Merle is a coat pattern and not a color
The Merle gene dilutes random sections of the coat to a lighter shade, making them look marbled. Alongside the lightened sections, patches of the base color remain. Size and distribution are variable.
Basic color black (eumelanin) appears gray in places due to the lightening - Black Merle (in some breeds also blue merle)
Basic color brown (eumelanin) appears reddish in places due to the lightening - Choco Merle (in some breeds also red merle)
Basic color cream to red (phaeomelanin), is not influenced by Merle, you cannot see the Merle lightening - ➡️ see FAQ "Genetics Merle"
Merle can also affect eye color. Merle dogs can have solid brown eyes, solid blue eyes, mixed colored eyes (e.g. one blue eye and one brown eye), or even both colors in one eye.
The genetic designation / result of the genetic test is for:
Merle - M and is dominant
Non-Merle - m and is recessive
These genetic tests are fundamental and a must in Merle breeding. All of our Australian Labradoodles in Merle are heterozygous, i.e. genetically Mm - all mating partners are always mm, (not Merle) , and come from our main breeding program Jollitys Switzerland with bloodlines tested over generations.
Not all puppies from our matings have the Merle coat pattern, that is decided by nature. On average, 30% of the litter are born in Merle, the rest of the litter consists of standard colors, depending on the mating - here is an overview of the possible colors from the ALD.
IMPORTANT: The Merle coloring not only makes the coat look unique, the underlying genetics are also something special. This must be understood by the breeder and bred conscientiously using genetic testing. It is also important that the future puppy families are informed. ➡️ more under FAQ "Responsible Merle Breeding"
Why is Merle breeding a controversial topic?
1. Incorrect mating (merle x merle) could lead to impairments in the puppies. For example, impairments of the sensory organs such as reduced vision up to blindness, reduced hearing up to deafness (one or both sides) and disorders of the sense of balance.
This is not possible with Marble Diamonds because:
we do not breed Merle x Merle pairings
we test all mating partners for Merle (Tilia Europe and PawPrint Genetics USA)
2. Sometimes it is not possible to visually identify Merles for the following reasons: Minimal Merle: The Merle pattern may only be present in small areas. Hidden Merle: It may be hidden by another pattern. If they are not tested, there is a great risk of accidentally breeding two Merles.
It is definitely the responsibility of the Merle breeder to ensure that the puppies bred do not end up in the breeding program.
Marble Diamonds covers this risk:
through breeding ban / sterilization contracts
constant contact and support with our families
with purchase protection contracts, Marble Diamonds has contractually secured the right of first refusal. Our dogs cannot be passed on without our knowledge.
mentoring new breeders
lifetime support puppy families
Good to know:
Research in Merle genetics has progressed. Thanks to the latest equipment and high precision, laboratories have succeeded in distinguishing the Merle allele based on the length of the A tail in base pairs. There are countries and breeding facilities that safely breed Merle x Merle.
Merle is a wonderful addition to the Australian Labradoodle's range of patterns, bred with genetic knowledge. Tested matings pose no risk to the offspring. There are many autosomal recessive diseases that you cannot tell if a dog is a carrier, e.g. prcd-PRA, etc. Breeders also test for these diseases in order to avoid mating two carriers. It is the same with Merle.
The underlying genetics that make the coat so unique are special and must be understood by the breeder in order to be bred conscientiously.
A merle pattern dog bred with genetic knowledge leads a completely normal, unrestricted life and is just as healthy as its non-merle breed representatives.
At Marble Diamonds we follow the following rules:
no merle x merle mating
Genetic tests Merle of the parents - our mating partners are tested for Merle and WALA/ALAA certified
Merle genetic tests for all puppies
To ensure that no Merle litter is born into uneducated hands, we require:
Contract with breeding ban / castration obligation
Purchase/protection contract, we have the lifelong right of first refusal if a dog needs to be relocated
Information and education about Merle
Mentoring and support breeders
lifetime suppport puppyfamilys
If Merle breeding is done out under the conditions and rules above, there is no danger of defects!
Because Merle is a complex inheritance pattern that is beyond the basic knowledge of most breeders, this pattern cannot be registered in most Australian Labradoodle breeding associations and is considered a miscolor at the moment. They are already registered with ALA Australia and MBDA (Cobberdog formerly ALD).
Merle is an allele of the silver gene (SILV gene)
This gene plays an important role in the pigment-producing cells. A SINE insertion changes the cells' ability to produce pigment, resulting in the Merle pattern. SINE insertion = when a piece of foreign DNA is inserted into a gene, causing a change in the gene.
Why is the marbling different for every dog?
Due to the differences in insertion lengths, which affect the color of the Merle pattern, each pattern is unique. There are some laboratories (Tilia, Europe and PawPrintgenetics, USA and more) that can distinguish the Merle allele based on the length of the A tail, expressed in base pairs (bp). The following classification of the gene lengths of PPG of the known Merle alleles of the SILV gene - from shortest to longest tail:
The longer the tail, the more pronounced the markings.
A very long tail causes the normally grey areas of the fur to be lightened to white.
In Mc (M200-246) the insertion is shortened to such an extent that no change in the base color occurs.
The risk of changes to the ears (deafness) and eyes (blindness) is only significantly increased with the following packaging, which Marble Diamonds does not breed:
in dogs with the genotype M/M (Double Merle)
in all genetic combinations of M or Mh with the alleles Mh, M or Ma
These animals often have a very high proportion of white or are completely white. Eyelids, nose and lips can also be completely or partially unpigmented. For this reason, the requirements for Merle breeding are very high and in-depth knowledge on the part of the breeder is essential!
genetic testing
Before research into Merle developed, there was only the standard test for Merle or non-Merle. It led to confusion when a solid-colored dog suddenly had Merle offspring, and this is where the general but outdated opinion comes from that Merle is difficult to test or that the results are inaccurate. The standard test could not distinguish between the different Merle lengths. Research and modern technology make this possible today. Various breeding facilities (in countries where this is permitted) use the latest scientific findings and strict regulations to specifically breed double Merles without the risk of breeding sick puppies.
Sources: https://www.merle-sine-insertion-from-mc-mh.com
https://cf.ucdavis.edu/test/merle
https://www.eurovetgene.com/m-locus-merle MarbleDiamonds 2022-25
WELCOME TO MARBLE DIAMONDS
where health, socialization & character are paramount
We started our breeding with the Original Australian in 2011 as the first breeding facility in Switzerland. In 2019 we decided to include the unique marbled Merle pattern in our program.
Merle was bred into our ALD from the Cocker and Poodle - both breeds that are represented in our pedigrees.
We are a certified kennel and breed under the international Australian Labradoodle associations that are committed to the health and development of the ALD breed.
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