Is a merle English bulldog rare?
Not in this case, Merle colouring is a naturally occuring coat pattern and is actually a dominant trait, don’t rare at all in the breeds it naturally occurs in. But the British Bulldogs is not one of them. It’s only recently that the coat pattern has been breed into Bulldogs. Merle is a genetic pattern in a dog’s coat and alleles of the PMEL gene. It results in different colors and patterns and can affect any coats. The allele creates mottled patches of color in a solid or piebald coat, blue or odd-colored eyes, and can affect skin pigment as well.The Merle pattern can be seen in various breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd Dog, Australian Koolie, Border Collie, Dachshund, French Bulldog, Louisiana Catahoula, Labradoodle, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Pyrenean Shepherd, Rough Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Welsh Sheepdog, Cardigan .However, in general, merle dogs are known to be highly intelligent, active, and trainable. Many merle breeds were initially developed for working purposes, such as herding or hunting, and as a result, they tend to be highly energetic and enjoy having a job to do.The only way to ‘create’ a merle French Bulldog is by breeding to a dog of a breed that carries merle — generally Chihuahuas. The resulting puppies are then crossed back to each other, allowing the ‘breeder’ to claim that their dogs are purebred Merle French Bulldogs.
Are merle English bulldogs healthy?
Merle English bulldogs have heightened risk factors for ear and eye problems, which can result in deafness or blindness. They also have elevated risk factors for sun sensitivity and skin cancer. Double-merle English bulldogs have a much greater risk of health problems, and rarely enjoy a very good quality of life. Are merle dogs unhealthy? Merle dogs with one merle parent have similar life expectancies as their solid-coloured friends. However, if a merle dog has two merle parents, there is an increased risk of some health issues, mainly to do with eyes and ears which can potentially lead to dog blindness and/or deafness in dogs.Merle English bulldogs have heightened risk factors for ear and eye problems, which can result in deafness or blindness. They also have elevated risk factors for sun sensitivity and skin cancer. Double-merle English bulldogs have a much greater risk of health problems, and rarely enjoy a very good quality of life.Double merles, despite their deficiencies, are generally quite healthy dogs capable of living long, otherwise normal lives. And they are no more aggressive, unpredictable or untrainable than hearing and sighted dogs.Merle to merle (homozygous) breeding is frowned on because dogs inheriting the merle mutation are at very high risk of deafness and blindness or other eye malformations.
Are merle bulldogs more expensive?
The average price of a Merle French Bulldog ranges from $6,000 to $15,000, depending on factors such as the breeder’s reputation, the puppy’s lineage, and the rarity of the Merle color pattern. The initial costs of an English bulldog is around $1500-$2000, French Bulldog is around $2500, and an American bulldog is around $1200-$1500. Adding in one-time and monthly costs, medical, grooming, and food costs, you can expect to spend around $15,000-$18,000 over the lifetime of your Bulldog.Merle French Bulldogs are rare, exotic and expensive. Expect prices to start at $7500 and go up to $20000. Be wary of breeders that have ‘cheap’ French Bulldogs because there are many French Bulldog scams out there and backyard breeders.Rarity of Color and Astonishing Appearance The rarity of the French bulldog’s color greatly affects its price. Typical Frenchie colors, like a fawn, are less expensive than the merle Frenchie as the latter is rare. However, if you want to go for the rarest French bulldog color, go for Isabella.The cost of a French Bulldog in the US can range widely, typically between $2,000 to $10,000 or more depending on factors like pedigree, color, and breeder reputation.
Is a merle bulldog purebred?
Since the Merle French Bulldog is not purebred, they are prone to many medical issues/deformities. As the Merle French Bulldog are crossbred, this means that health problems are almost inevitable no matter how well they are cared for. Rarity and Demand: Merle is a rare color pattern in French Bulldogs. The unique appearance of Merle French Bulldogs makes them highly desirable, leading to higher prices. Breeding Costs: Breeding Merle French Bulldogs requires careful selection and often involves genetic testing to ensure the puppies are healthy.Rarity of Color and Astonishing Appearance The rarity of the French bulldog’s color greatly affects its price. Typical Frenchie colors, like a fawn, are less expensive than the merle Frenchie as the latter is rare. However, if you want to go for the rarest French bulldog color, go for Isabella.In summary, a well-bred French Bulldog is a relatively healthy dog breed, probably the healthiest of the bully breeds.French bulldogs, or Frenchies as they are affectionately known, are exceptional companions, particularly with children. They are adaptable, active, and playful, with very steady temperaments. They’re also considered one of the cutest and friendliest bulldogs.
Why is merle so expensive?
Due to the rarity of the gene, merle dogs are more expensive than non-merle dogs. Do merle dogs have health problems? Dogs that have two copies of the merle gene variant, inherited from both of their parents, have an increased risk of problems with their eyes and ears, causing blindness and/or deafness.Merle is a genetic pattern in a dog’s coat and alleles of the PMEL gene. It results in different colors and patterns and can affect any coats.They have the same life expectancy, they are just as strong and athletic and smart as their counterparts without the merle gene. In lines with responsible merle breedings, all offspring will be healthy and live a long life.All breeds which have Merle have it naturally, a pair of dogs have bred and as one parent was Merle, some of the offspring are also Merle. Nothing non natural has happened, like artificially triggered mutations or gene transplanting.As well as developing blindness and deafness in later life, double merle puppies can be born with health defects, like microphthalmia. This is where the eyes of the merle dog are a lot smaller and do not form properly.
Why is merle not accepted?
Dogs that have two copies of the merle gene variant, inherited from both of their parents, have an increased risk of problems with their eyes and ears, causing blindness and/or deafness. It is a common misconception that a dog with a merle coat must have hearing and seeing issues. The only time the merle gene causes a concern for health is when a dog is homozygous for merle, meaning “double merle. The only way to get a homozygeous merle dog is to breed two merles together.Merle Bulldogs are not considered purebred. The term “Merle” refers to a specific coat pattern characterized by mottled colors and is often seen in various dog breeds, including Bulldogs.The Merle pattern can occur in a variety of colors, including blue, red, chocolate, and black. It is important to note that the Merle coat pattern is not recognized by all Poodle breed standards, so it is not considered a standard coat color in some Poodle breed clubs. However, it is still considered a purebred Poodle.The merle gene dilutes random sections of the coat to a lighter colour (usually grey in a black-pigmented dog), leaving patches of the original colour remaining. The patches can be any size and can be located anywhere on the dog, unlike the patches on a piebald dog (which are generally confined to the body and head).Purebred Merle pitbulls are simply pitbulls that have the merle genetic variation. The variation provides them with their unique color and appearance. That said, there are mixed breeds that are more likely to carry the merle gene, which is what many breeders resort to for breeding Merle pitbulls.