MERLE/UNRECOGNIZED COLOURS.
​
WE DO NOT AND WILL NOT BREED MERLE OR UNRECOGNIZED COLOURS. WE HAVE STUDIED REPORTS FROM THE KENNEL CLUB, PETS4HOMES AND OTHER OUTLETS AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE COLOURS SUPPORT HEALTH IN THE BULLDOG BREED. BELOW ARE A FEW PARAGRAPHS TAKEN FROM PUBLISHED REPORTS. THE LINKS TO THE FULL REPORTS ARE PROVIDED AS A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR ANY OTHER COLOURS OTHER THAN THE ONES LISTED ON THE KENNEL CLUBS LIST OF RECOGNIZED COLOURS.
---
The Kennel Club does not accept the registration, including any imported dogs, of any merle Bulldogs.
Merle patterning - patches of lighter colour appearing in the coat - is the result of the M gene in the dog. There are two alleles of this gene: M (merle) and m (non-merle), with merle (M) being dominant to non-merle (m). In some breeds, the effect of the merle allele (M) is termed ‘dapple’. Unfortunately, the effects of the merle allele (M) are not confined to coat patterning and it is known that there can be an increased risk of impaired hearing and sight associated with it, particularly in dogs that are homozygous for M (dogs that carry two copies of the M allele).
As the merle colour is not a naturally occurring colour in this breed, and in view of the health concerns relating to the merle gene, the Kennel Club will not accept the registration of any merle Bulldog puppies.
---
The Bulldog, is not recognised in any colour not listed in the breed standard by the Kennel Club. For example Tri/ Black and White /Black /Blue/Lilac /Chocolate are all marked on their Pedigree as Unrecognised Colours.
The Kennel Club refuses to register Merle in this breed as it is known to have proven health issues.
Unethical Breeders are promoting these colours as ‘RARE’ Don’t be fooled into purchasing one of these puppies and paying outrageously high prices.
Please find a reputable knowledgeable breeder who will help advise you in your hunt for a healthy Bulldog Puppy.
Look up Breed Club secretaries on this site who can help you contact breeders.
​No responsible & ethical breeder will ever breed these colours intentionally.
---
The merle colour in English bulldogs is associated with a heightened risk of hereditary deafness that may affect either both ears or just one, and that can be either partial or complete. Additionally, English bulldogs with merle colouration may also suffer from blindness or poor eyesight, and may have abnormally formed or improperly developed eyes.
Neither deafness nor vision problems automatically occur in all merle English bulldogs, but they do manifest in a significant enough number of merle dogs to be considered to pose a threat to the quality of life of affected dogs, and the health of the breed as a whole.
Merle colouration can also cause a lack of pigmentation across certain areas of the skin, and may also lead to an increased risk of the dog developing skin cancer or hypersensitivity to light.
The above text taken from the below linked reports/pages
​
https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/merle-bulldogs-what-you-need-to-know-about-merle-english-bulldogs.html?fbclid=IwAR3GqulgHlfjpQQhdlMi0z03X3J9xj5llRjcpzg7M8Kbv7F_17wZxoaaJ1w
​
http://www.bulldogbreedcouncil.co.uk/standard.html
​
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/press-releases/2020/january/registration-of-dogs-of-merle-colouring/
​
​
