Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. Keller's Cause is a 501c3 non-profit organization that was founded in September of 2015, in the name of double merles. Merles usually ha… Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. We are committed to rescuing the underdogs, or the ones who people overlook because they aren't sure how to care for them. This impairs its ability to make pigment. These colors are considered show-acceptable. When you bred a double merle and a merle together, you get 1/2 of merle and 1/2 of double merle. 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. Double Merle dogs are highly likely to suffer from hearing and vision impairments and in some cases complete blindness and deafness. 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. EIN: 81-5108507 Registration # CH53194 And NO, there's no such thing as a "part albino" dog. Follicular dysplasia: A hair-coat problem of broken / dull hairs & "pimply" infection with a high incidence in white coated (& other dilute colored) dogs. 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. A double merle is one which is homozygous. This can result in vision impairments, limited vision or blindness. … We specialize in double merle, special needs, and medically needy Great Danes. Not to mention that breeding merles may produce dead puppies, sick puppies, and Danes that are predisposed to future health problems. We provide free training resources for owners if … Double Merle. Double Merles are a result of bad breeding practices, most commonly known as spot x spot breeding. All about the double merle's and bad breeding. Some of the Dog Breeds that carry the Merle Gene include:​. We rescued in the past more than one DM from a spot x solid and solid x solid breeding. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. Calypso, a double merle Great Dane, was born blind. Don’t forget: DMs are 100% preventable! 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). Piebald coat colors Note. www.WeLoveDoodles.com, What is a Shepadoodle? A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. As with many dogs, Great Danes come in a variety of different colors! True albinism is a genetic condition in which the pigmentation of eyes, coat, and skin are 100% absent. Double Merle and Albinism are not the same, The answer is: YES! Great Danes of this pattern can come in many different colors and all look unique from one another. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. Common breeds with the merle trait include: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Catahoula Leopard, Chihuahua. Double Merle (Homozygous Merle) is the common term for a dog with two copies of the Merle gene. However, you can still register your Merle Great Dane as pure-breed with the American Kennel Club. If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. Double Merle and Albinism are not the same. Double Merle is the common term for homozygous merles (dogs with 2 copies of the merle gene). A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. The dogs are mostly white due to two copies of the merle gene which causes the bleaching/marbling effect in their coat. Merles carry the Merle gene and when you breed 2 Merle Gene dogs together you can create Double Merle dogs which is commonly referred to as the ‘Lethal gene’ which can result in deaf, blind, defective dogs – usually dogs that are mainly white. While not every special needs Great Dane is adoptable because of some of the issues mentioned above, most of them are. 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. A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. 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. We find that most Backyard Breeders are either uneducated about breeding or in it for the money. Double Merles can also be blind or have vision problems due to congenital eye defects. 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). 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!. It all comes down to responsible dog ownership and preventing the 25% of happening. Previous post; Next post; The merle … Double Merle MALE Great Dane had all shots as of 12-5-2020 around 6m old. Our goal is to rescue special needs dogs. Out of 48 merles, only 1 was deaf in one ear. OZR Great Dane Rescue Inc. is a non-profit Florida based rescue. 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. These Merle patches are sometimes absent on double Merle white dogs as these dogs are sometimes solid white. Our goal is to rescue special needs dogs. 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. at a pet shop they had this double merle great dane puppy. Solid colored Danes can be. “About 100 percent of our double merles have had eye issues. Deafness and hearing impairment happens due to lack of hair pigment produced in the inner ear. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. 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. Newark, Delaware: Our main focus is on any Double Merle breed with priority to Great Danes We have a foster based program and are always looking for new fosters. About White Diamond Double Merle Dane Rescue Association. These dogs are also sometimes (inaccurately) referred to as lethal whites (this is considered by many to be a derogatory term). We do a lot of rescuing from the south. It can be extremely rewarding to own a special needs Great Dane. Fawn, Brindle, Black, Harlequin, Mantle, and Blue are the six standard colors recognized by the Great Dane Club of America. 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. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored fur and irregular spots. A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. 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. 571 talking about this. They often deny the dog is deaf and/or blind as well. Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incompletely dominant gene. The term "double merle" refers to a dog bred by two merle colored parents. A merle coat color pattern bears some health risks—a double merle is much riskier. 