A merle coat is one of the most gorgeous in the dog world, an enticing swirl of colors which grants each dog a unique and distinguishing pattern, which often involve dark splotches of a color overlaying a lighter shade of the same hue.
While merle coloring is not restricted to pitbulls, the allure of this coat is attractive to the lovers of this breed and many current and would-be pitbull owners covet these astonishingly beautiful animals and many are willing to pay great expense to have a merle pitbull of their own.
As such, there are a wide-spectrum of questions about merle pitbull acquisition and even concerns raised about what causes these unusual color schemes.
Training and exercise needs of a Merle Pitbulls
Because these dogs are so people-oriented, they tend to take well to training. They are incredibly people-pleasing and want to make their owners happy. They are not known for being stubborn and generally listen well in most situations.
With that said, these dogs sometimes get too excited around new people and dogs. This trait can make them develop “selective hearing.” This behavior is similar to when hounds get on a scent trail. It isn’t that they are refusing to listen. They just can’t hear you.
Ensure that you train in various areas and introduce new people and eventually new dogs slowly. This training will help eliminate some of the selective hearing and can help prevent your dog from ignoring you in the future during these situations.
Puppy classes are highly recommended for this breed. These classes help kickstart their training, while they also allow them to socialize with other dogs. Plus, the training in this class will occur around other dogs and people, so it can help prevent some of their selective hearing from a young age.
While these dogs are often described as hyper and overexcited, they don’t have a very high exercise need. Usually, one or two medium-length walks a day are all they need. Sprinkle in a few play sessions, and they will happily spend the rest of the day worn out. However, if you don’t exercise them, they may be more prone to destructive behaviors due to their overexcited nature. While other breeds may be fine skipping a walk, these dogs aren’t.
Much of the controversy around the Merle Pitbull is due to their health. However, there are many people on both sides of this issue. In this section, we’ll discuss the health of the merle Pitbull using purely scientific sources and get to the bottom of the problem.
The merle coloration is dominant, which means that it only needs one gene to be expressed. A puppy may inherit a single merle gene from their parent and then be merle. Dogs with two dominant genes will also be merle. Of course, if the dog doesn’t inherit any merle gene, then they will have whatever coat they would have otherwise.
The merle gene covers up other coat colors. Therefore, a dog may be genetically black, but the merle gene completely covers up the black. This dog may have black puppies, though, if they are bred with a non-merle dog. The merle gene does this by affecting how pigment is produced. Like some white and albino dogs, the lack of pigment causes other health issues as well.
If a dog has two dominant merle genes, it seems that the health implications are far worse. Merle-to-merle breeding is highly discouraged, therefore. The UKC has stopped registering puppies due to these breedings, and it is illegal in three different breeds. (Though the American Pit Bull Terrier is omitted, as the UKC doesn’t register merle Pitbulls, to begin with.)
Several studies have confirmed the health problems associated with the merle gene. One study found that dogs with the merle gene were much more likely to be deaf. This study is one of the few that also included the American Pit Bull Terrier in their research. Merles with one gene had a 2.7% chance of being deaf in one ear and a 0.9% chance of being deaf in both ears. Merles with two genes had a 10% chance to be deaf in one ear and a 15% chance to be deaf in both. The eye color or sex of the breed didn’t matter.
Another study on merle dachshunds found that 54.6% of double merles and 36.8% of single merles had some hearing loss. 9.1% of double merles were utterly deaf.
Ocular defects are also common. These problems are due to a lack of pigment in their eyes. These effects can include eye pressure problems, colobomas, and microphthalmia. Colobomas occur when the dog is born with holes in their eye, which directly affects their vision. Microphthalmias is a developmental disorder that causes one of the eyes to be unusually small or have other malformations.
However, there are no actual studies done on how the merle gene affects vision. Therefore, some opponents argue that it doesn’t at all. We will have to wait for a scientific study to be published before concluding.
The APBR does mention a study that found no health issues associated with the merle gene. However, they did not provide citation information, and we were not able to track it down. Therefore, we were unable to use this study when looking at this gene’s effects.
On top of the problems associated with the merle gene, the American Pit Bull Terrier is prone to a few other health conditions.
Like many larger dogs, they are prone to hip dysplasia. This condition occurs when the hip joint does not form correctly. The ball does not entirely fit into the socket, causing them to rub together. Eventually, this damages the bones and the joint. Arthritis-like symptoms are expected as the body attempts to control the damage.
Typically, this condition requires regular medication and supplements, which can cost a few hundred a months. Sometimes, dogs will develop lameness and require surgery. This treatment can be a few thousand dollars per hip. Genetic testing can prevent this condition from being passed onto litters of puppies, so it is essential to purchasing your puppy from a breeder that does the proper health testing.
