I’ve had Aussies my entire life and I have invested a ton of time and energy into this guy. For example, a black Aussie will still have a black nose, while a red Aussie will have a liver-colored nose. The spots can vary in both shape and size, but are always over a gray background. For example, you would have seen Aussies with brindle, sable, piebald, in addition to yellow and dilute coats. The Australian Shepherd, the cowboy’s herding dog of choice, is a medium-sized worker with a keen, penetrating gaze in the eye. All of which, are distinct in their own right. The marble refers to specks of other colors and truly creates a unique appearance in these dogs. These are all distinct genetic traits and breeders need to understand how they are inherited. What Colors Can an Australian Shepherd’s Eyes Be? However, every black Aussie may vary in the location and amount of a certain color. Often times, but not always, the black coat is highlighted with white markings on the face, chest, belly and legs. In fact, Aussies have four officially recognized coat colors with several variations within each color. However, this combination is still seen in litters. They have red spots on top of an buff (a light orange-brown) to silver base color. These colors will be scattered among the yellow hairs of the coat. Don’t shy away if you have the chance to pick one of these guys up. Red merle makes up this base coat for this color combination. This means they have no white or copper marks anywhere on their body. These dogs have a base coat of the blue merle color, which is essentially black spots on a gray coat. }. TheSmartCanine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Australian Shepherds come in these four accepted coat colors: You might have noticed the title stating there are 14 different Aussie colors. The tri-colored black coat, as described above, is not the only possible combination of black Australian Shepherds. The blue merle is overlapped with markings of white and copper around the face, legs, chest and belly. Our doggie shirts come in thousands of designs sure to fit any personality. Code: Enter the 3-digit color and/or marking code for your dog on your Registration form. Most of the time, you’ll see white marking on just the face, chest, belly and legs. The black spots and patches on a blue merle Aussie will likely become slate colored instead. The Blue Merle and White Australian Shepherd is a merle variation as marvelous as the blue merle tri color. If you have more questions about color, please visit the ASHGI site. A Dudley nose is a nose that is entirely pink, which is uncommon in Aussies. In fact, I know they are! On top of that, even more color combinations are seen outside of the recognized colors. They may be any color or combination of colors from glassy blue, amber, hazel, to all shades of brown. This color only affects black and liver-colored hair. A dilute Australian Shepherd will more than likely have different colored noses and eyes as well. For the most part, blue merles have a solid eye color. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. INTRODUCTION: First and foremost, the Australian Shepherd is a true working stockdog, and anything that detracts from his usefulness as such is undesirable.The most important breed characteristics are overall moderation in size and bone, balance with correct proportions, and sound movement Although these four colors are the main color groups, each group has several variations. For those with other color combinations, they are disqualified as purebred Aussies . White markings are the most genetically complex aspect of normal Aussie color.  Only two white marking genes have been clearly identified so far in dogs.  One causes the type of pattern seen in Boxers.  The other is associated with the “Irish” pattern seen in collie-type dogs, like the Aussie.  However, the specific extent of these markings on any individual dog can be highly variable due to the actions of other genes or gene regulatory factors.  In general, though, less white is dominant to more:  Two dogs with little white can sometimes produce offspring with lots of white, but two with maximum white trim will not produce a puppy with almost none.  =  I have a toy and I believe I have a red Australian eye color her name is miss reds she’s 5 1/2 old. The color combinations of this color group include: red tri, red bi and solid red. Butterfly nose should not be faulted under one year of age. To verify a dog with this gene, you’ll need to examine the guard hairs of the Aussie. Flecks of other colors are way more common in the merle color groups. Also called the “Maltese dilution” or MLPH for short, the dilute color is a recessive gene that’s become one of the most common non-standard color on Aussies. It’s rather difficult to tell apart a red merle tri color and a red merle and white. A good example of this would be the colors sable and yellow. The blue merle and black have black pigmentation on nose, lips, and eye-rims. The puppy on the left is a dilute dog. Still, they may be classified as Red and White dogs due to the minimal tan coloring. Mother with pups. Australian Shepherds love spending time with their owners. The Australian shepherd coat comes in four colors: blue merle, red merle, solid black and solid liver brown, called “red” in this breed. The recognized colors are blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black, and solid red (liver) all with or without white markings and/or tan (copper) points with no order of preference. Disqualifications - White body splashes, which means white on body between withers and tail, on sides between elbows and back of hindquarters in all colors. Can an Aussie be black and white with brown on sides of face and head and some brown on top of legs, also the ears, one up one down? ?????? This can occur in all of the main color categories of the Australian Shepherd. A blue merle & white Aussies have blue merle as its base coat and have white markings. She is an absolute sweet heart. I have a Female Black-tri Aussie with one blue eye and one amber /w blue. Some red Australian Shepherds come in only red and white, as seen above. She is a blue merle with blue eyes. It wasn’t until the late 1970’s that organizations established the standard colors of the Australian Shepherds. I’ll be breeding her with a puppy whose parents are red merle with copper eyes. Another beautiful Australian shepherd color variation includes blue merle and white. It’s also free to list your available puppies and litters on our site. However, i’d argue that they’re just as great as any Aussie. Red merle coats have a lighter red background color … Click here to add your own comments. The breed standards state “All colors are strong, clear and rich. There are 4 colors the Australian Shepherd can be, blue merle, black (or Tri-Black), red merle and red. It’s rather difficult to tell apart a red merle tri color and a red merle and white. The red patches can range in color, size and shape. A red Australian Shepherd will likely become a beige, such as a Weimaraner. Australian Shepherd Colors Red Tricolor and Bicolor. They also have copper highlights usually seen on the face and legs only. Some yellow Australian Shepherds will develop a light yellow (Labrador). What’s ironic is that the solid red Australian Shepherd may be the most unique of them all (because they’re rare!). Let’s further examine each main color category and their variations. As the name suggests, blue merle & white Aussies have two colors on their body – blue merle and white. Although rare, it’s possible to find one in this color group with blue eyes. And often times, they’ve been mistaken for huskies at an early age. The brown colored eyes of the black Aussie can come in different shades of brown. Australian Shepherd dogs were bred to guard livestock and to this day maintains the genetic drive to herd. These dogs have the iconic blue merle coat as a base color. The spots can be tiny speckles or large patches – depending on the dog. It’s more likely you find other coat colors from non-professional breeders. All of which, are traits that make them some of the best companion family dogs. It’s worth noting that the shade of amber and blue in their eyes can vary from light to dark. Of these, the pattern merle is described as two colors: Blue merle and red (liver) merle. Australian Shepherd coat patterns come in solid and merle. Highlights such as copper aren’t affected. The breed standards state that Australian Shepherds can come in some combination of two basic body colors (black and liver), one pattern (merle), and two trim colors (white and tan.) Most red merle Australia Shepherds have solid eye colors. Like the dilute Australian Shepherds, the yellow counterparts don’t experience any negative side effects from this condition. Red Australian Shepherds come in three variations. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to find a red Aussie with the “marble” effect. Blue merle dogs are gray dogs, ranging from light to dark gray with black splotchy markings. The last but not least version of this color is a solid black Australian Shepherd. However, it’s all personal taste. Most Australian Shepherds fall into one of the variations in the four color groups. Still, I would always go to a reputable breeder for an Australian Shepherd. The black tri Australian Shepherd is one of the most common and basic colors combination of this dog. Australian Shepherds boast an eye color range that’s almost more reminiscent of us … Australian Shepherds in this color group come in just red merle and white. White will be in points similar to the tri-colored version – but without the copper. Black and tan dogs are the second rarest