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. Deafness and hearing impairment happens due to lack of hair pigment produced in the inner ear. Double merles also have a very high chance of being deaf, blind, or both because they lack pigment where it would normally be. Other Health Concerns Linked to Merle Gene The merle pattern can provide an absolutely beautiful coat to an already well-built and stunning breed. A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. Albinism is a rare condition in all animals, including dogs. Double Merle is the common term for homozygous merles (dogs with 2 copies of the merle gene). It doesn’t matter what color merle or what breed they are. About White Diamond Double Merle Dane Rescue Association. We provide free training resources for owners if … To stop, release the enter key. 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. Normally owners of double merle dogs call them that or "D Merle" or "DM great dane." $800 firm. We do a lot of rescuing from the south. Or if you plan to breed your merle Great Dane in the future. 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. In Double Merles, the white coat is produced by a doubling up of the gene responsible for 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. 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. They are identified by their unique coat pattern. On every spot x spot litter, each puppy within the litter has a 25% chance of being born a Double Merle. Even though the Merle gene is dominant and it can be seen most of the times. Knowledgeable and responsible breeders who want to produce merle puppies mate a merle … … Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! https://welovedoodles.com/double-merle-dog-aussie-great-dane Double Merles are often described as "shy" or "'spooky." A dog needs only one copy to have a merled coat. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. The merle … We specialize in double merle, special needs, and medically needy Great Danes. Out of 48 merles, only 1 was deaf in one ear. A double merle is one which is homozygous. As with many dogs, Great Danes come in a variety of different colors! They can be one or the other or even neither, though a healthy White Dane is more uncommon. This is vitally important to know if you are working with a breeder to choose a healthy puppy. Yes! To play, press and hold the enter key. ... 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. The dogs are mostly white due to two copies of the merle gene which causes the bleaching/marbling effect in their coat. Breeding merles is currently deemed an unethical practice by the Great Dane Club of America's breeder's code of ethics. Great Danes of this pattern can come in many different colors and all look unique from one another. The puppies in this litter can have a wide array of health issues as well as mental issues. Stop double Merle Great Dane breeding ! 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). 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 find that most Backyard Breeders are either uneducated about breeding or in it for the money. 555 talking about this. Double merles are typically mostly white and have merle patches on the head and sometimes the body. Many DMs fail to adapt to different situations due to lack of social capabilities and have multiple problems coping with normal daily activities. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored background and irregular spots. Solid colored Danes can be. Double Merle and Albinism are not the same. 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. Double Merles can also be blind or have vision problems due to congenital eye defects. 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. Microphthalmia: Small eyeballs that often lead to total blindness. Merle is a dominant gene. Double Merle pups are born when both of the parents are merle. We have a foster based program and are always looking for new fosters. As she grew into an adult, the small eye that was present in each socket needed to be removed. 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. Their coat pattern is characterized by light colored fur and irregular spots. 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. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. Double Merles. Unfortunately, DM Great Danes are more common than they should be. Aspen's social media: https://www.facebook.com/LifeWithAspen/ https://www.instagram.com/lifewithaspen/ This can result in vision impairments, limited vision or blindness. Note. With training, persistency and patience DMs will learn ways of adapting and adjusting to their environment. Some of the Dog Breeds that carry the Merle Gene include:​. With this in mind, deaf and / or blind are not the only risks of breeding spot x spot. Cryptic merles are dogs that show only very slight merle coloration and in some cases, it is not visible at all. His rare color pattern, merlequin, is a result of irresponsible breeding practices. The answer is: YES! When we say Quin x Quin, we are speaking of Harlequins, Merlequins, Brindlequins, Fawnequins, etc. It can be extremely rewarding to own a special needs Great Dane. We foster and adopt out nationwide. (German Shepherd and Poodle mix), St. Berdoodle Guide (Saint Bernard Poodle Mix). A double merle is created when two merle dogs are bred together. 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). A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle. We are located in Port St Lucie. Currently working on crate training still has occasional slip up. Merle is actually a heterozygote of an incompletely dominant gene. ... to note that the merle derived “harlequin” is distinct and caused by a different genetic mechanism from Great Dane Harlequin (H). However, you can still register your Merle Great Dane as pure-breed with the American Kennel Club. One copy of the merle gene causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat. Are all White Great Danes deaf and /or blind? The term "double merle" refers to a dog bred by two merle colored parents. 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. Our goal is to rescue special needs dogs. Linken Bark is a Great Dane that came into our care as a puppy in the spring of 2017. A merle coat color pattern bears some health risks—a double merle is much riskier. We are dedicated to their rescue, and strive to educate the public on the dangers in merle to merle breeding. 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. Keeley, a Catahoula mix, was born with no vision in her left eye and only about 5% in her right eye. 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. Not to mention that breeding merles may produce dead puppies, sick puppies, and Danes that are predisposed to future health problems. Double Merles are a result of bad breeding practices, most commonly known as spot x spot breeding. Double Merle. If the colored areas are Merle, the Dane would be a Merlequin carrying double Merle genetics. Calypso, a double merle Great Dane, was born blind. Statistically, 25% of the pups from two merle parents will be Double Merles. 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. 571 talking about this. 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. In a double merle, the marbling/lightening effect is doubled and the coat becomes predominantly white. Merle makes melanin pigmentation less intense in random areas of the dog's body. These colors are considered show-acceptable. It all comes down to responsible dog ownership and preventing the 25% of happening. 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