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All Splotch, No Catahoula

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Catahoula Leopard dog

The splotchy coat pattern called merle can come from many breeds

A dog’s breed is more than coat deep.

Many assume that dogs with a splotchy, merle coat pattern have ancestry from Australian Shepherds or Catahoula Leopard Dogs. However, this isn’t always true. Merle can be inherited from many breeds, including Collie, Great Dane, Dachshund, and more. Learn how certain coat patterns appear in different breed mixes with Embark’s Chief Science Officer, Adam Boyko.

Casey Ehrlich Scientist

Casey Ehrlich, MS is a Research Associate at Embark Veterinary, where she facilitates scientific discovery through research initiatives. After getting a bachelor's degree in Biology, she attended Syracuse University where she earned an M.S. in Biomedical Forensic Science. Her training in DNA analysis and pathology has served her well at Embark, and she loves working for a company that has her learning something new every day.

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