Merle Bully Basic Info

American Bullies are known for their loyalty, gentle, and affectionate nature. This makes them an excellent choice for a companion or family dog .

Similar as with many other breeds, some American Bullies also exhibit an unusual coat pattern that is known as “merle. The rarity and attractiveness of this coat made Merle Bully a desiring pet for some pet owners and breeders.

However, many associations and clubs don’t recognize them as part of American Bully’s breed for the sole reason that they’re more susceptible to severe health issues.

Hence, if you want to get a Merle Bully pup, it’s essential to know some basic info about Merle Bully before bringing them home.

This article contains everything you need to know about this beautiful sweetheart. Read on!

What Is A Merle Bully?

Merle Bully is basically an American Bully that is born with a unique coat color due to a specific genetic mutation. In fact, it’s a mutation that isn’t just confined to American Bullies, but also occurs in several other dog breeds.

Generally, “Merle” pattern is characterized by numerous diluted patches and swirls on the coat, giving it a unique blotchy look.

There is no one “merle” coat pattern. Each coat may vary in color and pattern across different pups. In other words, every Merle Bully is unique to its own. This makes them quite sought after for pet owners that want to stand out.

Photo by @merlebullynations

Usually, breeders try to get Merle Bullies by breeding a normal American Bully with one that has the mutated merle gene. As a result, they will get a litter of both merle and no-merle puppies. Because of their uniqueness some owners like to get a cool name tag or a custom metal pins for their merle pitties or even themselves.

Sometimes, they will also breed one merle with another merle so as to seek puppies that are “double merles”.

However, the breeding practice is currently raging a debate in the American Bully community.

Reason is the genetic mutation not only alters the coat pigmentation or the eyes color, but also impacts their health. (We’ll talk more about this later.)

Types Of Merle Bully

As mentioned, Merle Bullies can be of different types. Depending on their coat colors, they are divided into the following types.

Blue Merle

This is actually the most common coat color among Merle Bullies. Despite the name, Blue Merle Bully isn’t actually blue in color.

Instead, Blue Merle Bully has a gray-color coat marked with black patches. Under certain types of lighting, this gray-color coat with black patches will appear bluish, hence earning them the name Blue Merle.

Blue Merle Bully also often gets mistaken for tri-color American Bully due to the similarity in the coat colors. However, upon closer inspection, you will notice that they are actually different from each other.

Red Merle

The same as Blue Merle Bully, Red Merle Bully, too, doesn’t have a red coat. Instead they have either tan or black coats.

Often, Red Merle Bully will have several dark patches on their coats rather than the usual diluted ones.

In addition, they are much rarer than Blue Merle Bully; with only a small proportion of American Bully able to produce offspring with this coat color.

Cryptic Merle

Cryptic Merle Bully doesn’t exhibit the unique mottled coats we usually find in Merle Bullies, even though they possess the merle genes.

It’s unknown why they don’t show the merle pattern on their coats. Even so, this doesn’t mean they cannot pass the merle gene onto their offspring.

In fact, you will find a few merle puppies among the litter, in spite of the parents not showcasing similar coat patterns.

Double Merle

Double Merle Bully is the result of interbreeding two Merle Bully parents.

Through the interbreeding, breeders will get at least one-fourth puppies in the litter to be born with double merle gene.

A Bully that carries a double merle gene generally has white coats.However, despite the beautiful coat, these poor canines are also prone to several health issues, including loss of vision and hearing.

Merle Bully – Common Questions

Possible Health Issues Of Merle Bullies

As mentioned earlier, there is a heated debate about the practice of breeding Merle Bullies. Frankly speaking, breeding Merle Bullies are often frowned upon since these dogs are prone to severe health issues.

While no one knows the exact reason for their vulnerability, the merle gene certainly is playing a big role as the culprit.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that Double Merle Bullies suffer far more serious health problems than their single merle gene counterparts.

The most common problems among Merle Bullies include gradual loss of vision and deafness. Some other health issues include heart defects, epilepsy, allergies, neurological problems, cleft palate, skin cancer, and so on.

In addition, all these health complications will gradually get worse as they grow older; ergo why there are many debates surrounding the practice of merle breeding.

For this reason, breeders must run proper health checkups for the parents before breeding to ensure a comparatively healthy litter.

The same goes to pet owners, constant veterinarian visits are a must. Besides, you can consider feeding supplements to boost your dog’s immune system so as to increase their chances of living a healthier life.

What Causes An American Bully To Have A Merle Coat?

The merle coat pattern in American Bullies is caused by a genetic mutation affecting the pigmentation of their coat. This produces a unique pattern of mottled colored patches in a solid or piebald coat. The Merle gene is denoted as “M,” and it’s actually a dominant trait.

