Chihuahua Merle Color: Chihuahuas are the world’s smallest dog breed. This breed is known for their small size and beautiful coat colors. They first originated in Mexico. They are very loving and make a strong relation with their owner and other family members. Chihuahuas are very intelligent, active, friendly, loving and protective. They are polite and don’t show aggression towards children, which makes them an excellent pet for all families.
They have a smooth double coat that come in different colors such as black, brown, cream, blue, red, yellow, golden, tan, fawn, sable and merle. Merle is one of the most unique colors of the Chihuahua’s coat. Some merle Chihuahuas have short-hair and some have long-hair. Merle Chihuahuas are known for their unique appearance. They don’t require a lot of exercise. They require proper grooming due to their high shedding amount. Today in this article, we will study in detail about the Merle Chihuahua.
What Is Merle Chihuahua🐕
A Merle Chihuahua is a breed of Chihuahua with a unique coat color consisting of light-colored background with random patches of one or more dark colors. The Merle pattern in Chihuahua is a result of genetics. The Merle coat may also affect the pigment of the dog’s skin. The Merle Chihuahua will have blue eyes, or one blue eye with the other eye being a standard color.
Merle Chihuahua
Short-haired or Long-haired
3 to 9 inches
3 to 7 pounds
Intelligent, Loving, Friendly, Active and Protective
Small Children, olders, families live in a small apartment
12 to 18 years
Moderate
High
What Is Merle Gene🐶
Merle Allele (M) is a gene that is responsible for merle patterns in Chihuahuas. It is a mutation of the non-merle allele (m) gene. Alleles are different versions of the gene that come in different forms. There is an allele merle and a non-merle allele gene, the former is responsible for the merle pattern in Chihuahua.
The merle allele is an incomplete dominant gene, whereas the non-merle allele is a recessive gene. The merle allele partially overrides the corresponding recessive gene. Merle gene and non-merle gene both will be partially expressed when paired together.
Like humans, Chihuahuas are also born with a pair of genes, which they inherit from each parent. All merle Chihuahuas have the Mm genotype, they inherit the Merle gene from one of their parent’s breeds. A team of geneticists and students discovered the merle gene in 2006 at the Flagship University.
Breeding Of Merle And Non-Merle Chihuahuas🐕🐕🦺
If a sire or dam carries the merle gene, it will determine whether or not their offspring will be merles. Chihuahua puppies can only be born with merle genes, if at least one of their parents have merle genes.
Non-merle x non-merle parents = The whole litter will consist of non-merle Chihuahua puppies.
Merle x non-merle parents = half of the litter will be merles and half will be non-merles.
Merle x merle parents = half of the litter will be merles, one-quarter will be non-merles and one-quarter will be double merles.
How Merle Gene Affect The Chihuahua’s Coat🥓
The merle gene affects the pigmentation within the Chihuahua’s coat. The Chihuahua’s coat color is governed by two pigments : Eumelanin and Pheomelanin.
Eumelanin governs black in a Chihuahua’s coat, while the Pheomelanin governs red in a Chihuahua’s coat. Chihuahua have a wide range of coat colors such as black, brown, red, blue, cream, golden and yellow.
The merle gene specifically affects the Eumelanin, which controls the black color in Chihuahua’s coat. Merle gene can further be classified as blue or red depending on the shades of the dark-colored fur. Blue merle is the most common type of Chihuahua with patches of black fur. Red merle Chihuahuas have patches of brown or copper-colored fur. Blue and red merle are genetically different, but they have the merle gene.
There are also many breeds that can be born with the merle gene, Some are given below:
Is Merle Gene Naturally Occurring In Chihuahuas😼
The Chihuahua is one of the world’s oldest dog breeds. It has a long recorded history. Merle is not a color that naturally occurred within the Chihuahuas, although it is standard color within various other breeds.
Merle gene was first introduced to the Chihuahua is the matter of some debate between breeders and supporters of merle Chihuahuas. Supporters can assert that a naturally occurring genetic mutation is what caused the merle color to initially arise in the breeds.
However, there is no verified information to suggest that the merle gene mutation has naturally occurred within the breeds. The other way that merle can be introduced to a breed that does not exhibit the color naturally, by outcrossing of other breeds that do carry the merle gene.
