Many of us have heard of dogs with distinct and beautiful “Blue Merle” coats but, have not heard of the lesser-known variations like the chocolate merle. What are Merle Pomeranians?
Merle Pomeranians have unique genetics that results in a coat pattern that is often described as patchy, splotchy, or molted. A Merle Pomeranian often has a bold eye color of blue, brown with blue dots, or two different colored eyes.
In this article, I discuss everything you would want to know about Merle Pomeranains.
- What Is A Merle Pomeranian
- What Do Merle Pomeranains Look Like
- Are There Different Types Of Merle Pomeranians
- Are Merle Pomeranians and Parti Pomeranians The Same
- Are Merle And Brindle Pomeranians The Same
- What Is A Merle Pomeranains Temperament
- How Big Do Merle Pomeranains Get
- Do Merle Pomeranians Have Health Problems
- What Is The Lifespan Of A Merle Pomeranian
- What Do Merle Puppies Look Like At Birth
- Are Merle Pomeranians Hard To Groom
- Are Merle Pomeranians Rare
- Are Merle Pomeranians Popular
- How Much Does A Merle Pomeranian Cost
- Where Can I Get A Merle Pomeranian
- How Do Breeders Breed Merle Pomeranians
- Do Merle Pomeranians Make Good Show Dogs
- Where Did Merle Pomeranians Come From
- List Of Merle Patterned Dogs
- Merle Pomeranian Facts
- Final Thoughts
- Other Articles You May Enjoy!
What Is A Merle Pomeranian
The term Merle actually refers to a color pattern found within a Pomeranian’s coat, not the coat color.
The genetics that creates the merle pattern also affects the dog’s eye color and skin coloring.
Merle Pomeranians have a distinct appearance of blotchy fur with some dark patches and some light patches.
What Do Merle Pomeranains Look Like
Merle Pomeranians can come in a large variety of fur colors but, you will notice distinct characteristics that are similar within any merle dog.
Speckled or Molted Fur- All Merle Pomeranians have speckled-looking fur. The fur color will vary in intensity throughout its coat. A Merle Pomeranian will have a base color with lighter patches.
Blue Eyes- Merle Pomeranians usually have blue eyes that range from light blue to deep dark blue. If a Merle Pomeranian doesn’t have blue eyes, their eyes may be a shade of brown with blue specks. It’s also possible for Merle Pomeranians to have one brown eye and one blue eye.
The Points Are Often A Speckled Pink- A Merle Pomeranian will have light pink points (nose, eyelids, lips, and paw pads) that are often speckled with a darker color.
Are There Different Types Of Merle Pomeranians
You may be familiar with or have heard of dogs with Blue Merle coats, to the surprise of many there are many other coat colors that can have a merle pattern.
The Merle pattern can exist on any base color that is found within the Pomeranian Breed. The pattern itself is more obvious among the darker base colors.
- Chocolate Merle
- Red Merle
- Merle And Tan
- Parti Merle
- Orange Merle
- Beaver Merle
- Lavender Merle
What Is A Blue Merle Pomeranian
Blue Merle Pomeranians are Black Pomeranians with merle genetics.
The Merle gene will cause some of the Black Pomerians’ fur to lighten into “grey-blue” patches.
What Is A Chocolate Merle Pomeranian
Chocolate Merle Pomeranians have a base coat of brown fur with lighter or darker brown patches.
What Is A Red Merle Pomeranian
A Red Merle Pomeranian will have a red coat that ranges from almost orange to a deep russet color with obvious merle patches.
What Is A Orange Merle Pomeranian
An Orange Merle Pomeranian is very similar to a Red Merle Pomeranian but, the fur color is often lighter which can vary from apricot to bright orange with merle splotches.
What Are Beaver Merle Pomeranians
Beaver Pomeranians have diluted brown coats when they also have merle genetics the brown coat which can range from dark cream to a taupey beige will have the merle splotches.
What Are Lavender Merle Pomeranians
Lavender Pomeranians have a beautiful soft grey, purple, and brown colored fur. A Lavender Merle Pomeranian will have that same beautiful shade of color with the addition of the Merle Pattern.
