Merle Corgi Guide (Blue Merle vs Red Merle)

Merle Corgis have beautifully patterned coats that can come in many different colors including blue merle, red merle and sable merle. In addition to their pretty coats, they often feature striking blue eyes. That is why 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 Corgis.

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

What Is A Merle Corgi?

Merle Corgis have a rare coat pattern that features mottled patches of various colors depending on whether they are a blue merle, red merle or sable merle. The merle gene dilutes random sections of the coat to a lighter color whilst leaving patches of their original coat color remaining. It may also affect eye color and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. The coat occurs when a Corgi carries the “M” Merle allele and a negative “m” copy of the Merle allele.

Despite the captivating look of a Merle Corgi, prospective owners should be aware that they are often a result of poor breeding practices and because of this may suffer from ocular defects such as blindness and auditory defects like deafness. That is not to say that all Merle Corgi are the result of poor breeding practices or that they will have these health issues but there is a higher risk than an ordinary Corgi.

Merle Corgi Colors

Merle Corgis come in three main colors which are:

• Blue Merle
• Red Merle
• Sable Merle

Are Merle Corgis Purebred?

Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis are purebred while Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis are not. While the merle gene is naturally occurring for Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis, it isn’t for Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis. The merle gene was introduced by breeding another dog, most commonly the Cardigan Corgi, into the lineage of Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis are technically a hybrid dog breed.

Can Cardigan Corgis Be Merle?

Cardigan Corgis can be merle. In fact, the merle gene is naturally occurring for Cardigan Corgis. Most Cardigan Corgis are blue merle and have blue (black), grey, white and tan colors throughout their coats. They also usually have a large white patch on their chest alongside a white underbelly, white legs and sometimes a white tip on their tails.

What Is A Merle Corgi Mixed With?

Pembroke Welsh Corgis are mixed with Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis to produce the merle coat. The mix between a Pembroke and Cardigan Corgi is a whole new type of Corgi called the American Corgi. They are mixed together because Pembroke Welsh Corgis do not carry the merle gene naturally.

Can Merle Corgis Be Registered?

Whether a Merle Corgi can be registered depends on whether they are a Cardigan Welsh Corgi or a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be registered as they are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). On the other hand, Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis cannot be registered as they are not recognized by the AKC. The reason why Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis can be recognized is because the merle gene is naturally occurring for them. Merle is not a naturally occurring gene for Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis.

What Colors Are Recognized By The AKC For Pembroke Welsh Corgi?

Merle is not a recognized color by the American Kennel Club (AKC) for Pembroke Welsh Corgis however red, fawn, sable, black and tan are recognized colors. They do not have to have white markings but most Pembroke Welsh Corgis do anyway. The white markings have to be on their chest, neck, muzzle, underparts or legs otherwise they will be disqualified.

• Red
• Fawn
• Sable
• Black
• Tan

Merle Corgi Breeders

If you are looking for a Corgi breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog! Check out the adorable Corgi 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 Corgi puppies here as they are so cute!

If you are looking for merle corgi puppies, you are much more likely to find merle Cardigan Corgis rather than Merle Pembroke Corgis. This is because the merle gene is naturally occurring for Cardigan Corgis but isn’t for Pembroke Corgis. American Corgis can also be merle as they are a cross between a Cardigan Corgi and a Pembroke Corgi.

Blue Merle Corgi

What Is A Blue Merle Corgi?

A Blue Merle Corgi features blue (black), grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. The blue merle color features grey and blue with smaller white and tan patches throughout it. They usually have a large white patch on their chest as well as white patches on their muzzle, short legs and feet. Blue Merle Corgis 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 lighter colors.

Are Blue Merle Corgis Rare?

Blue Merle Corgis are rare in comparison to other coat colors. You are much more likely to see red & white, sable and brindle Corgis around rather than Blue Merle Corgis. That being said, out of all the Corgi colors, Blue Merle is the most common followed by Red Merle and then Sable Merle. There are many more Blue Merle Corgis than the other two merle colors Corgis can come in.

