australian shepherd colors
and patterns can vary greatly, but the United States Australian Shepherd Association recognizes these four major categories : black, red, red merle, and blue merle (merle being the genetic pattern that occurs in a dog’s coat, often appearing as speckled patches of color).
What is the rarest Australian Shepherd color?
Red merles are far less common than blue merles because the red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning both parents have to have it for their offspring to inherit the coat. Red is the rarest color in Aussies generally, although the red merle coat is one of the more common red-colored coats in the breed.
What are the
different sizes
of Australian Shepherds?
A: There are three different sizes of Australian Shepherds: standard, mini, and toy Standard Australian Shepherds mature between 18 to 23
inches tall
at the shoulder. Males typically weigh between 50 and 65 pounds; females generally weigh between 40 to 55 pounds.
What 2 breeds make an Australian Shepherd?
The breed as it is known today developed in California in the 19th century, as a sheep herding dog for Californian shepherds. The Australian Shepherd is believed to have developed from a variety of herding dogs imported to California with sheep imports, including collies from Australia and New Zealand.
Are all Australian Shepherds merle?
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.).
What is a Harlequin Australian Shepherd?
Harlequin is a dominant modifier of the merle pattern When present, it allows the merle patches to vary in color from lacy pale blue or red to mid ranges of gray (or red in a harlequin red merle).
Can you breed a
red tri
and a blue merle?
Breeding merle to merle is unacceptable as each puppy has a chance of being born blind & deaf as a result Breeding tri to tri produces all tri’s therefore, the preferred color crosses are blue merle to black tri, blue merle to red tri, red merle to black tri, & red merle to red tri.
What is the most popular Aussie color?
The black tri Australian Shepherd is one of the most popular coat colors of the whole Australian Shepherd breed. Since black is the dominant color, their eyes are still light to
dark brown
.
What is the difference between Harlequin and merle?
Harlequin dogs have white between the darker patches of merle Merle dogs often look “marbled.” They have grey coloration alongside black spots. Harlequin dogs also have the merle gene. However, instead of the larger grey patches, their harlequin gene makes their base coat entirely white.
How much is a tri color Australian Shepherd?
The cost of this beautiful variation of Aussies can go over $1,800 depending on factors like the rareness of the tri-color variation and the breeder’s reputation. You can also visit local rescue centers in your area to check whether there are tri-color Aussies who need a new home.
Is a toy Aussie bigger than a Mini Aussie?
Toy Australian shepherds are even smaller than the miniatures Mature toy Australian shepherds usually reach heights of between 10 and 14 inches. The breed size categorization doesn’t just end there, either. Australian shepherds smaller than the toys are sometimes referred to as “teacups.”.
Do I have a mini or standard Aussie?
Size is the most obvious difference between the Aussie and the miniature Aussie. The breed standard for Australian shepherds indicates that males of the breed should be 20 to 23 inches, and females are slightly smaller, measuring 18 to 21 inches tall.
What is the best Australian Shepherd mix?
- Sheprador (Australian Shepherd x Labrador Retriever) .
- Aussie-Poo (Australian Shepherd x Poodle) .
- Australian Retriever (Australian Shepherd x Golden Retriever) .
- Shel-Aussie (Australian Shepherd x Shetland Sheepdog) .
- Bossie (Australian Shepherd x Boston Terrier)
Do Aussies bark a lot?
Keep in mind the average Australian Shepherd tends to bark a lot , making it a little more challenging to get him to stop barking unless you give him the ‘speak’ command or there is a situation in which he needs to bark to alert you.
Are Mini Aussies purebred?
The name mini Australian Shepherd is sometimes used to refer to a purebred Miniature American Shepherd But it can also mean an Aussie-cross or purebred Aussie which has been selectively bred to be smaller than the standard size.
What is a ghost merle?
Dogs with cryptic merle (also called phantom or ghost merle) typically display little to no merle pattern and some may be misclassified as non-merles The cryptic merle alleles occur in the lower end of the range (typically from 200-255, however, this range and designation varies by study).
Do all merles have blue eyes?
No, the merle gene does not always cause blue eyes The merle gene causes the lightening of pigment in patches throughout the body. If these patches do not coincide with the eyes, the dog will have brown eyes instead. They may also have multicolored eyes.
How do you know if your dog is a merle?
The merle gene modifies the dark pigment in the eyes, occasionally changing dark eyes to blue, or part of the eye to be colored blue. Since merle causes random modifications, however, both dark-eyed, blue-eyed, and odd-colored eyes are possible. Pigmentation on paw pads and nose may be mottled by pink.
What is the difference between merle and Tri?
Red merle makes up this base coat for this color combination. They have red spots on top of an buff (a light orange-brown) to silver base color. The tri colored version has white markings found on the face, chest, legs and belly. They also have copper highlights usually seen on the face and legs only.
What is the biggest Australian Shepherd?
The Australian Shepherd can grow between 20 and 23 inches tall at full maturity if they’re a male. Females are 18 and 21 inches tall. These are relatively heavy dogs as well, with males weighing 51 to 64 pounds and females 31 to 44 pounds.
Are red merle Aussies rare?
Red is a recessive gene, so that means it is a rarer coat color than the other Aussie colors Aussies can inherit one of two coat patterns. The first is merle.
Is a blue merle Australian Shepherd rare?
Blue Merle Australian shepherds aren’t considered rare and are more common than Red Merle Aussies. The color patterns of a blue merle coat can vary. They may have a piebald or solid coat with black patches. They often have white markings, especially on the legs and face.
What is a dilute Aussie?
