The phantom or cryptic Merle, looks like a solid dog, but possesses the merle allele just like a regular merle. The phantom merle may only have a few merle hairs, and appear in all other ways to be a solid dog, but the phantom will breed just like any other merle dog, producing 50% merle, 50% solid, puppies, from solid mates, and 50% Merle, 25% Solid, and 25% homozygous Merle (double merle - White - defective) puppies, from Merle mates.

It is interesting to note that on of the more famous Aussies, in history was a phantom merle.

(Soda's merle is on the right,[face, neck, & elbow]).

(Fieldmaster's is on the top of his head).

CH. Hall's Fieldmaster Of Flintridge

akc/asca CH. Southern Cross Back To The Past CD

He is not unlike our very own "Soda" - Having only a small Merle spot on his head.

In fact, according to relieable sorces, CH.Fieldmaster Of Flintridge even had 2 litters of puppies culled because the breeders were certin he was not the sire, because the dam was a solid black, and the sire (CH.Fieldmaster Of Flintridge) was thought to be black also. The third litter the dam was kept close to the breeder the entire time she was in season, so they could be certain of the sire of the puppies.

We hope you understand a little more about the phantom merle, ( which can also come in Red), and we hope you have enjoyed this little bit of aussie lore.