Blue Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis

Blue Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgis are purebred as the merle gene is naturally occurring for Cardigan Welsh Corgis. They have blue (black), grey, white and tan colors throughout their coats. They also usually have a large white patch on their chest alongside a white underbelly, white legs and sometimes a white tip on their tails.

Blue Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Blue Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgis are not purebred. They are a cross breed as the merle gene is nonexistent in Pembroke lineage. The merle gene is usually introduced into the Pembroke lineage by crossing a Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgi with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. For a Blue Merle Pembroke Welsh Corgi, a Blue Merle Cardigan Welsh Corgi would have been crossed with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Technically, corgis that are a cross between a Cardigan Corgi and a Pembroke Corgi are called American Corgis.

Read Also: Pomchi Colors Guide (Black, White, Merle, Chocolate etc.)

Red Merle Corgi

What Is A Red Merle Corgi?

Red Merle Corgis have a red (brown), copper, beige and white coat in a mottled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature red (brown), white and copper patches throughout it. Red Merle Corgis have light or dark brown noses. In most cases they have light brown eyes however they can sometimes have blue eyes.

Most Red Merle Corgis are Pembroke Welsh Corgis as red merle has been introduced into the breed from another breed. Red Merle is not naturally occurring for Cardigan Welsh Corgis so you are very unlikely to find one. Red Merle Corgis are a lot rarer than Blue Merle Corgis.

Sable Merle Corgi

What Sable Merle Corgi?

Sable Merle Corgis features sable, brown, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is sable with smaller brown and tan patches throughout it. They usually have a large white patch on their chest as well as a white patche on their muzzle, underbelly and feet and sometimes on the tip of their tail. Sable Merle Corgis are the rarest merle coloring for corgis and are sometimes called Cinnamon Merle Corgis.

Double Merle Corgi

What Is A Double Merle Corgi?

A Double Merle (M/M) Corgi has little to no color in their coat as they have inherited two copies of the dominant “M” allele. Unfortunately, Double Merle Corgis 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 Corgis are also called ‘lethal whites’ due to their coloring and health issues. They are very controversial if they have been purposefully bred. Most official bodies refuse to register dogs that are a product of merle-to-merle breeding.

Read Also: Dachshund Size Guide (Teacup, Toy, Mini & Standard)

Health Problems Of Merle Corgis

Do Merle Corgis Have Health Issues?

Merle Corgis can have health issues but being merle does not necessarily mean that they have them. It is possible for a Merle Corgi to be perfectly healthy. If a Merle Corgi does have heath problems it’s likely to be hearing problems and blindness however this is much more common in irresponsibly bred Merle Corgis such as Double Merle Corgis.

Double Merle 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 Corgi with a non-Merle (m/m) Corgi as the incidence of health risks is reduced. Roughly 50% of their offspring 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. Breeders should perform DNA tests for the cryptic merle mutation before breeding.

Is It Safe To Breed Merle Dogs?

It can be safe to breed merle dogs if proper research is completed and DNA tests are taken. It is never safe to breed two merle dogs together as it will result in a double merle puppy. Breeders should only ever breed a non-merle with a merle dog together to reduce the risk of inherited health problems.

Cost Of The Merle Coat

Are Merle Puppies Worth More?

Merle puppies for all dog breeds generally are worth more than traditional or common coat colors. They are much more difficult to breed and breeders have to put a lot more effort into research into genetics to make sure they are producing healthy pups. That is why they generally cost $500 to $2000 more than the typical puppy.

How Much Do Blue Merle Corgis Cost?

Blue Merle Corgis usually cost between $3000USD and $4800USD and some are even more expensive. It is a rare Corgi coat color which is reflected in the extremely high price point.

A great way to keep up to date with Merle Corgi prices is to regularly check dog breeder advertising websites like PuppySpot.

Merle Corgi Names

Further Reading

• Pomchi Colors Guide (Black, White, Merle, Chocolate etc.)
• Merle English Bulldog Guide (Blue Merle vs Lilac Merle)
• Merle Chihuahua Guide (Blue, Chocolate, Red, Lilac Merle etc.)
• Blue Merle Aussiedoodle Guide (Blue Merle vs Red Merle)
• Dachshund Size Guide (Teacup, Toy, Mini & Standard)

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