versions of black Australian Shepherds. They’re just as exotic-looking as their blue merle counterparts, except with a different color merle effect. Show off your family is getting an addition with our unique big brother dog shirts and big sister dog shirts. These dogs look just as magnificent as the tri colored variation without the copper. The four versions of the black-coated Aussie are: tri-color, black bi, black and tan and solid black. These dogs have a red base coat with white typically found on the chest, legs and face. Please refer to the breed standard for additional details. (All 4 colors) Each of these can have a copper or white trim. Rather, the entire shaft is a consistent variation of yellow. An Australian Shepherd with a solid red merle coat looks very similar to the other two variations as well. The Australian Shepherd is one of a few dog breeds that commonly have two different colored eyes, called heterochromia. We are looking at an Aussiedoodle that has apricot coloring. For example, a blue eyed Aussie may have brown highlights and vice versa. Australian Shepherd colors are commonly black, blue merle, red, and red merle with large patches of white and white or tan markings. Click to e-mail one of our volunteer experts with color questions. Find tri colored Australian Shepherd puppies and dogs from a breeder near you. A blue merle is a black dog with the merle pattern; a red merle is a liver dog with the merle pattern.  All the merle gene does is determine whether or not a dog is merle.  This gene is an incomplete dominant.  Two dominant copies produce a “double merle” which will most likely have serious eye defects and may be deaf.  Two recessive copies result in a dog that is not merle.  One of each is a normal merle, a state midway between the two homozygous forms. CafePress makes the perfect Tri Color Australian Shepherd Pet Apparel for your pup. The Blue Merle Tri Australian Shepherd is my favorite version from this group. For AKC, for example, 21 herding breeds require black, brown, liver, or blue noses in accordance with the coat color of the dog, and 7 herding breeds have disqualifications or faults listed with regard to nose color. © 2009 - 2019 by Australian Shepherd Club of America |. Because this gene is still circulating within the breed gene pool, these colors still come up from time to time. Today, the most popular preference and common Aussie is the blue merle. The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd has, perhaps, the most unique color combination among the four basic colors. Blue merle looks like splashes of black against a gray or powder blue background. They are Strikingly Beautiful Dogs. The gray can range anywhere between silver to a dark smoke-like gray, whereas the black spots can be small specks or large patches. As mentioned, blue merle makes up the base coat for this group of Aussie dogs. Dudley Nose. Solid red Australian Shepherds are hard to come by. Topaz is an Australian Shepherd puppy. Solid red merles are more consistent in their merle coats throughout the body. They’re as robust as any other color. There’s no surprise they’re the 17th most popular dog breed in the United States. Thus, forming a tri-colored blue merle Australian Shepherd. It’s not too often you run into a solid blue merle, but when you do they look amazing. Sometimes, the base color of the red merle may look very similar to white. As a result, breeders started a selection process and began breeding only colors and patterns that were officially recognized. I’m very confused. Within these categories they can range from a solid colored coat, to tan and white Tri colored markings. The preceding forebears of the foundation dogs likely had several sources, but were primarily UK rural landrace herding collies of various types and/or regions. Most dog breeds have a few options for eye colors. Comments for Australian Shepherd Colors and Ears. On the other side, the right puppy is a non-dilute black tri Aussie – with a true black coat. And it’s even more rare to find one with one blue and one amber colored eye. Thoughts? In other cases, there are even black Aussies with hazel-colored eyes (brown and green) with brown being the dominant color. The merle gene is added to create the distinct colors of the Aussies. Any other colors outside these four are considered mongrel dogs (mixed with other breeds). If just one of these markings is present, we would call the dog bicolor with a merle pattern. However, most black Australian Shepherds, regardless of color markings, have two brown colored eyes. Merle is the dominant gene while solid is recessive. But did you know they’re one of the most unique dog breeds as well? It’s not uncommon to see lighter shades of eye color with the dilute Aussie, however, this example shows more solid colored eyes shaded by the eyelid. Medium-sized, long-haired breeds, Aussies are really strikingly … However, marbled blue eyes are a lot more common with blue merle Australian Shepherds. They don’t look like your typical Aussie, but this color combination has been increasing in popularity over the last few years. The eyes of the Australian Shepherd come in a wide variety of colors, making this one of the most notable features of the breed. So far his coat is black and white! But red merle Aussies with brown eyes can still be found. However, it’s all in the detail. As of a result, this creates a “blue effect,” hence the name – blue merle. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. If both white and tan are present, we can call it a red tri Australian Shepherd puppy with merle patterning. Whatever the spectrum of color, it gives off a “red” color look. The dilute Aussie has a slightly lighter slate nose. And the reason? However, this can’t be said for other breeds, such as a dilute Dobermann. Merles characteristically become darker with increasing age. In this case, they look a little bit like the husky. This is another popular version of blue merle Aussies. With that said, what are the most common non-standard colors seen in Australian Shepherds? Personally, this is my favorite combination of the black. Smart Owner’s Guide to Australian Shepherds. Australian Shepherds come in four officially recognized colors. So, it’s okay to expect some degree of confusion when classifying these variations. One eye is green, the other is blue. We called this “marble eyes.”. With their high level of intelligence, herding … In other words, they’re the Rottweilers of black Aussies. He’s only three weeks old so don’t know his eye color yet. The only similarity is the consistency of the copper/tan highlights on both dogs. 5 The yellow color produced by this recessive gene can vary widely depending on the dog. Because this characteristic is a recessive gene, both parents must carry the E-locus gene to produce a yellow Aussie puppy. They can live just as well as the non-dilute dogs. Sometimes an Aussie will have just a hint of white on their chest. Blue Merle Australian Shepherd There are many variations of the blue merle kind depending on the percent of blue in the coat. The breeder says he’s a Merle. However, this was not the case many years ago. Australian Shepherd Colors and Ears. RECOMMENDED: The Guide to Blue Merle Aussies. Merle is represented by an M while solid is shown as m. Most of the time, the markings are on the face, legs and chest. The official coat colors are downright beautiful and you don’t want to take a risk with potential health issues. Also, for the Australian Shepherd eye color change exists--meaning the two eyes can be different colors, or … Corneal dystrophy and eyelid defects are also pretty common in Australian Shepherds. Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, … Black tri coats can be both trimmed or untrimmed, and officially accepted either way. However, you’ll spot the occasional Aussie with other colors in their coats. Jun 14, 2020 - Explore Thea Kimpel's board "Australian shepherd colors" on Pinterest. It’s what makes them so unique. Will the color change, beings as the parents are both red merle? Other Health Concerns. Their eyes are usually lighter than their non-dilute counterparts, while the noses may be a slate or light liver color. A red tri Aussie has a base of red, which ranges anywhere from light cinnamon to a dark liver color. With this color scheme, they look like a leaner version of the Bernese Mountain Dog. It’s relatively difficult to find a non-standard Aussie today. Especially if they get to burn off energy at the same time. These dogs have primarily a black coat with copper/tan highlights around the face, chest and legs. It may have white, which can also be called blue merles with white. Many people can make the argument that solid red merles are actually red merle/white Aussies. The second most popular variation of the blue merle Aussie is when the dog has a blue merle base coat and only white markings. Australian Shepherds in this color group come in just red merle and white. Australian Shepherds are loyal, affectionate and serious workers. In some cases, a mahogany red can also be found, though not typical. So, it’s okay to expect some degree of confusion when classifying these variations. Or use the search box in the upper right or the menu to the left to find information you want on coat and eye color in Australian Shepherds. They’re probably the least popular among black Australian Shepherds, but you still see them from time to time. This site is owned and operated by Jenco Digital LLC. The red merle Australian Shepherd color group comes with three different versions. Some would have a combination of the colors too. Australian Shepherds Excel at Agility Challenges Too. 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