| If you're looking for a unique and beautiful miniature poodle, you won't find one more beautiful or unique than the Utopia Poodles blue merle or merle phantom. As a point of interest, a scientist from Texas A & M University contacted me during the summer of 2005 to request d.n.a. samples from several of my merle puppies, their parents, and a non-merle poodle. Their d.n.a., along with samples from other merle colored purebred dogs, were used in a study to confirm the identity of the "merle gene". The rather lengthy and technical report established the merle gene, and then went on to focus on the defects that have occured in a number of Shetland Sheepdogs ("shelties") due to adventurous breeding. These same defects - blindness, reduced ear size, deafness, and lack of eyes - have been produced by breeders of the "double dapple" dachshund, a color sanctioned and encouraged by the American Kennel Club. The easiest way to avoid problems in merles is to not breed merle to merle or merle to a merle carrier. |  |
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Beautiful chocolate merle puppy from Vesna and Toby's litter of six. Picture taken when he was seven weeks old. Pictures of the chocolate merle older. My experience in breeding three generations of merle poodles is that they are strong, sturdy, intelligent dogs who produce large litters and are excellent mothers. Quite often, the merle puppies are larger than their solid colored siblings. |
Three of Gina's puppies at six days (below). This is a litter of seven: one chocolate merle, one black, two cafe' au laut, and three chocolates. All fat and healthy! |
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One of Portia and Timber's blue merle puppies at 6 weeks.
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The merle tends to be the hunter and protector. They are highly intelligent, loyal, eager to learn, and do very well in obedience and agility work. These are confident dogs that will look you straight in the eye. |
The eye color in a merle poodle can vary, including being part brown and part blue. This does not affect their vision. (Portia has some blue in one eye.) Six week old blue merle puppy from Vesna and Cain (below).
| The Darlings | |||
| Anton | Coco | Isabel | Noah |
| Cain | Gina | Meagan | Piper |
| Clair | Gracie | Merlin | Tay |
| Valley | Vesna | ||
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