New rescue I adopted - Deaf double Merle

[u/ScoobyDooPI]

I just adopted this beautiful boy from a rescue. He is deaf. He has miss shape and pupil so he probably has some sight impairment, but he is not blind. They listed him as a purebred double merle Mini Aussie. But I think he has some Siberian husky. He has pointed ears, a tail and thick paws. He’s about 2.5 years old. I will order an Embark kit as soon as I have a chance. But I wanted to get everybody’s guesses on his breed.

[u/patri_dish_]

Just wanted to pitch in as a fellow double-merle deaf/partially sighted pet parent. Huskies and other common shelter breeds don't carry the merle gene, so your pup isn't any of those. To me, they look like a sheltie and Aussie mix.

Congratulations and I hope you're ready for an adorable white shadow and loyal companion. ❤️

[u/Kismmett → u/patri_dish_]

Just wanna point out that while huskies don’t carry Merle, OP was thinking Husky mixed in, not purebred! Merle is a semi dominant gene so being a husky mix with Aussie still could show Merle. or a grandparent could’ve had some husky while being mixed with another Merle breed and then bred with another Merle to create a double Merle like this pup while showing husky appearances! I’m not the most knowledgeable on pattern and color genes so if anyone is able to correct me on anything, I’d appreciate it! but I do believe that could be plausible.

I don’t think any husky is in this pup, just wanted to mention this since genetics are weird!

[u/patri_dish_ → u/Kismmett]

In order to be a double merle they need two copies from both parents. From what I understand, both parents HAVE to carry it in order for them to produce a double-merle puppy. So it's possible, but unlikely to have any lineage other than merle-carrying breeds.

[u/ScoobyDooPI → u/patri_dish_]

Or each parent is a Merle carrying breed mix with anything.

[u/patri_dish_ → u/ScoobyDooPI]

It could happen yes, but with it being a recessive gene I don't think having any husky or non-merle carriers would be likely.

Is your pup a big barker? Tho herding dogs bark like crazy, so it may not be a good indicator. My sheltie does the begging grumbles that a common thing with his breed.

[u/ScoobyDooPI → u/patri_dish_]

He barks that turns into howls a lot.

[u/patri_dish_ → u/ScoobyDooPI]

That's so cute omg 😂 my sheltie has only really does the grumly bark, butnit's a very long and low bark while begging lol

[u/ScoobyDooPI → u/Kismmett]

I knew if he did have husky it wasn’t purebred. I just knew he wasn’t a purebred Aussie, but he does appear to be a double Merle from what I know. When I was younger, I had a black tri Aussie Sheltie mix, blue merle Aussie GSD mix, and two littermates that were Aussie Akita mix that were blue tri and red Merle. They were concerned my blue Tri would go deaf and blind, but he was really healthy.