What Is A Merle And Tan Pomeranian
A Merle and Tan Pomeranian is a Pomeranian that has both the “and tan” pattern and the merle Pattern.
The tan markings are usually found above each eye, cheeks, sides of the muzzle, inside of the ears, throat, chest, legs, feet, the underside of the tail, and skirt.
Are Merle Pomeranians and Parti Pomeranians The Same
Merle and Parti Pomeranians are not the same.
A Parti Pomeranian has patches of white fur without any merle pattern.
It is possible for a Parti patterned Pomeranian to also have merle genetics.
A Parti and Merle Pomeranian will look like a Parti Pomeranian with distinct white patches but, the areas of the dog’s coat that have color will show the merle pattern.
Are Merle And Brindle Pomeranians The Same
Merle and Brindle Pomeranians are not the same.
The Merle pattern is very patchy and splotchy looking where the brindle pattern has distinct stripes.
What Is A Merle Pomeranains Temperament
Merle Pomeranians are just as smart and sassy as Pomeranians are known to be.
Pomeranians are the ideal companion, they love to be right by your side and are always on alert to let you know of any dangers.
They are completely unaware of their small stature and can often get themselves into trouble thinking they are bigger, whether it’s barking at a much larger dog (like mine with the two German Shepherds next door), or jumping from too high of a place.
Some of the ways people have described Pomeranians are.
- Bold
- Alert
- Sassy
- Fiesty
- Alert
- Playful
- Sociable
- Loyal
- Intelligent
- Cuddly
- Affectionate
- Protective
- Extroverted
How Big Do Merle Pomeranains Get
Merle Pomeranains on average will weigh between 3 to 7 pounds with a height of 6 to 7 inches.
Although the AKC Breed Standard is very specific many Pomeranians are smaller or larger than the standard.
Merle Pomeranians that fall under the 3-pound mark are often called “Teacup Pomeranians“.
A Pomeranian that is over 7 pounds could be just on the larger side or be a “Throwback Pomeranian“.
Do Merle Pomeranians Have Health Problems
There is often some confusion about the health of Merle Pomeranians with the rumor that Merle Pomeranians are more vulnerable to health problems.
Merle Pomeranains are just as healthy as any other Pomeranian.
Do Double Merle Pomeranians Have Health Problems
Double Merle Pomeranians and any double merle dog is at a much higher risk for severe health problems.
Double Merle Puppies are often deaf, have eye problems, and are born sterile.
A double merle puppy can be the result of breeding two parents that each carries the Merle gene.
Breeding two dogs who carry the merle gene is frowned upon.
What Are The Health Concerns For Merle Pomeranians
A standard Merle Pomeranian will be vulnerable to some health conditions that are more common among Pomeranians.
- Hair Loss
- Skin Conditions
- Eye Problems
- Luxating Patellas
- Collapsed Tracheas
What Is The Lifespan Of A Merle Pomeranian
Pomeranians can live long healthy lives, living to 12 to 14 years of age on average.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Pomeranian?
What Do Merle Puppies Look Like At Birth
The patchy and molted-looking coat that is characteristic of the merle pattern is clearly visible in most Merle Pomeranian puppies at birth.
Are Merle Pomeranians Hard To Groom
Merle Pomeranians are not hard to groom.
Although Pomeranians have extremely fluffy coats they are not as hard to maintain as you would think.
Your Pomeranian will need routine brushing, nail clipping, and the occasional bath.
Are Merle Pomeranians Rare
Due to the complicated breeding of genetics to produce merle puppies they are rarer than many other colors and patterns found within the Pomeranian breed.
Which Merle Pomeranian Is The Most Rare
Beaver and Lavender Merle Pomeranians are the rarest fur colors found with the merle pattern.
Are Merle Pomeranians Popular
Merle Pomeranians have become one of the most sought-after color combinations in the United State in recent years.
How Much Does A Merle Pomeranian Cost
Due to the rarity of Merle Pomeranians, they tend to be more expensive when compared to other Pomeranian coat colors and patterns.
