(Merle French Bulldog : Dog Breed Story At Dog Grooming!)
The Merle French Bulldog has a distinctive and uncommon look, but they are not without debate. Merle French bulldogs are not popular among purists of the breed. I must admit that I fell in love with some photographs that a breeder had posted on Facebook. They have appealing colours, and some of the ones I saw were rather adorable.
This post is intended to inform you about this unusual hue and what you need to know about it. After conducting some research, I was shocked by what I discovered. This issue seems to be quite divisive in the French Bulldog community, in my opinion. Despite this, I still felt the need to produce this post for anyone interested in Merle Frenchies and for informative purposes.
Merle French Bulldog Breeding:
It’s crucial to note that Merle coat colour is not a recognised French Bulldog colour variant because it is not present in purebred French Bulldogs. The majority of the time, merle Chihuahuas have been crossed to add the colour pattern.
The Merle French Bulldog was created for owners who wanted a Frenchie with style and the potential to put on a magnificent performance. The most prevalent and distinctive coat colour is merle. The Frenchie’s base coat’s lighting creates a Merle pattern. As a result, the black spots continue to exist, giving the puppies the Merle trait. The most prevalent markings on their fur are dark brown or black, and the primary hue is typically a mixture of white, cream, or fawn with the dark colours. Their fur can have hundreds of distinct markings.
The Merle must be mated with a French Bulldog and a Frenchie that has already undergone Chihuahua-Chihuahua crossbreeding in order to get its stunning hues. The most costly and rarest dog breed is the Merle. Due to the high defect rate in the previous ten years, these puppies have been a hot topic of discourse, and as a result, the dog’s dazzling coloration is gradually fading.
Merle In Other Colors:
There are several shades of merles, depending on which dominant gene is diluted. Black, Blue, and Lilac are three of the most sought-after shades since they are associated with rare French Bulldogs.
Black Colour Merle:
The Black Merle French Bulldog is a result of a black dominant gene. The other coat colours are pushed out by this. The dominant gene comes through in the three Frenchie hues of black, tan, and fawn, giving the Black Merle its colour and moniker.
Lilac Colour Merle:
The hardest-to-find Frenchie is the Lilac Merle, which is the most uncommon breed. Lilac is essentially a blend of the base coat colours of chocolate and blue. Once more being diluted, the lilac colour can now be seen through the blue. The Lilac Merle also has light-colored eyes that remain that hue throughout their lives and are the colour that is most likely to cause health issues.
Blue Colour Merle:
Despite being a black Frenchie whose basic colour has been somewhat diluted to give its hair a blue tint, the Blue Merle French Bulldog is typically referred to as a blue-gene dog breed. French Bulldogs with blue-merle coats have distinctive eyes. They are allowed to keep their vivid blue eyes from puppyhood until maturity and then they continue to have lighter-colored eyes than other French Bulldogs.
Health Issues:
The gene that is required for Merle patterning is also the gene that carries serious health concerns, including as abnormalities in hearing, sight, and blue eyes. The fact is that no French Bulldog possesses the Merle gene, making them a mixed breed. Because of this, breeding different breeds causes a lot of problems.
There is evidence that there is a 25% possibility of producing Double Merles when a Merle and a Merle are crossed. The prevalence of deformities, hearing loss, blindness, and colour dilution alopecia in this breed of Double Merles is 86%. In addition to these flaws, kids are likely to have neurological problems, immunological diseases, severe allergies, and in the worst case, death.
The Blue Merle French Bulldog is renowned for having skin irritation issues that can lead to skin ruptures. The result may be staph infections, which can be fatal. The French Bulldog with Blue Merles has the shortest life expectancy.
(07 Facts About Merle French Bulldogs)
1- Merle has unique type of pattern:
There is a history of skin irritation in Blue Merle French Bulldogs, which can lead to skin ruptures. Staph infections may then develop, which can be fatal. The lowest life expectancy belongs to the Blue Merle French Bulldog.
2- Double Merle:
Each litter that results from the mating of two merle dogs has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. The merle gene is passed down twice in a double merle. In contrast to a dog with a typical merle coat, a double merle dog has a coat that is almost all white with a few spots of colour scattered throughout. Also highly likely to be born blind, deaf, or both are double merles.