All of this means that merle is not considered a natural color in Chihuahuas, and that it is widely regarded as having been introduced by outcrossing specific breeds that do carry the merle gene.
Do Merle Chihuahua Differ From Other Chihuahuas🐕🦺
Merle Chihuahuas are different from other Chihuahuas due to their coat. Merle Chihuahuas feature unique coat patterns consisting of irregular patches of dark-colored fur, such as black or brown. Merle Chihuahuas differ from non-merle Chihuahuas in other ways. The merle gene can affect the eye and skin color of Chihuahuas. Merle Chihuahuas have more blue eyes than non-merle Chihuahuas.
Blue eyes are common in newborn Chihuahuas, but their eye’s color begins to change within two to four months. Merle Chihuahuas are often born with blue eyes and their color is permanent that doesn’t change. Merle Chihuahuas have two blue eyes, but the non-merle Chihuahua has only one blue eye. The merle gene affects the distribution of Eumelanin throughout the coat, skin and eyes. Merle Chihuahuas have certain health issues such as hearing loss and blindness.
Are Merle Chihuahua Compete In Show Rings😸
It is a misconception that the Merle Chihuahuas are not allowed to compete in the show rings. Many canine organizations prohibit owners from competing their merle Chihuahua in the show rings. The Kennel Club (TKC) banned the registration of merle Chihuahuas in 2007. A few years later, it was declared illegal to register any Chihuahuas descended from either the sire or the dam.
Even if your Chihuahua has a merle coat, it can not register with the United Kingdom’s official canine organization. But don’t worry, the American Kennel Club (AKC) allows merle Chihuahuas to compete in show rings. The American Kennel Club’s official parent club of the Chihuahua, voted against the disqualification of the merle Chihuahua. You can register your Chihuahua with the American Kennel Club, and you can compete your merle Chihuahua in the show rings.
Chihuahua Merle Color🐕
Merle Chihuahuas have beautiful patterned coat that come in different colors, some are given below:
In addition to their beautiful coat, they feature attractive blue eyes. These dogs’ attractiveness has made them extremely well-liked. As a responsible owner, you need to be aware of the health issues of the merle gene.
Grooming Of Merle Chihuahua😺
Merle Chihuahuas are simple to groom dogs and don’t require a lot of grooming. But daily grooming is essential to keep your dog healthy and happy. Regular brushing can help to remove the loose hair and prevent their coat from tangling. Brush their coat at least 3 to 4 times a week with a Slicker Brush or a Pin Brush. Bathing is also very necessary and it helps to remove the dander from their coat. After a bath, drying their coat can help to avoid skin irritation.
Trim your dog’s nail with a clipper, if they are big. It can help your dog to walk on the floor comfortably. Brush your dog’s teeth on a daily basis. Don’t use human paste, because it can lead your dog to dental problems. Cleaning your dog’s ears can help to prevent ear infection.
Health Issues Of Merle Chihuahua👨⚕️
Like other dog breeds, Merle Chihuahuas are also prone to certain health issues. Blindness and deafness are the issues that occur due to the merle gene in your Chihuahua. Other common health issues that your Merle Chihuahua can face in their life are given below:
As a responsible owner, you need to keep an eye on the daily activities of your loving pet. If you notice the symptoms of any of these diseases then immediate contact with the vet for the happy and healthy life of your merle Chihuahua.
Quick Information Of Merle Chihuahua🐱
CONCLUSION⚡
Chihuahuas are the world’s most popular dog breed. They are very intelligent, active, friendly and playful. They are known for their unique bond that they make with their owner. Chihuahuas have a smooth double coat that come in different colors such as black, brown, red, yellow, blue, sable, tan, merle and the combination of these shades.
Merle Chihuahua color is caused by the merle gene that can affect the distribution of Eumalenin, which is responsible for the coloring of the coat, skin and eyes. Merle Chihuahuas have sporadic patches of one or more dark colors. All merle Chihuahuas have the Mm genotype, they inherit the Merle gene from one of their parent’s breeds.
The merle Chihuahua is prone to deafness and blindness. They are great family pets. Merle Chihuahuas are rarer than other Chihuahuas. It is smaller or larger than other Chihuahuas due to the merle gene. They make a great family pet, due to their unique and beautiful appearance.
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