Unfortunately, the gene that causes these On average, expect to pay between $600 and $4500 for a blue merle Border collie puppy. A homozygous merle gene is not a good gene because it is susceptible to blindness, deafness, and other health issues. Learn more. In a normal case, a pure black gene will dominate red. Find the right content for your market. Phone, Search for stock images, vectors and videos. This image can't be licensed for consumer goods or personal use (e.g. There are a lot of combinations in A Border collie is a Border collie. Given that border collies are smart and energetic, your blue merle Border collie needs plenty of exercises and consistent training to keep him occupied. What makes this coat so mesmerizing is the soft colours. Black dogs appear grey or blue. Some believe that the brindle Border Collie is a myth. Related Post: 15 Best Nanny Dog Breeds (Perfect Companions for Kids). Initially, I created this blog to share recipes, tips, and any relevant information on healthy homemade dog treats. However, beware of breeders who want to take advantage of you simply because blue merle Border collie puppies are rare. Few forget their first encounter with a merle collie. Approximately 2.8% of border collies experience unilateral (one ear) or bilateral (both ears) deafness. This is what a double-merle collie might look like. Alamy and its logo are trademarks of Alamy Ltd. and are registered in certain countries. Jana worked in animal welfare with abused and unwanted pets. Yes. Tricolour is not unique to Border Collies and can be found in other breeds, including the Bull Terrier, Basset Hound and Corgi, to name but a few. All rights reserved. There's nothing wrong with the animal's look, per se, but double-merles risk serious health problems, including failing eyesight and complete deafness. Accordingly, many breeders will charge you more compared to a regular border collie, especially because of their rare, beautiful markings. For example, if the upper left leg has a tan patch, and only to a certain length and shape, it will be replicated on the right leg as well. And understandably so, they are exceptionally gorgeous. How to Register a Dog for the First Time (in the US), Craving for attention and may suffer from a bit of separation anxiety when nobody is around him. As far as things go, brindle collies proudly carry their stripes on dark saddles and sometimes on tan areas. border collies are also susceptible to: Since most blue merle Border Collies have white faces, they are prone to dirt stains on their faces, paws, and underbelly. If you are thinking of welcoming a Border collie into your home, you probably want to go for the cutest breed: blue merle Border Collies. Merles dont just occurone of the parents must carry the merle genes. Is Black Mouth Cur Beagle Mix Right For You? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Incredibly, over 20 coats exist (give or take the few odd ducks). ONLY one parent needs to be merle gene carrier NOT both parents. Please contact your vet in all matters regarding your Fidos health. Being an intelligent dog, training a blue merle Border collie is easy. Happily, they do exist. two main types of coats: People tend to confuse blue merle Border So, dont be surprised if your pets and children end up being herded from time to time. Pro Tip: While blue merle Border collies are easy to train, always remember that they can be naughty and outsmart you if you are not alert. Famed for their cute looks, Border Collies outstanding drive to work and strong desire to keep their subjects together at all times often come as a surprise for people who may know them only for their startling herding roles in movies. However, just because a parent is a merle doesnt mean that it will automatically give birth to a merle puppy. To top it off, these dogs often gaze at admirers with eyes so blue that they'll make a Husky jealous. Not only is this coat stunning, but it's also rare. I have been an animal lover all my life, with dogs holding a special place in my heart. First of all, you should note that the word Merle is Related: 15 Best Dog Deshedding Tools & Products Every Dog Owner Should Have. Border Collies are also heavy shredders, If he exercises a lot, 900 to 1000 calories per day is recommended. All markings, as well as the dog's overall body colour, are muted. Each parent carry a single gene responsible for this coat colour, but a double-merle inherits a pair. so be ready to brush him 2-3 times a week to prevent matting. It is also important to note that a merle parent is likely to produce merle puppies but a non-merle border collie cannot produce merle puppies. Well, watch this blue merle Border collie The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The body is all white, while the colour areas of the head display the merle pattern. So, if you decide to own one, fully commit to some of the above-highlighted