MERLE - This is another dilution gene, but instead of diluting the whole coat it causes patches of dilution. There is no such thing as a sable merle gene, red merle gene or blue merle gene. There is only a merle gene. On average over a large number of litters, breeding merle to merle will produce one-fourth full colored dogs, one-half merles and one-fourth defective whites. *(merle to merle breeding is not recommended)* Breeding merle to full color (black, chocolate) will produce one half full color and one-half merles, but no defective whites. The merle to full color breeding, then, produces just as many merles as does the merle to merle breeding, and without the danger of defective puppies. The safest breeding for a merle is to a non-merle mate. This breeding should produce all healthy puppies, and about half will be merles. Breeders should use caution when breeding merles to sables, as this mating may produce sable merles. Sable merles are not more likely to have health problems than any other color. However sable merles may be mistaken for normal sables. If two such sable merles are mated together, the resulting litter could contain defective whites. NOTE: It is not recommended to breed a merle to another merle, white, piebald, sable or light colors. Merles can have either black or chocolate paw pads, nose, etc depending on their coat color. For example, blue/black merle will have a black nose. True blue merle will have a dark grey/blue nose. Chocolate merle will have a brown nose. Lilac will have a light brown nose.
