Merle colour: characterisation, colour codes, shades and mixing

Merle colour is a genetic pattern in the coat of dogs that results in a combination of different shades and patches of colour. This pattern is most common in sheepdogs such as the Australian Shepherd and the Shetland Shepherd. Merle dogs typically have a lighter grey or bluish base colour interspersed with darker patches. The pattern is random and varied, making each merle dog's coat unique.

The merle pattern is caused by a dominant gene called the merle gene. However, this gene not only affects the appearance of the coat, but also the health of the dog. Dogs with a double merle gene, who have inherited this gene from both parents, can often have hearing and vision problems. For this reason, responsible breeders avoid mating two merle individuals to reduce the risk of genetic abnormalities.

Merle colour RGB and HEX colour codes

The merle colour code is RGB: rgb(123, 104, 238) and HEX: #7B68EE.

Colour scheme	Code/Weights
Hex	#3a3c4e
RGB	rgb(58, 60, 78)
HSL	hsl(233, 15%, 27%)
HSV/HSB	hsv(233, 26%, 31%)
CMYK	cmyk(26%, 23%, 0%, 69%)
Contrasting colour	#c4c8da
Complementary colour	#3c4e3a

Merle dark and light shades

Click on the colour codes below to copy them to the clipboard.

Dark shades

Light shades

Merle's complementary colour palettes

Merle is a distinctive patchwork pattern that can appear in different colour combinations. Below we present the 7 different colour palettes of merle: complementary, analogue, monochrome, triad, tetrad, split complementary and neutral.

Complementary palette

Analogue palette

Monochrome palette

Triad palette

Tetrade palette

Split complementary palette

Neutral palette

What is the colour of merle?

The merle colour is a unique and distinctive pattern that occurs in the coat of dogs such as border collies and Australian shepherds. The merle pattern is typically patchy, where the coloured coat is interspersed with lighter shades, often with bluish or greyish tones. This genetic mutation affects the black (or red) pigment, causing the colour to be unevenly distributed throughout the coat.

What determines the colour of merle?

The merle colour is a pattern in the coat of dogs caused by the merle gene. The merle gene causes the underlying coat colour to fade and develop a patchy appearance, consisting of darker and lighter patches. The intensity and pattern distribution of merle colour depends on the following factors:

1. **Genetic variations:** The presence and type of merle gene (e.g. single merle or double merle) affects the pattern strength and colour contrast.
2. **Colour:** The basic colour of the dog determines the colour of the merle pattern (e.g. blue merle for a black background colour, red merle for a brown background colour).
3. **Pigmentation:** The distribution and concentration of pigment cells in the hair also affects the appearance of the merle pattern.
4. **Genetic background:** The genetic make-up of the parents and the genetic background of the dog can also influence the extent and how the merle pattern is expressed.

These factors combine to create the distinctive pattern and colours of the merle colour in the dog's coat.

How is merle colour colour mixing possible?

Merle colour is genetically based and is the result of a specific type of gene mutation. The merle gene dilutes the base coat colour, resulting in different shades and patches. Merle colour is created when a dog carries a secondary gene variant that overwrites the original coat colour, mixing to create unique patterns. In addition to the merle pattern, blue or heterochromatic eyes can often be associated.