requirements and enjoy your life with your new canine friend. The untrained eye can mistake heavy ticking for merle-coloured dogs. My mission now is to find the most helpful content on anything related to dogs and share it with fellow hardworking hound lovers. However, when both parents are carriers of the gene, there is high a 25% chance that one of the pups will inherit a homozygous (or double) merle gene. A red collie has its own pale version. A good example is an image most people are familiar withthe classic black and white collie. How Can I Legally Take My Dog Everywhere? Hence, the name and propensity for genetic problems. Check out this Louisiana state universitys list for specific breeds. In particular, ensure that he has a high amount of calories to support his high energy levels. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Instead, the animal's body is white and covered in lines and splotches. To avoid such risks, therefore, always strive to breed a merle with a non-merle gene carrier. Why? 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. help around the house: Just ensure that you begin any kind of training early enough. The flecks, known as 'ticking', only appear on white markings (muzzle, chest, or legs). Double-merle puppies are born exclusively from two merle parents. Merle patterns only appear on the coloured parts of the body (head, saddle area). Dont leave your blue merle Border collie to get bored because they can be depressed or become troublesome. Copyright 2022 Health Homemade Dog Treats. So, they are always in demand. Dont forget to clean your blue merle Border Collies ears regularly as well to prevent potential ear infections from debris build-up. Here are quick tips to help you differentiate In the event that two merle gene carriers mate, they should be neutered and spayed to prevent passing on of the gene. Many owners walking their spotty beauties receive attention from strangers. However, a blue merle Border collie is a friendly dog that gets along with other pets and children. An hour-long walk once a day and a bit of backyard playtime should suffice. Note the identical way in which the tan markings appear on the left and right side. However, in case one parent is a merle gene carrier, the gene dilutes the dominant black color creating patterned splotches and patches. (one eye is blue and the other brown), and microphthalmia (small eyes). As an Amazon Associate, we may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you. are both herding dogs and their physical differences are few and far between. 15 Best Nanny Dog Breeds (Perfect Companions for Kids), Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER), 15 Best Dog Deshedding Tools & Products Every Dog Owner Should Have, Bearded Collie/Poodle Mix: Facts First-Time Owners Should Know, 12 Popular Wolf Dog Hybrid Breeds That Might Make Interesting Companions. So, a blue merle Border collie should be: Like other Border collies, blue merle Border collies have innate herding instincts, making them perfect dogs for people who are looking to keep livestock under control or who love working in farm settings. Cookies - Affiliate Disclosure - Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy. In other words, each mark has an identical counterpart on the other half of the dog's body. Feed your blue merle Border collie with the right amount of food, especially based on his age, size, and activity level. You should also ensure that you check for the medical records of the dog and his parents to ensure that they dont have some of the highlighted health issues. AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Healthy Homemade Dog Treats 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. personal prints). convinced? However, here's an important rule to remember. Not HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. The average lifespan of a blue merle Border collie is 12 years. Typically, it can range between 10 and 14 years but some dogs can go up to 17 years. Collies (or border collies in general) with Australian Shepherds because they Although you can tell if your dog is bilaterally deaf, its not easy to tell if your pooch is unilaterally deaf unless you take him for Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test. Several registered dogs with solid pedigrees that can attest to the fact that this coat colour is real. Besides congenital deafness, Like human beings, personality differs on an individual level and not along color lines. Some dogs even find children downright scary! In fact, they can be trained to do a lot of household chores, including taking out the garbage, sorting laundry, and even loading the dishwasher. the Border collie breed. They follow a mirror-image pattern. As you can guess, these unique color combinations come about due to genetics. Learn more about how you can collaborate with us. And if hes helping you to herd, give him