Now, there are three main types of Merle Bullies you might come across: Blue Merles, Red Merles, and Cryptic Merles. Each type has distinct color patterns because of the way the Merle gene interacts with their other genes. It’s important to know that Merle Bullies are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) due to the health issues associated with the Merle gene.

Photo by @nala_diesel_xlbullys

One key thing to remember about genetics is that dogs inherit a pair of alleles from their parents—one from each parent. If a dog receives the merle allele (“M”) from one parent and the non-merle allele (“m”) from the other, they will have a merle coat pattern. So, an American Bully with a Merle coat would have an “Mm” genotype.

While the merle coat pattern might look striking and appealing, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential health problems linked to this particular trait. Merle Bullies can experience significant health issues, ranging from eye and ear abnormalities to an increased risk for deafness and blindness. That’s why breeding for merle coats is often discouraged among responsible breeders.

So, now you have it! The reason behind the merle coat in American Bullies is a dominant genetic trait caused by the merle allele. But always remember to keep your Bully’s health in mind when admiring their gorgeous, unique patterns.

What Eye Color Do American Bullies With The Merle Gene Usually Have?

Firstly, you should know that the Merle gene affects not only the coat color but also the eye colors of these dogs. In general, Merle Bullies have two types of eye colors: standard and glass eye colors.

The standard eye color refers to brown or black eyes with a small amount of merling in them. In other words, you’ll notice that the standard eye color is somewhat similar to what you’d find in non-Merle American Bullies.

Photo by @sir.tyson_abkc

On the other hand, the glass eye color is quite unique and striking. This type of eye color is entirely merled blue or green. These vibrant hues can give the dog an even more distinctive appearance, making them stand out in a crowd.

As you can see, the Merle gene can create a wide range of eye colors in American Bullies, making them even more interesting for dog lovers like you. This genetic diversity results in an array of appearances, giving you the opportunity to appreciate the stunning beauty of these dogs.

What Is The Difference Between A Single Merle And A Double Merle?

A single merle dog has one copy of the merle gene. You’ll find that single merles have a marbling effect on their coat, creating lighter spots throughout their solid color coat. But wait, there’s more – the Merle gene can also affect the dog’s eye color and skin pigment.

On the other hand, a double merle dog is the result of breeding two merle dogs together, and it inherits the merle gene from both parents. Each puppy in a litter resulting from merle-to-merle breeding has a 25% chance of being a double merle. Now, the interesting part is that double merles have an even more striking coat pattern, characterized by larger patches of diluted pigment and sometimes even white areas.

While double merles may look impressive, be cautious. The double merle gene combination can lead to serious health issues. Some problems often associated with double merles include deafness, blindness, and various eye abnormalities. So, it’s essential to keep this in mind when considering breeding or adopting a merle Bully.

Overall, the difference between single and double merles is primarily in the level of pigmentation in their coats and the potential health risks associated with double merles. Now that you’ve got the inside scoop, you can better appreciate the unique features and colors of these amazing dogs.

Merle Bully Characteristics

If you have been thinking of getting a Merle Bully, understanding the basic info on Merle Bully will be helpful before making your final call.

Below are some Merle Bully basic info and characteristic for your references.

Physical Traits

Merle Bullies are muscular dogs with broad heads and pointed ears. Their coats are short and smooth. Also, they don’t shed too much.

They have pretty much the same physical appearance as American Bullies, except their coat and eye color.

Among Merle Bullies, the most common eye color is blue. Of course, you will find some having brown eyes too. In some cases, which is not that rare, you may also find several Merle Bullies with one blue and one brown eye.

Temperament

Merle Bullies may have an aggressive look, in reality, their temperament is completely the opposite.

Merle Bullies are not only obedient, but also intelligent and courageous; which explains why they perform well as guard dogs.

Personality wise, Merle Bullies are friendly. They get on exceptionally well with families and are often very tolerant towards children, making them a great option as family pets.

Merle Bullies are also kind and affectionate. They love being showers with attention and cuddles from their owners. Eager to please, this breed is relatively easy to train as well.

Just like any bully’s breed, Merle Bully has a substantial amount of energy. Hence, it’s important to make sure they exercise, or go for a walk at the park regularly.

Summing Up

Aside from their strikingly different coat colors, Merle Bullies are no different than the regular American Bullies when it comes to their personality.

They are friendly, affectionate, and playful, making them a good choice as companion dogs. However, due to the dominant merle gene, they are more prone to severe health issues.

Hence, prior to bringing one home, learning about Merle Bully basic info will be beneficial for you. You will learn about the responsibilities you will have to carry in taking care of them, especially the health issues they might face.

With that being said, you can think about getting a pet health insurance for your Merle Bully’s puppy since a regular medical checkup is a must when you’re raising one.

In addition, it’s best to confirm if the parents have undergone health testing prior to breeding. This at the least increases the chances of getting a puppy that is healthy.