What are the common health problems associated with double merles? Double merles—dogs that inherit two copies of the merle gene (MM)—are prone to a range of severe congenital health issues, primarily due to the excessive lack of pigment caused by this genetic combination. The most common and widely recognized problems involve sensory impairments, specifically relating […]
Understanding Fawnequin and Brindlequin Patterns in Dogs
How do Fawnequin and Brindlequin patterns occur? Fawnequin and Brindlequin patterns occur because the Harlequin gene is unique among merle modifiers: it affects both eumelanin (black/blue/chocolate pigment) and phaeomelanin (red/yellow/tan pigment). While typical merle modifiers only impact dark pigments, the Harlequin gene’s ability to affect red/yellow pigment means that if a dog inherits the merle […]