Merle Great Danes

Merle Great Danes are produced in many harlequin Great Dane litters. You may find merles for sale or in classified ads being sold as rare colored Danes. Truly, each merle is unique in color but don't be fooled into paying extra for a merle!

This cute little pup is a "merle". White on the muzzle, chest, toes, and tip of tail are common on merles as well as harlequin bred blacks.

Merles are a product of harlequin breeding and are common in most litters, even when following ethical harlequin breeding practices.

Future breeding of this merle however, could lead to problems!

The nice thing about merle Great Danes is you will have a unique colored dog. Some of the merle color patterns and markings are incredible.

Although merle colored Great Danes are not accepted for showing, you can still fully register your dog as a purebred with the American Kennel Club:)

Different breeding combinations produced a variety of merle colors.

Fawn merles are fawn, light cream to tan, with black speckles and spotting.

Chocolate merles, similar to fawn merles, are tan, with reddish or chocolate spotting.

Brindle merles have stripes that fade in and out of the background color. Stripes may appear to be broken and turn into spots.

Mantle merles are white, with a mantle pattern. Rather than black, the coloring is silver, light to dark grey, with blotching or spots, and speckles.

Blue Merles are slate, dark blue, or brownish blue with black spots. Nose and skin pigmentation looks bluish black.

Silver or platinum merles are light silver/gray, with black spots and speckles. The nose is usually black, occasionally it is pink.

Tri-colored merles come in many color combinations, the most prominent trait is three distinct coat colors.

Tri Colored Merle This very unique colored Dane is often referred to as tri-colored. Zim, is a 1-year old male living in New York.

Technically, a merle is a merle, plain and simple. If you can't find a color or pattern description that fits your Great Dane, you must have an awesome looking dog:)

Do not breed merle Great Danes!

Even if your Merle is perfect in every way, great conformation, character and all else that a Dane can be. Breeding merles is currently deemed an unethical practice.

Merle breeding may produce dead puppies, sick puppies, and Danes that are predisposed to future health problems. This is possible if the "merle" gene is present in both parents, resulting in double "merle" dogs that can be stillborn, deaf, blind and genetically flawed.

Thankfully, there will soon be a test available to detect the merle gene, take a look at this letter from the President of the GDCA!

Yes things may change in the future.

For now...

Enjoy your beautiful Merle Great Dane, please consider neutered or spay, this will help our breed remain healthy and strong.

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