The pit bull stands out for its assured attitude and sharp intelligence, and recent research on merles has elevated them to among the most remarkable breeds globally.
Whether you’ve heard of merle pit bulls or not, we’ll cover what they are, how they differ from other dogs, and why you should add one to your family. You might wonder if a dog like this would make a good pet for you and your family, and that’s what this post is about.
1. Merle Is Not A Breed
Merle is a dog recognized by the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club as a separate breed from the pit bull. It was initially developed in the late 1800s to control viciousness in hunting dogs. It is named after Merle Howard, who created the breed.
The merle gene is a hereditary mutation seen in nearly every dog breed. The small Australian Shepherd, Catahoula Leopard Dog, and American Pit Bull Terrier are among the most popular breeds with the merle coat pattern.
It is a coat design with speckles and patches of different colored hair. These patches will occur on a dog’s coat at random.
2. Merle Is Not An Official Color
Pit bull is a catch-all term for four dog breeds with similarities in appearance, origin, and temperament. These four breeds are as follows:
- Pit Bull Terrier of America
- Staffordshire Terrier (American Staffordshire Terrier)
- American Bully
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Merle is not a recognized color in any of these dogs’ breed requirements.
This implies that breed standards do not recognize merle pit bulls.
Regardless of their social standing, they are all attractive.
If you want to adopt a pit bull to compete in dog shows, merle is not the color for you. A merle pit bull might make an excellent household pet if you want to avoid exhibiting your dog.
3. There Are 4 Types Of Merle Pit Bulls
The first type of merle pit bull is called the black merle pit bull. This breed is the classic merle pit bull, which includes the black mask, black on the face, and black on the ears. They’re the most common type of merle pit bull, but they’re certainly not the only ones out there.
Here are three other types of merle pit bulls that you may encounter:
- The Chocolate Merle Pit Bulls
- The Chocolate Black Merle Pit Bulls
- The Brown Merle Pit Bulls
- The Chocolate Black Merle Pit Bulls: These are the most difficult to find, but they’re definitely not for everyone. They’re usually the rarest of the four kinds of merle pit bulls.
4. Merle Pit Bulls Are Rare
Most merle pit bull puppies are the result of a Pit Bull-Catahoula Leopard cross. Merle was a natural pit bull color, but getting a purebred merle puppy is not easy. The pit bull gene has always existed naturally, although it was not well known in the past.
Merle was frequently connected with health problems. Because pitties were intended to be robust and fit, breeders began selectively breeding against the gene. As a result, purebred merle pitties have become quite rare.
5. Merle First Appeared In The 1800s
Merle is a hereditary feature that is considered to be present in the majority of dogs. The first merle pit bulls are thought to have arrived in the late 1800s from the United Kingdom.
The merle gene was an approved coat pattern when the American Pit Bull Terrier was initially developed in the UK in the 1800s. Before the 1930s, it was even in the breed standard.
Various groups have amassed images and material regarding merle pit bulls. One of these images was taken in 1922 by a man named John P. Colby with his red merle pit bull.
6. Merle Pit Bulls Are Not The Same As Brindle Pit Bulls
When we look at the picture above of a merle pit bull, we first think that this breed is a purebred pit bull that was crossed with a brindle. These crosses are very popular in the show ring because they look really great, but they aren’t true merle pit bulls.
A true merle pit bull has only a few black hairs on its head, and the rest of its body is pure white. While the brindle in the picture above is brindled, that’s not something you’ll find in a true merle pit bull.
7. Merle Puppies Have The Appearance Of Spotted Piglets
Compared to other pitties, merle pit bull pups are born with a different coat.
Puppies’ coats will have a speckled pattern created by splotches of different colors intermingling throughout. It nearly looks like a spotted piglet, especially on a white merle pup with a white or cream base coat and tan spotting. These canines have white skin, pink noses, and blue eyes.
8. Merle Pit Bulls Health-Related Issues
Many people mistakenly believe that the pit bull breed has heart issues. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, the pit bull is a very healthy breed. Unlike other dog breeds, pit bulls are generally healthy, energetic, and full of life.
They also have a long lifespan and are rarely affected by certain health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
9. Double Merle Pups Will Have More Medical Problems
Pit bull breeders aim to prevent the breeding of double-merle pitties. They are the outcome of careless breeding, which might result in a one in four probability of having a double merle puppy.
In most cases, double-merle puppies are either fully blind, entirely deaf, or both, and they are more likely to suffer birth abnormalities and have shorter lives. Before mating their dogs, responsible pit bull breeders genetically screen them to guarantee they do not carry the merle gene.
10. Cryptic Merle Can Be Harmful
There are a couple of things that you should know before getting a merle pit bull. If your dog doesn’t have those red eyes, it might look like a normal merle. That’s why it can be hard to distinguish between the two. There are a couple of differences, though.
Cryptic merles have white markings on the mask and around the nostrils. There are also some white markings on the nose. If your dog isn’t cryptically merle, he will have red eyes. And he will have a darker nose than his eye color. The reason is that cryptic merle pits look like normal merles except for their red eyes.
Conclusion
Merle pit bulls are a distinct and lovely breed of dog. They have a strong and devoted disposition that makes them excellent family pets. Merle pit bulls may be a fantastic addition to any family if correctly cared for and trained.
Before bringing a dog home, like any other, it is essential to research the breed. A merle pit bull may be a fantastic companion for many years if given the proper amount of love and attention.
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