If you're looking for a unique and beautiful miniature poodle, you won't find one more beautiful or unique than the Clan of the Poodle chocolate or blue merle. As a point of interest, a scientist from Texas A & M University contacted me during the summer of 2005 to request d.n.a. samples from several of my merle puppies, their parents, and a non-merle poodle. Their d.n.a., along with samples from other merle colored purebred dogs, were used in a study to confirm the identity of the "merle gene". The rather lengthy and technical report established the merle gene, and then went on to focus on the defects that have occured in a number of Shetland Sheepdogs ("shelties") due to adventurous breeding. These same defects - blindness, reduced ear size, deafness, and lack of eyes - have been produced by breeders of the "double dapple" dachshund. It's actually very simple to avoid problems in merles; don't breed merle to merle.

Beautiful chocolate merle puppy from Vesna and Toby's litter of six. Picture taken when he was seven weeks old. He has one green eye and one blue eye.

Portia, (below and to the right) is from Lola and Toby's first litter. These pictures are from when she was six weeks and one year.

The merle tends to be the hunter and protector. My experience is that most often, merle puppies are the largest in the litter. They are highly intelligent, loyal, eager to learn, and do very well in obedience and agility work. These are confident dogs that will look you straight in the eye.