The Truth About Merle Colored Poodles

What is a Merle Poodle?

First, let's consider what "merle" is. Merle is not a color, but a beautiful pattern found in several herding dog breeds including the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie. It's best described as "dappling" of color inside a lighter dilute of coloring.  You will see a sort of marbling of light and dark color, such as black spots inside gray splotches.  This color pattern is genetic. In addition to the dappling of color, dogs with the merle patterned often come with odd colored eyes, such as blue, with one or both eyes being partially or completely blue. These dogs are more commonly deaf and blind. If you would like to learn more about the merle gene and how it affects dogs, we recommend you visit a site such as Laboratory Veterinary Genetics Laboratory website. I have added additional links at the bottom of this page.

Are Merle Poodles Purebred?

According to AKC, this gene is not standard for poodles. The merle gene just suddenly appeared in poodle in recent decades. While many consider a poodle purebred after 4+ generations of breeding back to a purebred poodle, somewhere in that dogs genetic history other inherited gene traits were introduced. This not only introduces the merle color pattern, but potentially crippling or fatal genes as well. Since it is unknown what breed was used to initially introduce the merle gene into these poodle lines, we feel that it is a risk not worth taking.  

 Where did the merle pattern come from?

The most likely explanation of the gene appearing in poodles is the cross-breeding with another dog that carries the gene. The resulting puppies, now carrying the gene, were registered with the AKC, CKC, and other national registries under a different color code. Is the color pattern strikingly beautiful? Most definitely. Does beauty indicate purebred genetics and health? Absolutely not.

Does the AKC recognize merle poodles?

The AKC does NOT RECOGNIZE MERLE POODLES! There is no color/patter/marking code for the merle pattern in poodles. If a merle poodle is sold as a purebred poodle, someone in that dogs history registered cross-bred puppies. 

Should I adopt a merle poodle?

Although you have the right to adopt any dog you wish to adopt, we cannot responsibly recommend  anyone adopt a merle poodle. With the gene origin unknown in the poodle, increased risk of deafness and blindness, as well as the unknown genetic risks that can come from mixing breeds to get this gene in some poodles, it's a risk we we do not recommend. 

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The color pattern is beautiful and we will be the first to admit it.  A pretty dog doesn't mean a purebred dog and it definitely doesn't mean a healthy dog.

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Here are some links to more information about the merle gene and "merle poodles" that you may be interested in:

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Windswept Poodle:  MERLE IS A PATTERN POODLES DO NOT NATURALLY COME IN!

Kvali Standard Poodles: Merle - Poodles?

AKC: What Makes the Merle in Dog Coats? The Science Behind the Pattern

UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory: Merle