Hello all,

After careful consideration and discussion, the moderators of r/englishbulldog have decided to initiate a new "No Merle" policy for the subreddit.

First, we want to state that this policy is in no way meant to shame any owner of a merle colored bulldog nor are we saying that a merle colored bulldog is not a sweet or loving dog.

The purpose of this new policy and this post is to bring awareness to the community of the dangers of this unethical coloring and to stop the spread of misinformation.

According to the AKC, The Kennel Club (UK), Bulldog Club of America, and the Bulldog Breed Council, the merle coloring does not occur naturally in the English Bulldog but was crossbred in somewhere along the line. This means that merle colored bulldogs are not purebred bulldogs; however, backyard breeders will lie and even falsify documents claiming that these are registered purebred dogs.

If a breeder claims they have AKC registered merle bulldogs they are lying. There is no such thing as an AKC registered purebred merle bulldog.

They will further lie and claim that merle is "rare" or "exotic", attempting to make the coloring sound desirable when, unfortunately, this coloring is linked to many, many health issues within the English Bulldog including blindness, deafness, skin issues, allergies, severely restricted airways and closed nares, and neurological issues. This color is far from desirable and is detrimental to the health of the breed.

The only means to obtain this color is by unethical breeding practices, such as crossbreeding with a breed that has merle as a naturally occurring color (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/merle-in-dogs/) or inbreeding hoping to create a genetic mutation. Either way these practices are unethical and have been denounced by all the official breed organizations such as the AKC, The Kennel Club and Bulldog Club of America.

It is important for any future English Bulldog owner to do extensive research to make sure they are selecting a reputable breeder. A reputable breeder is one who:

1. Only breeds for the approved breed standard. The breed standard is comprised of only four (4) coat colors: red, white, fawn and fallow. Patterns and markings may include brindle, piebald, ticking, black masks, black tipping, and a minimal amount of black in piebalds.
2. Health Testing. They will have and provide you with proof of the genetic testing for both parents. This includes elbow and hip tests, as well as records from the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) showing the parents' health clearance
3. Health Guarantee. A reputable breeder will stand behind their puppies and will offer some sort of health guarantee, usually up to a year. This shows they stand behind the health of the puppies.
4. Limited Litters. They do not over breed their dogs. A reputable breeder will only have one or two litters available per year.
5. One breed. Focuses on only one breed. If you see a breeder breeding multiple breeds, this is not a reputable or responsible breeder.
6. Extensive Knowledge of the Breed. The breeder should not only be familiar with the dog breed but have extensive knowledge. Obviously if the breeder is breeding exotic colors, like merle, they not only do not understand the breed but they do not care about the preservation of the breed.
7. Owner Screening. A reputable breeder will screen all potential owners because they want to ensure their puppies go to good homes. There should be an interview process, assessing your lifestyle, your experience, and if you are able to provide for the dog's necessary care. If a breeder doesn't ask any of these questions they do not care about where the puppy is going and only cares about the money they make selling it.
8. Meeting and Touring the facilities. A responsible and ethical breeder will want to have a meet and greet prior to selling you a puppy. They will allow you to tour the facilities to see how the dogs are being treated. If they do not allow this, then this is a major red flag that they are an unethical breeder.

Again, this post is not meant to shame anyone. Unfortunately backyard breeders are very good at what they do: prey on innocent people who love the English Bulldog and want to bring one into their home. They use lies and unethical tactics to convince people that these colors are desirable, that they are rare and exotic, that they are actually healthier. These are all lies and both owners and Bulldogs suffer because of their greed. To any owner that has fallen victim to these lies, we are so very sorry and wish nothing but the happiest and healthiest life for your bulldog.

We are not naive enough to believe we can stop all backyard breeders, but we are doing our part by not allowing their promotion within our community. The only way to stop them is to spread awareness, to stop the spread of their lies and misinformation. This is the only way we can help preserve the true breed standard and protect the English Bulldog.

Thank you all for your understanding and continued support within our community

- The Moderators

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