Luckily, careful breeding has made this condition somewhat less prominent.
All Pitbulls are prone to Demodex Mange. This type of mange is prevalent. The mites live in the hair follicles of the dog’s fur and can cause minor symptoms like dry skin and hair loss. However, the dog’s immune system usually does a pretty good job at keeping the mites in check.
Due to a genetic problem, the Pitbull is often unable to fight off these mites, though. They have an immune problem that specifically affects their ability to fight this disease. Therefore, the disease stops becoming a localized problem and can affect the whole dog. For instance, they may lose much of their fur and develop large patches of dry skin. Their skin may crack open, bleed, and then become scabby. It typically breaks open often.
The mange itself can’t often kill the dog, but secondary infections from the constantly breaking skin can. The wounds typically don’t heal, which means that avoiding infection is complicated.
Pitbulls also have an immunodeficiency towards parvovirus. For this reason, it is essential to get them vaccinated according to schedule. They are more likely to catch this disease when exposed and have worse symptoms.
Grooming these dogs is often straightforward. They have short, smooth hair that does an excellent job of staying clean. They do shed somewhat, so we recommend brushing them at least once a week. This brushing session will also help remove dirt and dust from their fur and spread around their natural oils. By brushing them weekly, you help keep their coat and skin healthy. You also elongate the time they’ll need between baths and remove much of their shedding fur before it ends up on your couch.
These dogs will not need to be bathed very often. If you keep up with their brushing, they will often be just fine without a bath at all. You usually only need to bathe them if they roll in mud or do something else that makes them dirty. In these cases, it may be better to wipe them down with a dog wipe, skipping the bath altogether.
Bathing these dogs too much can result in a loss of natural oils. This loss can damage their skin and coat, leading to skin irritation and infections.
Like all dogs, you’ll need to trim your Pitbull’s nails regularly. When you hear them begin to click on the floor, it is likely time to trim them. You can do this yourself or take them to a groomer. Many groomers and vets offer inexpensive walk-in visits for things like nail trimmings.
You should also keep an eye on their ears, as a build-up of dirt, debris, and wax can result in ear infections. Their erect stance often prevents their ears from trapping too much stuff, but it is still possible. Simply give them a quick look during brushing sessions and clean them with a damp cotton ball if necessary.
If your dog has any skin rolls, you’ll need to keep those dry and clean as well. Dog wipes are great for this, as they will need to be cleaned at least once a day with a low-moisture wipe. Not all Pitbulls have these excessively, but those that do are more prone to skin irritation. Bacteria can quickly grow in these moisture-ridden areas, causing skin infections.
You can usually only find these dogs at breeders, as they are rare and typically don’t occur naturally. Breeders often must pick dogs that have the merle gene specifically to breed them. After the puppies are produced, they can cost thousands of dollars. There simply aren’t that many merle Pitbulls around the breed, so they tend to be very expensive.
Luckily, it isn’t challenging to find these breeders. They usually advertise very loudly and can be found on practically any search engine. Many ship worldwide, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one that will deliver a puppy to your house.
However, you should be aware that these dogs can be costly. One breeder charges $35,000 for the 1st pick of a merle litter. If you want a very merle puppy, you’ll need to plan on spending quite a bit on your puppy.
A puppy’s parents should be health tested before they are bred. This testing is especially proper for merle puppies, as they are often less healthy than other colorations. The last thing you want is an unhealthy Pitbull puppy with a few merle health problems tagging along. Luckily, most breeders who breed merle puppies also health tests. It is essential to ask, though.
You may also consider choosing a breeder that performs health checks on the puppies. Most puppies should see a vet at least once before they are brought adopted. This visit should include their vaccinations, as well as a check-up by the vet. Ask to see the vet records. If the vet noticed anything weird, it should be recorded.
Also, ask about hearing tests for merle puppies. These dogs are more likely to be deaf, so the importance of testing the puppies is even greater than it would be with a regular Pitbull.
How much is a merle Pitbull?
For those who are eyeing to get a merle Pitbull, make sure that you choose a reputable and honest breeder. On average, top of the line merle Pitbulls can cost from $15,000 to $30,000. They cost double and even triple the usual price of non-merle Pitbulls. Usually, kennels sell their puppies by picks.
Many other dogs have merle coloring
Plenty of breeds see evidence of merle coloring, not just pits. Common breeds that have the merle gene include:
Of these, it’s most common in the Australian Shepherd and Catahoula Leopard Dog.
FAQ
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