Merle can affect all coat colors. The merle forms of brown are usually called "red" (though this is not correct; red and brown are genetically different), and black is called "blue" as lighter patches of black …

Merle color can come in a variety of shades, including blue, red, fawn, and chocolate, and can be found in many different breeds of dogs. One trend related to merle color in dogs is the increasing popularity …

Aug 6, 2025 · Merle is a color pattern in dogs characterized by marbling of lighter, dilute colors on top of a solid background. The pattern is random but can appear in small patches or more extensively, …

Nov 1, 2022 · Also known as dapple, merle is characterized by irregular blotches of fur set on a lighter background of the same pigment, such as solid black on gray (called blue merle) or solid brown on …

Merle is an incompletely dominant coat color pattern characterized by irregularly shaped patches of diluted pigment and solid color.

Sep 9, 2025 · “Merle” refers to a unique coat pattern seen in several dog breeds, defined by a diluted base color with irregular patches of deeper pigmentation. These splotches can vary widely in size, …

Oct 16, 2025 · Both blue merle and slate merle are variations of merle on a black base. Blue merle typically has patches of lighter grey-blue mingled with black, while slate merle tends to have a …

Feb 11, 2025 · The most defining characteristic of a Merle dog breed is a mottled coat of black, tan, or white colors. Odd or blue-colored eyes also define these breeds.

Based on the color of the patches, there are two main types of merle coats: red merle having liver-colored patches on reddish or tan coats, and blue merle having black patches on blue, gray, or silver …

Jan 12, 2025 · The purpose of this article is to (a) discuss the genetic basis of merle coloration, (b) trace the history and controversy surrounding merle in purebred Poodles, and (c) elaborate on the …