Merle is the pigmentation on the coat because of the mutated gene pattern in Miniature Schnauzers. Merle Schnauzers are not pure breeds and fall under mixed breed for their merle pigmentation. This mutation can be dangerous for the dog, so breeding Merle Schnauzers is restricted in many parts.
Merle Schnauzers are tough, courageous, friendly companions. Though they are used as ratters and farm dogs, they are not aggressive. They are family-oriented and make excellent watchdogs.
Table of Contents
Merle Schnauzer Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
Low Shedding
Poor Health
Exceptional Watch Dogs
High Prey Drive
Merle Schnauzer Basic Information
Name: Merle Schnauzer
Height: 12 to 26 inches
Weight: 20 to 70 pounds
Color: Grey and Black, Silver and Black, Solid Black
The merle pattern creates spots or patches of blue or green on the coat, and there will be changes in the pigmentations of the eye, nose, or paws. Due to the merle gene, the eye color of Merle Schnauzers is often blue.
Friendliness Overview
Affection Level
Medium
Family-Friendly
Medium to High
Kid-Friendly
Medium to High
Pet-Friendly
Low to Medium
Strangers-Friendly
Low
Adaptability Overview
Good for New Pet Owners
Low to Medium
Good for Apartment Living
Medium to High
Sensitivity Level
Medium to High
Tolerates being alone
Low to Medium
Cold Tolerance
Medium to High
Heat Tolerance
Medium to High
Merle Schnauzer Temperament
Merle Schnauzer gets along well with children and elderly family members. They love to be around family and do activities along with them. However, they may not resist chasing or attacking potential prey because of their prey drive. Therefore, it is recommended to never allow Merle Schnauzer in open or public places without a leash. However, they are not aggressive like other dog breeds with high prey drive.
Merle Schnauzer Training
Merle Schnauzers are quick learners and always eager to please their owners. You can put them to obedience training, agility training, and rally. They are intelligent and can be easily bored with repeated training. Therefore, it is essential to keep their training fun and interesting to capture their attention. Always prefer positive reinforcement while training Merle Schnauzers.
Trainability Overview
Easy to Train
Medium
Intelligence
High
Prey Drive
High
Tendency to Chew, Nip & Play-bite
Medium
Tendency to Bark or Howl
Low to Medium
Wanderlust Ability
High
Merle Schnauzer Exercise Needs
Merle Schnauzers need physical and mental stimulation to control their high prey drives. Their medium energy level can be focused on daily exercises like walking and running. They can also spend time playing in a fenced backyard by running or chasing balls.
Exercise Needs Overview
Energy Level
Medium
Exercise Needs
High
Playfulness
High
Intensity
Medium
Merle Schnauzer Grooming
Merle Schnauzers have a double coat with a wiry top coat and soft undercoat. They require frequent brushing and grooming to maintain a healthy coat. You can groom them at home by yourself, or you can reach out to a professional groomer.
Merle Schnauzers needn’t be bathed for more than once a month unless they entered an unclean environment. Clean their ears and trim their nails regularly. Other grooming needs include brushing their teeth to avoid dental problems.
Grooming Overview
Amount of Shedding
Low
Tendency to Drool
Low
Tendency to Snore
Low
Easy to Groom
Medium
Merle Schnauzer Health
The standard Schnauzers are generally a long-lived, healthy breed. However, the merle gene can lead to various health problems. Sometimes the merle puppies will not be fully formed and may be born with one eye or no eyes and many other deformities.
Health Overview
Basic Health
Low
Weight Gain Possibilities
Low
Size
Medium
Merle Schnauzers can have the following health concerns:
Cataracts: Cataracts create a cloudy and opaque layer over the eye lens and can lead to blindness.
Microphthalmia: It is a defect in fetal formation resulting in small eyes and blindness which can’t be cured.
Anophthalmia: Anophthalmia is a birth defect where the puppy is born with one eye or without eyes.
Proptosis: In proptosis, the eyeballs will be displaced from the eye socket resulting in the eyelids trapped behind the eye, which can be cured through surgery.
Deafness: Deafness is the lack of hearing ability which is more common in pigmented dogs. As it can also be hereditary, breeders should avoid breeding dogs with hearing disabilities.
Brachycephalic Syndrome: This condition is prevalent in dogs with short muzzles. Their nostrils will be narrowed, and the airways will be blocked, ranging from difficulty in breathing to noisy or total obstruction in breathing.
Entropion: The condition in which the eyelids are inward and rub against the eye causing eye irritation is entropion. The affected dog might need surgery to correct the eyelash.
Glaucoma: Glaucoma is an eye condition that can affect both dogs and people and requires medical attention. Symptoms such as pain, squinting, watery eyes, and redness can indicate glaucoma which can lead to blindness. Regular health tests can help in identifying and curing glaucoma at an early stage.
Cherry Eye: The gland under the eyelid will protrude, looking like a cherry. This condition might need surgery to remove the infected gland.
Dry Eye: Dry eye is a painful condition caused due to the insufficient production of tears by the tear glands. The affected eye might appear dry or have a blue haze. Treatments include medication or teardrops.
Hyperlipidemia: Hyperlipidemia is common in dogs and can result from various disorders like obesity, cholestasis, endocrine disorders.
Pancreatitis: The inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that produces digestive enzymes and insulin, causes pancreatitis. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, lethargy, vomiting, belly pain, and dehydration.
Liver Shunts: Liver shunt is a condition in which the liver does not get blood supply to purify it. As the name suggests, blood flow to the liver will be shunted. This condition can be cured through surgery.
Merle Schnauzer Diet and Nutrition
Schedule an appointment with your vet to decide on a diet plan for Merle Schnauzers. The diet plan should be planned depending on your dog’s health condition. Your vet will make sure whether your dog gets all the vital nutrients in the diet. Stick to your vet’s advice as the merle gene is dangerous for dogs.
Merle Schnauzer Living Condition
Merle Schnauzers can adapt well to city living as well as country living. They can use a small, fenced backyard for some playtime. They may not be suitable for homes with small pets like cats, rabbits owing to their prey drive.
Things to Remember Before Breeding
It is unfair to the puppy to breed merle dogs. Merle Schnauzers face various issues since birth owing to the mutated gene. Therefore, it is better to avoid breeding dogs with Merle genes. Two Merle Dogs should never be bred as it could cause complications in breeding, and also, the resulting puppies would be unhealthy or deformed.
