Merle Pitbulls are becoming ever more popular amongst dog lovers. Andwith good reason. They're very striking anda totally unique-looking pup. Butthere is certainly some controversy over the merle Pitbull andthe breeding practices thatsurround them.
Should you get a merle Pitbull? Are merle dogs genetically healthy? Here's what you need to know about these popular pups.
What is the merle gene/coloring?
Merle is a genetic pattern thatcan alter a dog's coat color. It creates mottled patches ona piebald orsolid coat color thatcan look completely unique. Eventhoughthe merle gene can affect a dog with any coat color, the colored patches ona pup will be red merle orblue merle.
The appearance of a merle coat can be quite patchy anda mixture of fully pigmented areas with diluted parts. Insome dog breeds, the merle gene is quite common. Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Australian Shepherds, Carea Leonés, andShelties can often have this distinctive coat pattern.
Aswell aschanging the coat color, the merle pattern can also affect the color of the skin andcreate the iconic bright blue andodd-colored eyes we associate with a merle dog.
What's all the controversy around the merle color pattern?
Althoughvery striking andcertainly very beautiful, there's quite a lot of controversy around the breeding of merle puppies. The merle gene can affect your dog's eyesight andhearing.
Two dogs thatboth have the merle gene should never be bred – andmost responsible breeders know this. A quarter of all puppies born to merle parents (known asdouble merle puppies) suffer from serious eye andhearing problems.
Thatsounds pretty easy, right? Don't breed two dogs with the iconic merle coloring. The problem is thatsome dogs are cryptic merles. This means they carry the merle gene butdon't have the distinctive colorings ormarkings of a merle dog. That's whyit's really important thatbreeders test their pups beforebreeding merle dogs.
How can you tell the difference between merle andbrindle coat patterns?
Whereasmerle tends to look more like a ‘faded' color mixed with stronger pigment, brindle looks almost tiger-like. Brindle Pitbulls normally have a brown coat with black stripes. Brindle pups can either have a uniform coat pattern orjust patches of brindle.
Are merle Pitbulls natural?
It's not just the breeding practises around merle Pitbulls thatcreates controversy. There's also a lot of confusion about whetherthe color is natural andifit should be accepted by various Kennel Clubs. This is mainly down to the fact thatmany people confuse Pitbulls with other breeds of dog.
Ifyou look atthe breed standards forthe United Kennel Club, they don't allow albinism ormerle inPitbulls. They also don't allow merle coloring forAmerican Bullys (a breed often confused with Pitbulls).
The American Kennel Club, however, doesn't accept the American Pit bull Terrier asa breed atall. It only accepts the (similar) American Staffordshire Terrier. Confused yet? Well, the AKC accepts the Staffy inall patterns andcolors.
The American Dog Breeders Association also doesn't recognize merle Pitbulls. Their decision is down to the fact thatmerle Pitbull puppies can have significantly reduced hearing andvision, especially double merle pups.
So, Pitbulls are not officially accepted inmerle by the Kennel Clubs thataccept the breed andvarious breeding associations. Other dog breeds similar to Pitbulls are accepted inmerle inother organizations. Clear?
Appearance of a merle Pitbull
It's important to remember thatmerle Pitbulls aren't a different breed from regular Pitbulls, they just have a genetic mutation. This means thatthese pups will still look like other Pitbulls, buttheir coat color will be different.
Merle Pit Bulls are medium-sized andweigh between 30 and60 pounds. They can grow to be between 15 and21 inches. Like all purebred Pitbulls, they have a strong andstocky body, with a boxy head andbroad shoulders. They can be quite intimidating butdon't let thatput you off!
Merle Pitbull temperament
Aswith its physical appearance, the temperament of a merle Pitbull won't differ from thatof a purebred Pitbull.
Many people think thatPitbulls are aggressive dogs thatare naturally violent. Butthat is generally not true. Astheir name suggests, Pitbulls were originally bred to fight bulls andother animals ina pit. This association, plus years of unethical breeding, has led people to believe thatPitbulls don't make great pets. Butthey do.
American Pit Bull Terriers can be extremely friendly andaffectionate towards their family members. With good training andsocialization (which all pups need) they can be very kid andother pet friendly. Despite their muscles andstrong muzzle, these dogs are complete softies.
Health of a merle Pitbull
Ifresponsibly bred, a merle Pitbull shouldn't have any more health problems thanother dogs. Double merles, however, can suffer from extreme eye problems such asnight blindness, missing eye tissue, inability forpupils to dilate, andtotal blindness. They can also be born deaf.
Merle Pitbull pups (as well asnon-merle Pitbulls) can also suffer from hip dysplasia, skin irritation, allergies, hypothyroidism, andknee problems. Ingeneral, though, the Pitbull breed is a relatively healthy dog breed.
How much exercise does a merle Pitbull need?
Pitbulls are active dogs andneed a good amount of exercise to satisfy their energy levels. Try to give your pup 1 to 2 hours of exercise a day, whichcan include walks, playtime, anda trip to the dog park. Pitbulls are also intelligent andsensitive dogs, sotry to make sure their brains are engaged through toys andtraining classes. A bored Pitbull is something you want to avoid!
How long do merle Pitbulls live?
There's no real difference between the lifespan of merle Pitbulls andPitbulls with other colorings. The average life expectancy of a merle Pitbull is between 12 and15 years.
Of course, lifestyle plays a big role andyou should make sure your pup is getting enough regular exercise andis being fed a healthy andnutritious diet. Check-ups atthe vet can help to diagnose conditions early andhelp to treat them.
Are merle Pitbulls rare?
Merle breeds used to be much rarer thanthey are now. With the increase inattraction forthese pups, the number of breeders breeding them has also increased. Their popularity is another reason whyit's soimportant to check the breeder anddo your research to find well-bred merle Pitbull puppies.
Compared to other Pitbulls, merle-coated pups are rarer. Buttheir numbers are increasing out of popularity.
How much do merle Pitbulls cost?
Merle Pitbulls are not cheap. Infact, they can be triple the price of their non-merle cousins. Ifyou're looking to buy a merle American Pit Bull Terrier you can expect to pay $10,000 ormore! They're very popular dogs andare still fairly rare compared to other varieties.
Should I buy a merle Pitbull?
That's really up to you. Ifyou can 100% ensure thatyour pup's parents have been tested forthe merle gene andthat the breeder is ethical, then there shouldn't be a problem with buying a merle Pitbull.
The question is whetheryou can 100% guarantee this. Many think it's best to avoid supporting the distinct breeding of particular coat colors – especially ifthe consequences can be asdevastating asthose of double merle Pitbulls.
Conclusion
Merle Pitbulls are really popular dogs. Aswith other merle dogs, their unique genetics give them a particularly striking andbeautiful look. It's really important, however, thatthese dogs are well tested.
A merle dog with two merle parents can suffer from a number of difficult health conditions. Some believe owning a merle dog is OK ifthey have been well tested. Others think it's best to avoid them altogether (unless, of course, you find one inyour local shelter)!
What's your opinion about merle dogs? Would you consider getting one?
Charlotte
I’m Charlotte, a content and copywriter from the North of England and currently living in Berlin. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, so writing about dogs is a total pleasure! I love all kinds of dogs and their cheeky personalities, but I’d have to say Weimaraners are my favourite!
