Merle

Merle in Poodles?

Merle is not a naturally occurring pattern in Poodles.

Patterns like parti, phantom, sable and brindle have been around in the breed for a very long time. We have historical photos, artwork, and written records that show they’ve existed.

Merle? We don’t have that.

There are no verified records of merle in Poodles until very recent times.

Brindle, Phantom, sable, parti have always been there, even if they weren’t always popular or accepted in the show ring. Trends changed, preferences changed, but those patterns were still part of the breed.

Genetically, the merle gene (PMEL) does not show up in purebred Poodles in large DNA databases like UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Embark Veterinary, or Wisdom Panel.

When merle shows up in a “Poodle,” it almost always traces back to an outcross somewhere in the lineage. Breeds like Australian Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, or Dachshund where merle already exists.

Merle doesn’t just randomly appear, it has to come from somewhere. Even one outcross a few generations back can introduce it.

If merle had always been hiding in Poodles, we would see it scattered randomly across old, established bloodlines.But we don’t. It shows up in very specific pockets from breeders who were known to breed mixes.

There’s also a health side to Merle .Merle itself isn’t always an issue, but breeding merle to merle can lead to serious problems (hearing and vision issues).

Many people who own “Merle” poodles love their dogs and their dogs deserve to be loved. Every dog deserves a Wonderful Life.

Yes, All dog breeds are man-made, but breed standards exist to preserve what makes that breed what it is. If we start adding traits from other breeds and calling it “rare”  it is used as a tactic to sell at a higher price to homes who aren’t aware that it isn’t rare, or even part of the breed.

And adding a color through outcrossing doesn’t improve structure, temperament, or health. That’s not preservation, that’s marketing. At the end of the day, people deserve accurate information.

DNA testing like Embark can typically track ancestry back about 3 generations clearly, and sometimes up to 4 -5 generations. the further back it is, the harder it is to detect.