A Merle Pomeranian can cost between $3000 and $6000.
The exact price for a Merle Pomeranian will be determined by the dog’s genetics, background, availability, and travel needs to deliver the puppy.
Where Can I Get A Merle Pomeranian
The best way to get a Merle Pomeranian puppy is to locate a breeder that specializes in Merle Pomeranians.
Pomeranians have an incredible amount of colors and patterns with very small litters of puppies. Connecting with a breeder within your desired coat color or pattern is the best way to ensure that you will find the puppy you are looking for.
How Do Breeders Breed Merle Pomeranians
The genetics behind dog breeding is really fascinating for geeks like me.
There are obviously different genetic combinations needed to produce all of the different coat colors and patterns.
The gene that creates the merle pattern is a dominant gene requiring one parent to carry this gene in order to pass on a merle coat.
When breeding a merle and non-merle Pomeranian together you can expect merle puppies 50% of the time. With very small litters within the Pomeranian breed, you may only have one or two merle puppies per litter.
Can Both Parents Have The Merle Gene
Merle genetics are very unique where it is not a good idea to breed parents that both carry the merle gene.
If a puppy is produced with two merle genes it’s referred to as a “double merle”. You can expect a “double merle” puppy 25% of the time when breeding two merle-carrying dogs together.
Double merle dogs are often deaf and have a coat made of white fur.
There are many other health problems that can appear in double merle dogs including, eye problems, and reproduction problems.
Luckily today we have advancements in science where a breeder can have their dog’s DNA tested through an easy mouth salvia swab to ensure that only one parent has the merle gene.
It’s important that breeders have their dogs tested because there are many coat colors that can carry the merle gene in its genetics although it is not a merle dog itself.
Do Merle Pomeranians Make Good Show Dogs
The merle pattern has only recently been added to the acceptable patterns and colors within the AKC Breed Standard.
Outside of the United States, the merle pattern is still not acknowledged.
Due to the conflicts regarding the merle pattern, they are not recommended at this time for the show ring.
It’s a shame that the beautifully unique pattern isn’t celebrated in the show world but, as a pet, the merle patterned Pomeranian is very popular.
If you are interested in the world of show Pomeranians it’s best to connect with your local Pomeranian club.
Where Did Merle Pomeranians Come From
The merle pattern is one of the newer patterns found within the Pomeranian breed.
The original colors were white, cream, grey, beige, with orange, red and brown coming shortly after and gaining in popularity during the 1800s.
Due to the lack of records, it’s hard to know for sure where and exactly when the merle pattern made its appearance but, we can assume that it was well into the 1900s.
List Of Merle Patterned Dogs
The Merle Pattern is found in many other dog breeds as well.
- Australian Shepherd
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Great Dane
- Border Collie
- Bulldogs
- Chihuahua
- Poodle
- Dachshund
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Smooth Collie
- Australian Koolie
- Beauceron
- Catahoula Leopard Dog
- Pyrenean Shepherd
- Old English Sheepdog
- Hungarian Mudi
- Cockapoo
Merle Pomeranian Facts
- Merle Pomeranians usully have blue eyes or brown with blue speckles
- Some Merle Pomeranians have two different colored eyes
- A Merle pomeranians nose is often pink with dark speckles
- The Merle Coat pattern is farily new among Pomeranians coat patterns
- Merle Pomeranian are not an accepted color or pattern by all countries
- Merle Pomeranians are rare
- Merle Pomeranians are popular within the United States
- You should never breed two dogs that each carry the Merle gene
- Merle Pomeranians on average live a long 12 to 14 years
- Merle Pomeranians weight 3 to 7 pounds
- Merle Pomeranians are 6 to 7 inches tall
Final Thoughts
Merle Pomeranians have an extremely unique appearance with each and every dog having a different way that the merle genetics will appear.
Even though the Merle pattern may not be accepted as an official pattern in every country they have a huge fan base and grow in popularity.
The distinct splotchy look found in the Merle pattern sets them apart from the rest of the colors and patterns.
I believe the love for Merle Pomeranians will continue to grow.
