The Blue Merle Great Dane is a visually stunning variation of the Great Dane breed. It is a product of both the merle gene and a dilution gene. Blue Merle Great Dane combines a steel gray base with darker bluish gray mottling. Which makes it a uniquely marbled coat.
These splotches are distributed unevenly across the body. They are similar to silver merles. In 2019 American Kennel Club (AKC) formally recognized merle as a standard color for Great Danes.
Blue Merle is not officially recognized by all kennel clubs yet. But it continues to grow in popularity among dog lovers for its marbled appearance. If we talk about eyes in Blue Merles, they can be brown, amber or blue.
Health Issues
Merle coated and Blue Merles have irregular patches of pigmentation on their skin and coat. These areas are more susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Also in dogs with thin coats and exposed pink skin around the nose, ears or belly.
So Blue Merles are at higher risk of sunburn. In rare cases also skin cancer occurs in summer months. Preventive care for this is to apply dog safe sunscreen to sensitive areas. Or use protective clothing and shaded outdoor spaces.
Another concern specific to Blue Merles is Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA). It is a genetic condition which affects dogs with dilute coat colors like blue and fawn. In this hair thinning and bald patches happens and it starts around 6 months to 3 years of age.
But not all Blue Merle Great Danes will have CDA. And it is not life threatening but frustrating. So you have to avoid excessive bathing of your dog and use moisturizing shampoos. We think there is no proper cure for CDA but vets can transplant hairs maybe.
Diet And Exercise
Blue Merles benefit from a diet formulated for large or giant breed dogs. These formulas are balanced to promote slow growth and reduce the risk of issues such as hip dysplasia and panosteitis.
So controlled calcium and phosphorus levels. Moderate protein and fat, omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids (for coat health). And joint supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin are needed. For exercise they can walk, swim or light jogging daily for 30 to 60 minutes.
Temperament Of Blue Merle Great Dane
Blue Merles are highly intelligent and emotionally expressive. And can do best in households where they receive consistent attention, gentle training, and daily interaction. They can also be good with other dogs if raised alongside them.
Also good with childrens but supervision is key if the kids are younger. These dogs are indoor dogs. But tiny apartments are a poor match because of their size. And also their lean bodies make them sensitive to cold weather.
So they require indoor warmth in the winter and shaded areas in summer. Moreover this is a dog which can easily top 140+ pounds and still want to curl up in your lap.
Misconceptions Of Blue Merle Great Dane
One of the common misconceptions about Blue Merle Great Danes is that they are extremely rare and difficult to breed. And some also mistakenly believe that Blue Merle Danes are less trainable.
Price
So if you want to buy a blue merle great dane, you can expect to pay between $1,500 to $3,500+.