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. To stop, release the enter key. Double Merles. Linken Bark was born 100% deaf. His rare color pattern, merlequin, is a result of irresponsible breeding practices. When we say Quin x Quin, we are speaking of Harlequins, Merlequins, Brindlequins, Fawnequins, etc. Congenital cataracts: Associated with microphthalmia - a blinding disorder. Unfortunately, DM Great Danes are more common than they should be. Double Merle pups are born when both of the parents are merle. They are identified by their unique coat pattern. Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! Double Merles are NOT albinos! Linken Bark is a Great Dane that came into our care as a puppy in the spring of 2017. Most unethical "breeders" will tell you that the White Great Dane you are eyeing is a lightly marked harlequin or simply just a harlequin. 555 talking about this. 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. Can Solid Colored Danes have Double Merles? Yes! Even though the Merle gene is dominant and it can be seen most of the times. We rescued in the past more than one DM from a spot x solid and solid x solid breeding. https://welovedoodles.com/double-merle-dog-aussie-great-dane (German Shepherd and Poodle mix), St. Berdoodle Guide (Saint Bernard Poodle Mix). 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. We are located in Port St Lucie. This is vitally important to know if you are working with a breeder to choose a healthy puppy. Knowledgeable and responsible breeders who want to produce merle puppies mate a merle … No, definitely not. Albinism is a rare condition in all animals, including dogs. We are dedicated to their rescue, and strive to educate the public on the dangers in merle to merle breeding. Double merle dogs may have auditory, ophthalmologic, skeletal, and other defects and will transmit a merle variant to all of their offspring. Merle Great Danes are beautiful animals. ... to note that the merle derived “harlequin” is distinct and caused by a different genetic mechanism from Great Dane Harlequin (H). Double Merles are NOT albinos! Beaucerons with a merle coat are also called harlequins. Double merles also have a very high chance of being deaf, blind, or both because they lack pigment where it would normally be. Solid colored Danes can be Cryptic Merles. Microphthalmia: Small eyeballs that often lead to total blindness. Many DMs fail to adapt to different situations due to lack of social capabilities and have multiple problems coping with normal daily activities. 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. The answer is: YES! If the colored areas are Merle, the Dane would be a Merlequin carrying double Merle genetics. Currently working on crate training still has occasional slip up. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored fur and irregular spots. Double Merles are often described as "shy" or "'spooky." Every Great Dane carrying the harlequin gene and the merle gene has a harlequin coat. 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. With this in mind, deaf and / or blind are not the only risks of breeding spot x spot. Size of the Merle mark could be miniscule or huge, there could be singular or multiple Merle spots. 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. In a double merle, the marbling/lightening effect is doubled and the coat becomes predominantly white. The puppies in this litter can have a wide array of health issues as well as mental issues. Are all White Great Danes deaf and /or blind? 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 Merle (Homozygous Merle) is the common term for a dog with two copies of the Merle gene. It doesn’t matter what color merle or what breed they are. With training, persistency and patience DMs will learn ways of adapting and adjusting to their environment. Other Health Concerns Linked to Merle Gene Breeding merles is currently deemed an unethical practice by the Great Dane Club of America's breeder's code of ethics. Double Merles are often partially or completely white in coat color sometimes referred to as albino, though that is an entirely inaccurate statement. Training is not impossible, but it does require time, patience and consistency. 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. We foster and adopt out nationwide. ... 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. In Double Merles, the white coat is produced by a doubling up of the gene responsible for merle. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. Keeley, a Catahoula mix, was born with no vision in her left eye and only about 5% in her right eye. 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). One copy of the merle gene causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat. Double merles are typically mostly white and have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored background and irregular spots. Aspen's social media: https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithAspen/ https://www.instagram.com/lifewithaspen/ Producing Double Merles is 100% preventable. The merle pattern can provide an absolutely beautiful coat to an already well-built and stunning breed. Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! 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. Merle deafness: Develops in the first month of life, it is permanent and often debilitating to proper social development of the dog. 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 is a dominant gene. That means it has two copies of the dominant M gene, so its genotype is MM. On every spot x spot litter, each puppy within the litter has a 25% chance of being born a Double Merle. 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. $800 firm. They can be absolutely wonderful additions to the right families. To play, press and hold the enter key. Sometimes the eyeball(s) must be removed. We are a 501 (c)3 nonprofit rescue. Normally owners of double merle dogs call them that or "D Merle" or "DM great dane." 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. Or if you plan to breed your merle Great Dane in the future. 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