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| The dog above is called a Merle Schnoodle but there is more to this dog than meets the eye. |
What is the Merle Color? The Merle color on a dog reminds me of Oreo Cookie ice cream. It is a mottled patches of color and sometimes darker larger patches. It lightens as the dog gets older, so the pronounced color on a puppy will be more muted on the adult dog. The mottled look is not always black and white, but can be other colors as well. The most prized of the Merle dogs are those that are born with 1 or 2 blue eyes. Breeders usually charge a lot more for the blue eyed dogs. Sounds cool, right? Wait...there is more to this gene than meets the eye!
The Merle color gene carries many health defects. When a Merle is bred to a Merle you have a very high chance of blind and deaf dogs. They also have a weaker immune system. Some puppies are born dead or with missing eyelids. The health risks are so great that the UK Kennel Club stopped registering dogs with the Merle gene in 2013.
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| Blue eyed dogs have the Merle gene. This is a gene that can cause puppies to be born deaf and blind. |
Why would any breeder purposely breed Merle puppies?
Breeders who have introduced the Merle gene into their breeding lines, do so because they think this is an exotic look for a dog. This is an excuse to charge more for the puppies. It certainly is a surprise to see a Schnauzer with blue eyes! These breeders justify their breeding of the Merle by saying that as long as they don't breed one Merle dog to another Merle dog, the health issues won't show up in the puppies. But I consider breeding Merles to be a dangerous game. One where the life and health of the dog is at stake. When you breed a Merle litter, you cannot always tell which puppies have the Merle gene. Sometimes that color pattern is hidden by a white gene, or sometimes it is such a small patch of Merle on a puppy it is not seen. Tails are removed on Merle Schnauzers at 2-3 days old, and if the Merle patch was on the tail, no one would know that the dog carried the Merle gene. So it is quite possible to breed a Merle to another Merle and not realize you have bred 2 Merles. I just don't understand why any breeder wants to perpetuate a gene that is KNOWN to be so dangerous.....all this risk for a mottled coat or blue eyes? It is just not worth it the risk of puppies born blind, deaf or dead.
Be Aware! The Merle Schnauzer is not a purebred Schnauzer
Be Aware! The Merle Poodle is not a purebred Poodle
Neither Merle dogs can be registered with the AKC, because they are not Purebred.
The Mini Schnauzer and the Poodle do not carry the Merle gene in its history. You can see a list of the breeds that have the Merle color as a possible color in this article by Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_(dog_coat)
The Merle Schnauzer is actually a Pomeranian Schnauzer Mix or an Australian Schnauzer mix. (likewise the Merle Poodle is bred with a mix of one of those breeds). Breeders who sell the Merle Schnauzer will register them with the MSCA The Merle Schnauzer Club of America. I consider this a misleading registry, since it names the Schnauzer but not the other breed(s) it is mixed with. The uneducated buyer thinks he is buying a purebred Mini Schnauzer. And when this Merle dog is then bred to a Poodle the dog is not technically a Schnoodle either.
Are Merle Schnoodles good for Allergies?
If you are buying a Schnoodle because you or someone you love has allergies, then the Merle is definitely not the best choice for you. Most people buy a Schnoodle because the mix of a purebred Mini Schnauzer to a purebred Miniature Poodle are one of the BEST dogs for Allergies. That is because both breeds are low dander, non shedding breeds. But when you Breed a Merle into the background, then you have bred in some profuse shedding genes. The Pomeranian and the Australian Shephard are both prolific shedders and are NOT recommended for allergy sufferers. The Merle Schnauzer/Poodle Mix should be lower shedding or dander than a Pomeranian or Australian Shepherd, but the possibility that the shedding/dander will show up in your puppy is definitely there. So don't buy the Merle mixed dog, if you are trying to get the best Schnoodle for allergies.
So what should you do to avoid the Merle Gene in your Schnoodle dogs genetic background? Buy a Miniature Schnauzer or a Miniature Schnoodle from a Reputable breeder that breeds for health above color. Do not buy from breeders that breed Merle dogs. You will have the best chance for a healthy puppy that is bred from quality AKC breeding lines.
I have taken a lot of care to choose my breeding stock from from quality AKC Breeding lines because producing healthy puppies is my highest priority.
If you wish to find out more, there is a lot of information on the internet about this topic. Just Google 'Merle genetics'. And here is a website that also discusses the problem with the Merle Miniature Schnauzer specifically....http://merleminiatureschnauzers.weebly.comBest wishes to you all in your puppy search!
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