Genetics

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Dogs come in myriad colors and patterns, and the genetics underlying these variations are very complicated. This page will cover some of the basics, but there is an entire website dedicated to coat color genetics that has taught us a lot. This webpage will primarily focus on ethical issues surrounding dog coat genetics.

"I have allergies so I need a hypoallergenic dog, but I do not want a prissy show dog like a poodle."

First, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, but there are several breeds of all sizes and temperaments that are non-shedding due to their coat type. Non-shedding dogs, like all other dogs, produce two kinds of dander: one in their fur and one in their saliva. Many people are only allergic to one type of dander or the other, so they may notice their allergies do not flare up in the presence of non-shedding dogs. However, physical contact with that dog will still yield an allergic reaction, so that needs to be taken into consideration. Some people with mild to moderate allergies actually do better with high-shedding double-coated dogs (as long as they vacuum regularly) because the dander is on the floor or in the vacuum rather than stuck to the dog. Even hairless dogs produce dander, so they are not hypoallergenic either. But if non-shedding dogs are truly the best for your allergies, that does not mean you need a poodle mix.

Second, poodles are not prissy show dogs; they are hyperintelligent gundogs, most similar to Labradors and Goldens in temperament and training ability. Like hunting-line Labradors and Golden Retrievers, hunting-line Poodles have a lot of physical and mental energy and therefore need a lot of physical and mental stimulation and enrichment. If you are looking for a household pet rather than a hunting companion and you are unsure whether you could fulfill those needs, reach out to Poodle breeders and see if any of them have low-energy, low-drive puppies (or planned litters) and you will end up with the perfect dog for your home. 

If you need a non-shedding dog but do not want a Poodle for other reasons, there are a variety of breeds to choose from (Maltese, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Portuguese Water Dog, Puli, Komondor, Bedlington Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Lagotto Romagnolo, Afghan Hound, etc.). If none of these breeds have the aesthetics and temperament you are looking for and you insist on getting a poodle mix, look to shelters and rescues before you consider a doodle breeder. Poodle mixes typically have a hybrid coat that is unsure whether it is a curly coat or a double coat, and the result is a frequently-matting groomer's worst nightmare. In addition, most poodle mixes' parents are not breeding quality dogs because ethical breeders do not allow their puppy buyers to keep their dog intact so that they can "doodle" them. If you are really set on the aesthetics of a poodle mix, just remember: you can groom a poodle to look like a doodle, but you cannot groom a doodle to look like a show dog.

The Dilution Gene

Several dog breeds are available (per their breed standard) with a diluted coat, meaning that they have a gene that modifies or "dilutes" the expression of eumelanin and phaeomelanin in their fur. For example, Dobermanns come in black, blue, red, or fawn with rust markings. Blue is a diluted version of black, and fawn is a diluted version of red, so blue Dobermanns and fawn Dobermanns have the dilution gene. Another example is Weimaraners; all Weimaraners are the same color "blue" as blue Dobermanns because all Weimaraners have the dilution gene. In some breeds (including Dobermanns but not Weimaraners), the presence of this gene can result in Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA), a type of alopecia that results in dry skin, dandruff, loss of fur, and itchiness. The genetic basis for CDA has not yet been identified but it only occurs in some breeds, mostly breeds in which the dilution gene is not naturally occurring and should not be bred. One example of this is "silver" Labradors. The dilution gene is not present in Labradors but has been mixed in from Weimaraners within some unethical breeders' programs. Many of these dogs test as purebred Labradors via DNA test because the dilution gene was mixed in several generations back, but silver Labradors are not registrable in the AKC because of their impure and unethical origin. If you are looking for a Labrador puppy and find a breeder who produces "silver" Labradors, steer clear of them.

Merle

The merle coat pattern/color modifier essentially dilutes random patches of eumelanin without affecting phaeomelanin, resulting in gray/blue patches in fur that would otherwise be black and blue spots in parts of the iris (eye) that would otherwise be brown. Merle itself is not responsible for health problems in dogs, but double merle (two copies of this gene) results in blindness and deafness by altering the melanin in the retina (which is needed to absorb light in order to see) and inner ear (which is needed for hearing). Double merle dogs can only be produced by two merle dogs, so breeding two merle dogs is unethical but breeding a merle with a non-merle is not.

Merle is generally regarded as aesthetically appealing, so dogs with this pattern are often sought by puppy buyers. As a result, many unethical breeders have mixed the merle gene into otherwise purebred breeding lines in order to market their "rare and beautiful" variant of the breed and sell puppies for unreasonably high prices. Common examples include French Bulldogs and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. The merle gene itself is not the issue; it is the dishonesty, production of unpredictable and off-standard puppies, and other unethical practices that are the issue. Merle French Bulldogs and Pembroke Welsh Corgis are not purebred; these breeds have been around for hundreds of years without the merle gene, so  merle individuals have a different breed mixed in somewhat recently. Merle is not a registrable pattern in these breeds, so these dogs cannot have valid paperwork, and their mixed DNA signifies that they will not have the temperament and innate behaviors (herding instincts in corgis, for example) that are called for by their breed standard. If you are looking for a puppy of a breed that cannot be merle and you find a breeder who produces merle puppies, steer away from that breeder.

Other Off-Standard Coat Types and Colors

There are many other examples of breeders marketing "rare" varieties of their breed, and these traits are not generally problematic in and of themselves, but they indicate a general contempt for the breed standard that an ethical breeder would be following. For example, "lemon" Dalmatians, "English Cream" Golden Retrievers, and longhair Rottweilers are all naturally occurring within purebred populations, but breeders who use these off-standard dogs in their breeding programs or produce them frequently are going out of their way to produce off-standard dogs and should therefore be avoided. The off-standard coat itself is not problematic but should be viewed as a red flag (or at least a yellow flag) because it typically indicates that the breeder is conducting other unethical breeding practices as well.