Is a blue merle Great Dane rare?
Although considered a mismarked color the blue merle Dane is quite impressive! This particular color and pattern is said to be rare by some.
How much is a blue merle Great Dane?
You can expect purebred merle Great Dane puppies of award-winning parents to cost between $3,000 and $4,500. A reputable breeder of these pedigree dogs should provide you with an AKC certification on top of other records to be able to charge such prices.
Do blue merle Great Danes have more health problems?
In addition to eye and ear issues, the merle gene is also linked to sun sensitivity and potentially greater incidence of skin cancer. This risk increases if your merle Great Dane happens to have more white in the coat.
What is the difference between a merle and a blue merle?
A blue merle is a black dog with the merle pattern; a red merle is a liver dog with the merle pattern. All the merle gene does is determine whether or not a dog is merle. This gene is an incomplete dominant. Two dominant copies produce a “double merle” which will most likely have serious eye defects and may be deaf.
Do blue Great Danes keep their blue eyes?
Like humans, most Great Danes are born with blue eyes and then change to brown as they get older. Though in the Harlequin Great Danes — one of the largest breeds of dogs — their eyes can remain blue throughout their adult lives.
How long do Merle Great Danes live?
Great Danes live between 8-to-10 years, with some living only 6 or 7 years, and a lucky few reaching the ripe old age of 12. Compared to small dogs, which can live almost twice as long, this hardly seems fair.
Do blue Great Danes eyes stay blue?
What is the most desirable Great Dane color?
The best color to get in a Great Dane is fawn. Of course, a color is just that – a color. There are other things to look for in a Great Dane when choosing your best friend to bring home. Fawn is one of the most popular colors as well as the most common.
Is it OK to breed a merle Great Dane?
Breeding merles is currently deemed an unethical practice by the Great Dane Club of America’s breeder’s code of ethics. Not to mention that breeding merles may produce dead puppies, sick puppies, and Danes that are predisposed to future health problems.