MERLE IS A PATTERN POODLES DO NOT NATURALLY COME IN!
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MERLE "Poodle"?
The Merle gene can NOT be carried, it is a semi dominate gene Not a recessive. It is not a natural pattern in poodles. That means that the Merle gene had to be introduced into the poodle via another breed of dog. Whereas these dogs are very striking in color, they are not poodles. It is a pattern that I would highly recommend staying away from. These "merle poodles" are NOT honestly registered through the AKC or UKC. Some breeders claim that their Merles DNA pure poodle and while this may be true after 4+ generations of breeding back to poodles, they would have introduced all the health issues that the other breed has that they used to bring in the Merle. This includes MDR1 which is a genetic blood/brain barrier issue found in herding dogs, MDR1 Mutant dogs can be killed by ingesting Ivermectin, a common ingredient found in most animal de-wormers including Heartguard. Dogs with the MDR1 Mutation have also died from eating the poop of livestock that had an Ivermectin wormer. Since Merle is a semi Dominant gene you must breed a Merle to produce a Merle. Merle once introduced into a gene pool can be masked by a dog with the E Locus or red gene, so Red/Apricot/Cream/White poodle could be Merle and show very little signs of it, which makes it even easier to accidently breed double Merle puppies. Unfortunately there are a lot of health problems tied into the Merle gene including deafness and blindness, Especially double Merles. Double Merle puppies can be born deaf and/or Blind, missing ears, eyes and malformed ears and eyes.
Both the Merle color and blue eyes have been declared disqualifications with UKC, and they allow all multi colors to show.
Great resource page regarding Merle and Merle breeding
http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/merle.html
The Merle gene can NOT be carried, it is a semi dominate gene Not a recessive. It is not a natural pattern in poodles. That means that the Merle gene had to be introduced into the poodle via another breed of dog. Whereas these dogs are very striking in color, they are not poodles. It is a pattern that I would highly recommend staying away from. These "merle poodles" are NOT honestly registered through the AKC or UKC. Some breeders claim that their Merles DNA pure poodle and while this may be true after 4+ generations of breeding back to poodles, they would have introduced all the health issues that the other breed has that they used to bring in the Merle. This includes MDR1 which is a genetic blood/brain barrier issue found in herding dogs, MDR1 Mutant dogs can be killed by ingesting Ivermectin, a common ingredient found in most animal de-wormers including Heartguard. Dogs with the MDR1 Mutation have also died from eating the poop of livestock that had an Ivermectin wormer. Since Merle is a semi Dominant gene you must breed a Merle to produce a Merle. Merle once introduced into a gene pool can be masked by a dog with the E Locus or red gene, so Red/Apricot/Cream/White poodle could be Merle and show very little signs of it, which makes it even easier to accidently breed double Merle puppies. Unfortunately there are a lot of health problems tied into the Merle gene including deafness and blindness, Especially double Merles. Double Merle puppies can be born deaf and/or Blind, missing ears, eyes and malformed ears and eyes.
Both the Merle color and blue eyes have been declared disqualifications with UKC, and they allow all multi colors to show.
Great resource page regarding Merle and Merle breeding
http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/merle.html
Below is pictured a screen shot from UKCs breed standard for the multi colored standard poodle.
you can see the whole breed standard here https://www.ukcdogs.com/multi-colored-standard-poodle
you can see the whole breed standard here https://www.ukcdogs.com/multi-colored-standard-poodle
Links with scientific research and information regarding Merle.
Welcome! Feel free to share links that show the merle gene isn't recessive.
https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/products/tests/details/171/
https://mydogdna.com/blog/coat-colour-merle-testing-part-our-services
https://www.animalgenetics.us/canine/Canine-color/MLocus.asp
https://www.genomia.cz/en/test/merle
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1431520/