around 1400 calories a day. such as cataracts, blindness, corectopia (off-center pupils), heterochromia Besides the merle and non-merle carriers, there is a third variant of the blue merle Border collie breed known as the cryptic or phantom merle that is black or liver with only a few spots, splotches, and streaks. Although Border Collie colouring is a bit more complex, for the sake of this article, they are divided into three main groups: Dogs in this category are not pure white animals. Everything about the Blue Merle Border Collie (Breeding Secrets Included). Arguably the best working dogs globally, Border Collies are adorable, intelligent, and loyal dogs that value work above everything else. Pre-pay for multiple images and download on demand. But because of my unrelenting passion to make a difference in the world of dogs, I have expanded the blogs scope to include the best information and recommendations about everything dog lovers need to know about their canine friends health and wellbeing. She loves sharing her hands-on experience regarding domestic and wild critters. Merle is a pedestrian stopper. Technically, tricolour is not a colour. Pros and Cons of Adopting Vs. Buying a Pet. Some of the most common merles include: As you can see, blue merle Border collies are beautiful breeds inside out. Merle may be beautiful, but one kind is discouraged. To keep your blue merle Border collie in top shape, therefore, ensure that you groom him on a regular basis to keep his coat, ears, nails, and skin healthy all the time. Sable M. is a canine chef, professional pet blogger, and proud owner of two male dogs. Copyright 02/08/2022 Alamy Ltd. All rights reserved. Their boundless energy, work ethic, and ability to learn fast are some of the top traits why many farmers believe they are invaluable breeds. But what is it about blue merle Border Collies that make them so endearing to most people? The so-called 'double-merle' has a coat almost entirely white with some splotching. As aforementioned, the eye color of this amazing breed can be brown, blue, or one can be brown & one blue and vice versa. Blue merle Border Collies are considered to be rare, energetic, and brilliant dogs. Get an instant quote for one of our industry-leading volume pricing deals. This can be devastating if the dog is a working collie. If you are in a town setting, just know that a blue merle Border collie has herding instincts. Although there is some genetic difference in the blue merle Border collie lineage, you dont have to break the bank to get this particular color or coat pattern. derived from the fact that the main coat color is diluted, leaving spots, It's a pattern. unique eye coloring is often associated with a wide range of eye abnormalities Dont be shocked to learn that the merle gene is susceptible to congenital deafness. Just ensure that you socialize him early enough so that he can adapt accordingly. Captions are provided by our contributors. This cozy chap is a good example of a tricolour collie. between the two breeds: There is no evidence that the color of a dogs coat has any effect on his personality and temperament. The problem has been reported in over 100 dog breeds and the list is growing. Certain dog breeds find children confusing and intimidating. Distinctive tan marks appear above the eyes, on cheeks, shoulders and legs. As hinted above, for you to get a blue merle Border collie puppy, one parent should be a carrier of the merle gene. Blue merle Border Collies come in They have a solid colour and white markings on the face and legs. 297,059,447 stock photos, 360 panoramic images, vectors and videos, Share Alamy images with your team and customers. Regular nail trimming or grinding is also recommended to prevent the nails from splitting. But this doesnt mean that you have to employ a dog walker to keep up with the energy requirements of this dog. While everything I share is in line with the latest evidence-based veterinarian health guidelines, nothing should be construed as veterinary advice. Additionally, like other breeds, dont expect blue merle Border collie puppies to grasp commands fast. Chocolate collies never fail to attract attention with their deep and glossy colour. Well, lets find out. When only one parent is a merle gene carrier, there is a 50% chance of getting a blue merle given the randomness of the genetic heritage. splotches, and streaks that give off a bluish appearance. Well, to help you understand the blue merle border collies world better, well explore their background, behaviors, physical characteristics, personality, health, and many other aspects of this amazing dog breed. If you have space for this amazing breed to run around, time to bond with your dog, and you love being active, blue merle Border collie may be the best dog to own. A merle dog doesn't have a solid saddle. Use in a presentation/talk (eg,Powerpoint and Keynote) or in a newsletter.