3- Single Merle coat:
Merle dogs have the genotype Mm, meaning they only have one copy of the merle allele (M) and one copy of the non-merle allele (m). You will often obtain a litter of puppies that are half merle and half non-merle if you mate a non-merle dog (mm) to a merle dog (Mm).
A litter of pups produced by mating two merle dogs will often consist of half merle, one-quarter non-merle, and one-quarter double merle puppies.
4- Blue Eyes:
The vivid blue eyes of the merle French bulldog are one of its most distinguishing characteristics. These are a result of the M-locus (or merle) gene being present in their body. Their eye colour is made lighter by the random pigment dilution caused by this gene.
While the ALX4 gene can also result in blue eyes, this gene is mostly responsible in merle French bulldogs. This gene will probably cause a French bulldog to have blue eyes. Alternatively, a French bulldog without the ALX4 gene is likely to have brown eyes.
Additionally, because to low melanin levels, certain merle French bulldogs may have blue eyes. The dog’s likelihood of growing blue eyes is higher if their body contains less of this amino acid.
5- More Expensive:
This kind of French bulldog costs substantially more because it is not a natural breed. Unlike a standard French bulldog, which costs between $1,500 and $3,00, these dogs may be purchased for anywhere between $6,000 and $8,000.
Merle French bulldogs are expensive to maintain in addition to being expensive to buy. They eat voraciously, and because of their genetic make-up, they frequently require veterinary care.
6- Rare Dog Breed:
You may often conduct a short web search to find a breeder. This does not necessarily mean that the breeders are trustworthy, either. Ask for the dog’s DNA test and arrange for a short medical checkup to make sure you’re buying from a respectable breeder.
7- Merle French Bulldogs Health Issues:
The most prevalent issue is genetic abnormalities. Due to a rare genetic disorder, this dog may have stunted limbs, blindness, or deafness. A lot of merle French bulldogs also have hip dysplasia, immunological problems, allergies, and cardiac irregularities.
Additionally, take in mind that they can have certain eye anomalies due to their light-colored eyes. One eye being larger than the other, one eye having a nictitating membrane covering it, cataracts, and coloboma are some of the more typical issues.
Final Thoughts About Merle French Bulldog:
Even though there is a lot of information here, my closing words on the contentious Merle French Bulldog are that whether or not you should own one depends on where you get one. I would want to ensure that breeders were well-educated with Merle Frenchies, making sure that all breeding was done correctly keeping the birth defects to the same percentage as birth defects in French Bulldogs in general, given that this breed can have such terrible defects and can even cause death.
The health of the dog should always come first, and as a Brindle Frenchie owner, I would urge that you bear that in mind while considering if a French Bulldog is the ideal dog for you and, more importantly, whether a Merle French Bulldog is a must-have.
People May Also Ask:
What is highest and lowest cost of Merles French Bulldogs ?
French Bulldogs with Merles are uncommon, unusual, and costly. Prices should start at $7,500 and can go as high as $20,000. There are numerous French Bulldog frauds and backyard breeders, so be aware of breeders that sell ‘cheap’ French Bulldogs.
Are Merles French bulldogs Rare in the World?
Due to the colour of their coats, Merle Frenchies are regarded as extremely unusual and special. Even if their coat colour is a “colour,” it still helps people recognise and want them. One would describe the colour as more of a pattern scheme.
How healthy are Merle French bulldogs?
No, the Merle gene does not directly cause any health problems. If they are appropriately bred, Merle French bulldogs may be highly healthy. Making ensuring the pairing is done appropriately is a crucial aspect of ethical breeding. Only dogs with solid coat colours should be mated with Merle French Bulldogs.
A Merle French Bulldog may be purebred or Not?
Merles French Bulldogs Purebred animals not.
This is due to the fact that various dog breeds may occasionally be combined to generate a merle French bulldog. The dog’s parents must be of the same breed for it to be deemed purebred.
Which Frenchie colour is the most expensive?
Some French Bulldog breeders believe that the Isabella Frenchie is the only lilac that can be tested for the chocolate gene, making her the real lilac. Due to its amazing appearance and range of uncommon coats, this rare French bulldog hue is typically the most costly.
Are merle dogs more expensive?
