08/28/2026
As merle is intentionally being bred for more in our breed, just a friendly reminder on where we stand as some believe that because we occasionally produce parti and phantom, we must support Merle also.
I love all dogs, and a merle mix already living its life deserves to be loved just as much as any dog sleeping on our couch. But we can love a dog without supporting how it was intentionally produced.
At Kvali, we do not breed merle into our poodles, and we do not support or encourage intentionally breeding for merle. Merle was introduced into Poodles through another breed and for us, preserving the Poodle also means being honest about what is and isn't historically part of our breed.
We also have wonderful families and friends who have merle dogs as beloved pets alongside one of our Poodles, and we love seeing them just as much. This has never been about judging the dogs or the families who love them. Never feel ashamed to share pictures of the dogs you love!
There is room to want the best for every dog and be kind to the people who love them while still being honest that merle is not a naturally occurring Poodle color or pattern, and intentionally introducing and perpetuating it is not something we believe supports the preservation or integrity of our breed.
-Kvali
