant and it can be seen most of the times. Some of the Dog Breeds that carry the Merle Gene include:​. Many DMs fail to adapt to different situations due to lack of social capabilities and have multiple problems coping with normal daily activities. This is vitally important to know if you are working with a breeder to choose a healthy puppy. Double Merle pups are born when both of the parents are merle. Marc Sayer, of Oakridge, Oregon, founder of Deaf Dane Rescue Inc., an organization devoted to double merle Dane rescue that takes in 10 to 20 dogs a year, says, “When it comes to disabilities, the rule of thumb is the less color, the more issues, but it’s not hard and fast. by: Brittany G AKC claims to be upholding standards in the dog world and looking out for the better of dog breeds yet they allow Great Dane owners to fully register and breed double Merle dogs. Newark, Delaware: Our main focus is on any Double Merle breed with priority to Great Danes Currently working on crate training still has occasional slip up. 555 talking about this. Calypso, a double merle Great Dane, was born blind. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. ... to note that the merle derived “harlequin” is distinct and caused by a different genetic mechanism from Great Dane Harlequin (H). Out of 48 merles, only 1 was deaf in one ear. The Great Dane is a well-known easygoing giant breed that many around the world adore, but a variation of the breed that is particularly eye-catching is the merle Great Dane!. Skin cancer: Increased incidence reported in harlequins, white/lightly marked harlequins and merlequins puppies due to lack of protective pigment (melanin) from UV (sunray) exposure.Sunburns also occur often in dogs lacking pigment & this can lead to tumors / cancer. Or if you plan to breed your merle Great Dane in the future. White Diamond Double Merle Dane Rescue Newark, Delaware Our main focus is on any Double Merle breed with priority to Great Danes Visit This Group Here: Http://Www.whitediamonddanerescue.com New Castle, Kent, Sussex,Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incompletely dominant gene. Breeding two Merles together gives each puppy a 1/4 chance of being double merle, 1/4 of being a solid color (black, blue, etc), and 1/2 of being a merle. Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! Yes! However, you can still register your Merle Great Dane as pure-breed with the American Kennel Club. “About 100 percent of our double merles have had eye issues. Not to mention that breeding merles may produce dead puppies, sick puppies, and Danes that are predisposed to future health problems. Keller's Cause is a 501c3 non-profit organization that was founded in September of 2015, in the name of double merles. In Double Merles, the white coat is produced by the doubling up of the gene responsible for the Merle gene (the Merle gene is a bleaching pattern not a color). This is the first time I saw a double merle dog in person. Our goal is to rescue special needs dogs. Even though the Merle gene is dominant and it can be seen most of the times, genetic testing both dogs before breeding is important to ensure they do not carry merle and therefore, there's not a 25% chance of having double merles. Fawn, Brindle, Black, Harlequin, Mantle, and Blue are the six standard colors recognized by the Great Dane Club of America. Microphthalmia: Small eyeballs that often lead to total blindness. Producing Double Merles is 100% preventable. To stop, release the enter key. Normally owners of double merle dogs call them that or "D Merle" or "DM great dane." Double merles are typically mostly white and have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. Every Great Dane carrying the harlequin gene and the merle gene has a harlequin coat. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. Double Merle and Albinism are not the same, The answer is: YES! We are committed to rescuing the underdogs, or the ones who people overlook because they aren't sure how to care for them. These Merle patches are sometimes absent on double Merle white dogs as these dogs are sometimes solid white. Double Merle. 571 talking about this. With training, persistency and patience DMs will learn ways of adapting and adjusting to their environment. The term "double merle" refers to a dog bred by two merle colored parents. Congenital cataracts: Associated with microphthalmia - a blinding disorder. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. Because there is such a high risk for eye defects in double merle dogs, it is important that breeders use caution when breeding dogs with the merle gene. They often deny the dog is deaf and/or blind as well. When a merle or double merle Great Dane suffers from more than one of these ocular conditions, the condition is called merle ocular dysgenesis. Double Merles are NOT albinos! We are located in Port St Lucie. It doesn't matter what color merle, or what breed they are, when two merle or spotted dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. Most of us 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. Most unethical "breeders" will tell you that the White Great Dane you are eyeing is a lightly marked harlequin or simply just a harlequin. Double Merle dogs are highly likely to suffer from hearing and vision impairments and in some cases complete blindness and deafness. The UK Kennel Club has recognized the associated risks and, in 2013, stopped allowing registration for puppies from merle-to-merle matings in order to discourage the practice. