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