Merle Cockapoo Guide (Blue Merle vs Chocolate Merle)

Merle Cockapoos have beautifully patterned coats that can come in many different colors including blue merle, chocolate merle, red merle, brown merle, phantom merle and black merle. In addition to their beautiful coats, they often feature striking hazel, blue or green eyes. It’s no surprise that these dogs are super popular because of their appearance! Nevertheless, prospective owners need to be aware of the health dangers of the merle gene, especially ‘merle-to-merle’ breeding and Double Merle Cockapoos.

If you are interested in Merle Cockapoos keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about the different coat colors!

Cover Image Credit: @teddy_merle_cockapoo

Table of Contents

What Is A Merle Cockapoo?

A Merle Cockapoo has a rare coat pattern which features mottled patches of various colors depending on whether they are a blue merle, chocolate merle, red merle, brown merle, phantom merle or black merle. The coat pattern is the result of a gene that dilutes random sections of the coat to a lighter color whilst leaving patches of their original coat color remaining. It may also affects eye color and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. Merle coats occurs when a Cockapoo carries the “M” Merle allele and a negative “m” copy of the Merle allele. A Merle Cockapoo is (M/m).

Despite the captivating look of a Merle Cockapoo, prospective Merle Cockapoo owners need to be aware that they are often a result of poor breeding practices and they are likely to suffer from ocular and auditory defects. That is not to say that all Merle Cockapoo are the result of poor breeding practices or that they will have these health issues but there is a higher risk than an ordinary Cockapoo.

Merle Cockapoo Colors

Blue Merle
Chocolate Merle
Red Merle
Brown Merle
Phantom Merle
Black Merle

Are Merle Cockapoos Rare?

Merle Cockapoos are very rare. The gene is not naturally occurring in Cocker Spaniels or Poodles so it has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Merle Cockapoo. In most cases breeders pair a Merle Poodle with a non-Merle Cocker Spaniel to create the Merle Cockapoos. Alternatively, they cross a Merle Cockapoo with a non-Merle Cockapoo. Two dogs that carry the merle gene should never be bred together as many puppies in the litter will be double merles.

Technically Merle Poodles are not 100% purebred as the gene is usually introduced from a large dog breed that naturally carries it like Australian Shepherds, Collies or Great Danes. As Merle Poodles are not 100% purebred, Merle Cockapoos always have a small percentage of another breed in their genetics.

Merle Cockapoo Price

Merle is the rarest Cockapoo coat color which is reflected in their extremely high price point. Merle Cockapoos usually sell for prices between $3000USD and $4800USD and some are even more expensive.

If you want to compare the price of Merle Cockapoos to other coat colors of Cockapoo you should read our in-depth Cockapoo price guide here. A great way to keep up to date with Merle Cockapoo prices is to regularly check dog breeder advertising websites like PuppySpot.

chocolate
merle cockapoo — Merle Cockapoo via @dizzy.doggo

Merle Cockapoo Breeders

If you are looking for a Cockapoo breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog! Check out the adorable Cockapoo puppies that are currently available here!

PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over 200,000 puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! You won’t regret having a look at their Cockapoo puppies here as they are so cute!

Blue Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Blue Merle Cockapoo?

A Blue Merle Cockapoo features blue (black), grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is grey and blue with smaller white and tan patches throughout it. Blue Merle Cockapoos usually have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into these lighter colors. Blue Merle is the most common merle coloring for Cockapoos.

Are Blue Merle Cockapoos Rare?

Blue Merle Cockapoos are very rare as the gene is not naturally occurring in Cocker Spaniels or Poodles. The merle gene has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Blue Merle Cockapoo.

Chocolate Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Chocolate Merle Cockapoo?

Chocolate Merle Cockapoos feature a chocolate, copper, beige and white coat in a mottled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature chocolate, white and copper patches throughout it. Chocolate Merle Cockapoos have light or dark brown noses and in most cases they have brown or hazel eyes. Chocolate Merle Cockapoos would have originally had a solid liver (chocolate) coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into lighter colors. Chocolate Merle is the second most common merle coloring for Cockapoos.

Red Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Red Merle Cockapoo?

Red Merle Cockapoo is another name for a Chocolate Merle Cockapoo or Brown Merle Cockapoo. They have a liver (red/brown), copper, beige and white coat in a mottled or speckled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature brown, white and copper patches throughout it. Red Merle Cockapoos have light or dark brown noses and in most cases they have brown or hazel eyes. They would have originally had a solid liver (brown/red) coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into lighter colors.

Brown Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Brown Merle Cockapoo?

Brown Merle Cockapoo is another name for a Chocolate Merle Cockapoo or Red Merle Cockapoo. They have a brown, copper, beige and white coat in a mottled or speckled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature brown, white and copper patches throughout it. Brown Merle Cockapoos have light or dark brown noses and in most cases they have brown or hazel eyes. They would have originally had a solid liver (brown) coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into lighter colors.

Black Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Black Merle Cockapoo?

Black Merle Cockapoo is another name for a Blue Merle Cockapoo. They feature black (blue), grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is grey and blue with smaller white and tan patches throughout it. Black Merle Cockapoos usually have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into these lighter colors.

Phantom Merle Cockapoo

What Is A Phantom Merle Cockapoo?

A Phantom Merle Cockapoo is a Cockapoo that has very small patches of merle or none at all. These Cockapoos appear to be non-merle however they carry the merle genotype and produce merle offspring. They are dangerous when it comes to breeding as people can accidentally produce double merles as they don’t realise both parents are carriers of the merle gene.

Double Merle Cockapoo

A Double Merle (M/M) Cockapoo has little to no color in their coat as they have inherited two copies of the dominant “M” allele. They are the product of ‘merle-to-merle’ breeding. Unfortunately, Double Merle Cockapoos are affected by severe ocular defeats and deafness. They may be deaf in one or both ears and may be blind or have totally lost an eye. Double Merle Cockapoos are also called ‘lethal whites’ due to their coloring and health issues.

It is very controversial if Double Merle Cockapoos have been purposefully bred. This is because Double Merle Cockapoos will always pass on a copy of Merle to their puppies and should not be bred together. Most official bodies refuse to register dogs that are a product of merle-to-merle breeding.

Double Merle Health Issues

Double Merle Cockapoos are likely to have health issues. If two Merle Cockapoos are bred together there is a 25% chance each puppy will be homozygous (M/M) for the merle trait. M/M carriers are double merle and are very likely to have ocular and auditory defects. These are some common health issues:

Hearing Impairment – up to complete deafness
Vision Impairment – up to complete blindness
Skin Cancer – an increased risk due to the lack of pigmentation on skin
Micropthalmia – rare condition causing small and often non-functional eyeballs (high risk for Double Merles)

Responsible Breeding Practices

Breeders who want to produce merle puppies should mate a Merle Cockapoo with a non-Merle (m/m) Cockapoo or a Merle Poodle with a non-Merle Cocker Spaniel as the incidence of health risks is reduced. Roughly 50% of the litter will be Merles and most likely none will be Double Merles. That being said, there is still a risk of producing Double Merles as a cryptic merle mutation exists.

Phantom Merle Cockapoos (AKA Cryptic Merle Cockapoos) carry the merle gene however they do not have a merle coat. That means there is a risk that breeders will cross a Phantom Merle Cockapoo with a Merle Cockapoo and accidentally create Double Merle Cockapoos. Breeders should perform DNA tests for the cryptic merle mutation before breeding.