Merle
Merle is a marking that adds lighter or darker, hard-edged patches anywhere on the beasts’ body.
However, these patches do not need to have the same color throughout the entire design! It is allowed to pick up to three (3) different colors, all lighter or darker relevant to the base coat color, and use them for the spots.
To avoid imitating Spotting the majority of the patches should be on the bigger side and be clearly larger than Spotting! However, a few smaller patches in between are generally okay as well.
While it is okay if Merle covers most of the beast, it should not consume the entire design and the base coat color should be clearly visible in at least one area!
Relevant to: Base
Value: Lighter or Darker
Edge: Hard
Breaks: Yes
Holes: No
Fading: No
Can be white: No
Layering: Designer’s choice
Hides other genes: No
Colors
Merle allows for up to three (3) different colors. Each color is relevant to and will always be lighter or darker than the base coat color of the beast.
Edges
Merle must have a hard edge.
Design Notes
Merle and Pied
If the beast has both Merle and Pied in its phenotype, be careful to not imitate Marbled by accident!
Merle allows for up to three (3) colors as well and if a very dark gray or even black was picked it can, together with an equally patchy Pied, match the Marbled patches.
Combinations with other markings
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Ranges
Maximum Range
Merle has no maximum range.
Minimum Range
Merle has no distinct minimum range, but must be present in a noticeable way on the beast.
Good examples:
Feel free to search for this marking in our CaveSpeaker gallery to get some inspiration or a better grasp of the marking.
However, be careful of old designs as they might be illegal by now due to previous rule changes!
Please do not just copy existing designs either, as those are the property of their designer!