Merle Labradoodle Guide (Blue Merle, Chocolate Merle & More)

Merle Labradoodles have beautifully patterned coats that can come in many different colors including blue merle, chocolate merle, brown merle, red merle and phantom 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 Labradoodles.

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

Cover Image Credit: @jasper_themerledood

Table of Contents

What Is A Merle Labradoodle?

A Merle Labradoodle has a rare coat pattern which features mottled patches of various colors depending on whether they are a blue merle, chocolate merle, brown merle, red merle or phantom 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 Labradoodle carries the “M” Merle allele and a negative “m” copy of the Merle allele. A Merle Labradoodle is (M/m).

Despite the captivating look of a Merle Labradoodle, prospective Merle Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles are the result of poor breeding practices or that they will have these health issues but there is a higher risk than an ordinary Labradoodle.

Merle Labradoodle Colors

Merle Labradoodles can come in many color variations including:

Blue Merle
Chocolate Merle
Brown Merle
Red Merle
Phantom Merle

Are Merle Labradoodles Rare?

Merle Labradoodles are very rare. The gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers or Poodles so it has to be introduced into the lineage of one of the breeds at some point before breeding a Merle Labradoodle. In most cases breeders pair a Merle Poodle with a non-Merle Labrador Retriever to create the Merle Labradoodle. Alternatively, they cross a Merle Labradoodle with a non-Merle Labradoodle. 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 Labradoodles always have a small percentage of another breed in their genetics.

Merle Labradoodle Price

Merle is the rarest Labradoodle coat color which is reflected in their extremely high price point. Merle Labradoodles usually sell for prices between $2800USD and $4000USD and some are even more expensive.

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

Merle Labradoodle Breeders

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

Blue Merle Labradoodle

What Is A Blue Merle Labradoodle?

A Blue Merle Labradoodle 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 Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles.

Are Blue Merle Labradoodles Rare?

Blue Merle Labradoodles are very rare as the gene is not naturally occurring in Labrador Retrievers 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 Labradoodle.

Chocolate Merle Labradoodle

What Is A Chocolate Merle Labradoodle?

Chocolate Merle Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles have light or dark brown noses and in most cases they have brown or hazel eyes. Chocolate Merle Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles.

Brown Merle Labradoodle

What Is A Brown Merle Labradoodle?

Brown Merle Labradoodle is another name for a Chocolate Merle Labradoodle. 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 Labradoodles 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.

Red Merle Labradoodle

What Is A Red Merle Labradoodle?

Red Merle Labradoodle is another name for a Chocolate Merle Labradoodle or Brown Merle Labradoodle. 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 Labradoodles 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.

Phantom Merle Labradoodle

What Is A Phantom Merle Labradoodle?

A Phantom Merle Labradoodle is a Labradoodle that has very small patches of merle or none at all. These Labradoodles 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 Labradoodle

What Is A Double Merle Labradoodle?

A Double Merle (M/M) Labradoodle 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 Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles are also called ‘lethal whites’ due to their coloring and health issues.

It is very controversial if Double Merle Labradoodles have been purposefully bred. This is because Double Merle Labradoodles 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 Labradoodles are likely to have health issues. If two Merle Labradoodles 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 Labradoodle with a non-Merle (m/m) Labradoodle or a Merle Poodle with a non-Merle Labrador Retriever 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 Labradoodles (AKA Cryptic Merle Labradoodles) 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 Labradoodle with a Merle Labradoodle and accidentally create Double Merle Labradoodles. Breeders should perform DNA tests for the cryptic merle mutation before breeding.