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. Statistically, 25% of the pups from two merle parents will be Double Merles. They can be one or the other or even neither, though a healthy White Dane is more uncommon. Double Merle is the common term for homozygous merles (dogs with 2 copies of the merle gene). The merle pattern can provide an absolutely beautiful coat to an already well-built and stunning breed. Beaucerons with a merle coat are also called harlequins. Albinism is a rare condition in all animals, including dogs. His rare color pattern, merlequin, is a result of irresponsible breeding practices. A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. Merle deafness: Develops in the first month of life, it is permanent and often debilitating to proper social development of the dog. They can be absolutely wonderful additions to the right families. Double Merles are NOT albinos! Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored fur and irregular spots. Here at White Diamond Double Merle Dane Rescue, We know that we can't change the world, but we can change the world for the dogs we rescue. And NO, there's no such thing as a "part albino" dog. As with many dogs, Great Danes come in a variety of different colors! It can be extremely rewarding to own a special needs Great Dane. Don’t forget: DMs are 100% preventable! Multiple congenital defects: Double Merles may have a variety of organ defects which arise only as they grow or may be seen when they’re young, such as failure to thrive & keep up with the size, weight and activity level of the other pups. Merle Great Danes are beautiful animals. No, definitely not. In Double Merles, the white coat is produced by the doubling up of the gene responsible for the Merle gene (the Merle gene is a bleaching pattern not a color). We provide free training resources for owners if … Aspen's social media: https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithAspen/ https://www.instagram.com/lifewithaspen/ Keeley, a Catahoula mix, was born with no vision in her left eye and only about 5% in her right eye. It doesn’t matter what color merle or what breed they are. Merles usually ha… Solid colored Danes can be Cryptic Merles. The dogs are mostly white due to two copies of the merle gene which causes the bleaching/marbling effect in their coat. ... A study done by Texas A&M University found that 8 out of 22 double merles were completely deaf, 2 were deaf in one ear. Double Merle (Homozygous Merle) is the common term for a dog with two copies of the Merle gene. Double Merles can also be blind or have vision problems due to congenital eye defects. Piebald coat colors The answer is: YES! Solid colored Danes can be. Double merle dogs may have auditory, ophthalmologic, skeletal, and other defects and will transmit a merle variant to all of their offspring. Can Solid Colored Danes have Double Merles? I guess it is since it was in a cage with a blue merle puppy that looked the same age, so I think they are siblings. We are a safe haven for double merle/special needs Great Danes, and other breeds.We also rescue any breed that we are able to whom are in need. About White Diamond Double Merle Dane Rescue Association. In Double Merles, the white coat is produced by a doubling up of the gene responsible for merle. If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored fur and irregular spots. www.WeLoveDoodles.com, What is a Shepadoodle? When you bred a double merle and a merle together, you get 1/2 of merle and 1/2 of double merle. For Great Danes this could be Harlequin x Merle, Harlequin x Harlequin, Merle x Merle, any Quin x Quin and any Quin x Merle breeding. Breeding merles is currently deemed an unethical practice by the Great Dane Club of America's breeder's code of ethics. Double Merle MALE Great Dane had all shots as of 12-5-2020 around 6m old. With this in mind, deaf and / or blind are not the only risks of breeding spot x spot. If two such dogs are mated, on the average one quarter of the puppies will be "double merles", which is the common term for dogs homozygous for merle, and a high percentage of these double merle puppies could have eye defects and/or be deaf. A double merle is one which is homozygous. True albinism is a genetic condition in which the pigmentation of eyes, coat, and skin are 100% absent. We do a lot of rescuing from the south. We are a 501 (c)3 nonprofit rescue. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored background and irregular spots. 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