The final result. Even though many conscientious breeders attempt to rectify this, Merle dogs of any breed are likely to cost more than solid-colored canines. Your merle dog might cost up to $3,000 depending on the breed, the rarity of the merle pattern, and the typical cost of a puppy.
Do all Merles French Bulldogs have blue eyes?
For a variety of causes, Frenchies can have blue eyes. Merle French bulldogs and S-locus piebald canines are mostly to blame for it. Therefore, if a French Bulldog possesses the recessive trait, blue eyes will result.
How do I know my dog is double merles?
Dogs carrying the double merle gene could/would have:
The upper half of their bodies, including the head, back, and base of the tail, should be entirely white or have merle or mottled colouring areas. Paw pads with a light hue. possess eyes that are diverse hues, such as ones that are pale blue, green, or brown.
What is the size of Merle French Bulldog?
A merle Frenchie weighs 16 to 28 pounds and stands 11 to 13 inches tall when fully mature. The size of these dogs is the same as that of other French Bulldog hues.
Merle dogs are inbred.
No. Not at all. When a dog carries the M allele in a single copy, the merle pattern is created. All merle dogs have the genotype Mm, which means they carry both the merle and non-merle alleles.
What causes a merles French Bulldog?
The French Bulldog’s coat colour is tricky since a variety of hues are acceptable. The M gene in dogs causes merle patterning, or areas of lighter colouring that emerge in the coat. This gene has two alleles, M (merle) and m (non-merle), with M (merle) being dominant over m. (m).
What is wrong with merle dogs?
The merle coat pattern is an autosomal, partially dominant characteristic that puts dogs at risk for hereditary deafness. When inherited in the homozygous condition, the merle mutation causes dogs to be white and have an even larger incidence of deafness, blindness and infertility.
Is merle a defect?
Yes, merle dogs can have the same level of health as dogs with solid colours. They are just as robust, athletic, and intelligent as their counterparts who do not carry the merle gene, and they have the same life expectancy. All progeny in merle breeding lines will be healthy and have a long lifespan.
Are merle dogs unhealthy?
Many people believe that a dog with a merle coat must have vision and hearing problems. Only when a dog is homozygous for merle, often known as “double merle,” can the merle gene raise health concerns. A homozygous merle dog can only be produced by mating two merles.
Can merle dogs register with the AKC?
The Kennel Club has declared that it would no longer accept registration requests for dogs with merle colouring in breeds where there is no proof that the colour has been well-established for an extended length of time.
What is a ghost merle?
Some dogs with cryptic merles, also known as phantom or ghost merles, may be mistakenly labelled as non-merles since they often exhibit little to no merle pattern. The bottom end of the spectrum is where the cryptic merle alleles are found (typically from 200-255, however, this range and designation varies by study).
Does merle resemble brindle?
Similar to merle, brindle is a coat colour pattern; it is sometimes referred to as “tiger-striped.” The underlying hue, which is frequently fawn, brown, or grey, is lighter and contrasted with irregular, black stripes. Several dog breeds, including great danes, bulldogs, and boxers, have the brindle coat pattern.
Can a white dog be bred with a merle?
You shouldn’t breed a dog with the merle gene with another with a similar genetic make-up if you intend to breed it. If the dog is fortunate, it will be colourful and healthy, but there is a good risk that the children of a double merle gene will be blind, deaf, or both. Or, put another way, don’t do that.
Is the merle more prevalent than the brindle?
Recessive genes for fawn, blue, harlequin, brindle, chocolate, and piebald can be found in any colour. Additionally, the brindle has hidden hues. The dominating genes are merle and black. A blue merle can have extra genes in addition to the two blue genes and one merle gene.
Is merle the same as Parti?
The Parti poodle’s coat features a pattern of two solid colours all over it. The merle poodle has both a pattern on its coat and different dilutions. The underlying colour is often white, but the dots are typically a different colour.
French bulldogs with blue merles are uncommon.
Do Merle Frenchies Exist Often? Yes! Along with Blue, Blue Fawn, and Platinum, Merle French Bulldogs are one of the most uncommon shades in the breed.
How long do merle French Bulldogs live?
Merle and the Frenchies the average lifespan of a French bulldog is 14 years. These adorable dogs may have pretty long lives if given the right care and consideration.