THE DILUTION GENE. Commonly called the Maltese dilution, or MLPH, this recessive gene is one of the most common mismarks in Aussies It acts on black and liver hair; tan points are unaffected. A black dog becomes a slate blue like a blue Dobe. A red dog becomes a beige like a Weimaraner.
How big does a red tri Mini Aussie get?
About the Breed Females stand between 13 and 17 inches at the shoulder; males range from 14 to 18 inches Despite their size, Minis are every inch a true herding dog: energetic, versatile, rugged, and extremely bright.
How big will a Mini Aussie get?
Height: Ideally, males should be 14 to 18 inches tall at the withers; females, 14 to 17 inches. Weight: Approximately 20 to 40 pounds.
What is the smartest dog?
- Border collie. According to The Intelligence of Dogs, which ranks 131 dog breeds in terms of their relative intelligence, the border collie is the smartest dog breed known to man
- Poodle
- German shepherd
- Golden retriever
- Doberman pinscher
- Shetland sheepdog
- Labrador retriever
- Papillon.
Do all Australian Shepherds have blue eyes?
They often have two different colored eyes. Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, or green eyes Some Aussies even display more than one color within the same eye.
Are Aussies born with tails?
Medical Reasons. Around 80% of Australian Shepherds are born with long tails , but their “long tails” are not as long or healthy as those of other breeds. Unlike other breeds with long tapered tails, the Australian Shepherd’s tail does not taper as much, and the tip is more brittle and vulnerable to injuries.
What is a ghost merle Australian Shepherd?
A ghost merle, also called cryptic merle, is an Australian shepherd who doesn’t show any visible signs of being merle, but carries the merle gene.
How much does a blue merle Aussie cost?
The average pricing of a standard-colored Australian Shepherd from a trustworthy breeder is between $750 to $1,000. If it’s a blue merle Aussie puppy, the estimated cost is around $1,500 to $2,500 What is this?.
What is a cryptic merle Aussie?
Cryptic merles are either liver or black, usually with one or a few small areas of merle However, since you can’t see what color coat would have been anywhere there are white markings, there will be some cryptics which appear to be non-merle.
Is merle the same as brindle?
Like merle, brindle is also a coat color pattern , it is often described as being “tiger-striped.” The stripes are irregular and dark against a lighter base color that is often fawn, brown or gray. The brindle coat pattern is found in several dog breeds including great danes, bulldogs and boxers.
What is a tweed merle Aussie?
Tweed is a merle modifier that turns the diluted parts of the coat (which should be grey in a normal merle, or light brown in a liver) into a variety of brown, grey and tan shades. Tweed is known to occur mostly in Australian Shepherds and Catahoula Leopard Dogs (where it’s known as “patchwork”).
How do you tell if a dog is a double merle?
Dogs with the double merle gene may be/have: All white in color, or have patches of merle/mottled coloring on the top half of their body – their head, back, and base of the tail. Light-colored paw pads. Have light blue, green or brown eyes, perhaps even eyes that are different colors.
Why can’t 2 merles breed?
The unethical practice of breeding double merles is generally condemned worldwide, not only because so many are considered defective and put down at birth by their breeders, but because of the health problems that plague them, namely, partial or complete deafness and blindness.
Can you breed 2 merles together?
If two merle dogs are bred together, each puppy in the litter has a 25% chance of being born a double merle A double merle inherits the merle gene twice. One copy of the merle gene causes a marbling effect on the coat and creates lighter spots throughout the solid color coat.
Are male or female Australian Shepherds better?
As you can tell, there are no major personality differences between female Australian Shepherds and their male counterparts Both genders have wonderful personalities that make them fit companions and family members. Choosing a male vs female Australian Shepherd is a matter of personal preference.
What are the most expensive Australian Shepherds?
The average price of the Australian Shepherd ranges from $650 to $850. However, an Aussie can cost anywhere between $300 to $1,800+ USD depending on breeder reputation, coat colors, pedigree and location. Australian Shepherds are not the cheapest dog breed available, but they’re not terribly expensive either.
What should I look for when buying an Australian Shepherd puppy?
In a non-confrontational manner, tell breeders you are interested in the breed but want to learn more before you buy. Ask about things like temperament, grooming, activities, necessary training, as well as health When you get to health, ask what they know about common breed health issues.
What is a lethal white Australian shepherd?
The original breeders of Australian Shepherds were ranch people with horses and dogs. The lethal white term refers to certain Paint colts that are born with a defective intestine and are unable to digest their food These white foals with blue eyes generally die of colic within hours or a few days of birth.
What is a piebald dog?
A piebald or pied animal is one that has a pattern of unpigmented spots (white) on a pigmented background of hair, feathers or scales Thus a piebald black and white dog is a black dog with white spots. The animal’s skin under the white background is not pigmented.
What color is Harlequin?
Harlequin (color), a color located between green and yellow ChromaFlair, a pigment used in paint systems, primarily for automobiles.
What is the rarest Australian Shepherd color?
Red merles are far less common than blue merles because the red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning both parents have to have it for their offspring to inherit the coat. Red is the rarest color in Aussies generally, although the red merle coat is one of the more common red-colored coats in the breed.
Why are merle dogs more expensive?
In a nutshell, merle dogs are expensive because puppy buyers are willing to pay a lot of money for them The pattern is very sought-after, and the more demand there is, the higher breeders can set their prices. In addition, merle breedings can be quite rare in some breeds.
What is a red tri?
The red tricolor consists of three solid colors: red (or “liver”), white and copper/golden Picture of Red Tri Australian Shepherd. Merle coats are described as “mottled”: they have some undefined spots with a speckly and marbled or variegated background.