There are also predominantly white Aussies which are not homozygous merles at all. Their white arises from genes that give many breeds of dog white markings. These genes can cause everything from no white, like a Dachshund, to almost all white, like some Fox Terriers.
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.)
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).
While both sable and yellow are attractive colors, they are disallowed in the Aussie breed standards and with good reason. Both can mask the presence of merle.
Sometimes Australian Shepherds which are not merle will have blue eyes. Either or both eyes may be blue. Sometimes they are half blue/half pigmented. They are rarely flecked or marbled.
Native Americans considered them sacred.
Legend has it that Native Americans called Australian Shepherds “ghost eye” and thought they were sacred. These dogs do not always have blue eyes, but pale blue, “ghostly” eyes are common among the breed.
Black is one of the four main colors in the Australian shepherd. Here are some examples of the variability in appearance of Aussies whose body color is black. Some have generous trim and some have no copper or white trim at all. Both trimmed and untrimmed Aussies are fully acceptable in the Aussie standard.
White Aussies are rare today because we have been slowly eliminating the “more white” forms of the white marking genes from our gene pool by not breeding Aussies with more than allowable white (though the preference for white trim on the show dogs does have some pushing the envelope.)
#1 Blue Merle
Blue merle dogs often have blue eyes or different colored eyes, pink noses, and pink paw pads. These are the most common coats among Australian Shepherds and merle Aussies are often seen in dog shows because of their mesmerizing beauty.
Most double merles with white on or around the ears are deaf, usually in both ears. Occasionally, Aussies that are not double merles who have these markings will be deaf in one or both ears. The deafness is caused by lack of pigment in the inner ear.
At the 2021 census, the number of ancestry responses within each standardised group as a proportion of the total population was as follows: 57.2% European (including 46% North-West European and 11.2% Southern and Eastern European), 33.8% (including 29.9% Australian) Oceanian, 17.4% Asian (including 6.5% Southern and ...
They have feathering on the back of the legs and a generous mane around the neck. Coat colors vary and might be blue or red merle or red or black tricolor, all with white and/or tan markings. Most Aussies have a naturally short tail, but sometimes tails are docked if longer than four inches.
In the 1960s, small-size Australian Shepherds found working the U.S. rodeo circuit were selectively bred to further reduce their size. The new breed was originally called the Miniature Australian Shepherd. “They became especially popular with equestrians traveling to horse shows,…
They are often referred to as “double merles.” If these puppies only had lots of white, there wouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, most of them are also blind, deaf, or both. This is the reason that the breed standards disqualify white dogs. Life for a dog which is blind or deaf can be difficult.
White Australian may refer to: European Australians, Australians with European ancestry. Anglo-Celtic Australians, an Australian with ancestry from the British Isles.
An Australian Shepherd puppy price can range anywhere from $700-$3,000. There are many factors that can affect the price, ranging from the breeder's reputation to even the dog's coat color.
What eye colors are acceptable for Aussies? Both the ASCA and AKC standards are virtually identical, stating that eyes shall be brown, blue, amber or any covers pretty much variation or combination of these with marbling and flecks acceptable which anything you are likely to see in a dog.
In the 1800s, the Basques began migrating to Australia to keep sheep. Their Pyrenean Shepherds crossbred with other working dogs, including Collies and Border Collies, creating the modern version of the Australian Shepherd.
Very genuine, very loyal; expressing Australian values; Australian. This derives from a British English sense of true blue, recorded from the 17th century with the meaning 'faithful, staunch, unwavering in one's commitments or principles; extremely loyal'.
Australian Shepherds, like some other breeds, do change the color of their fur. Whatever the color changes occur, some will be obvious, with others being complete and total surprises. These changes to the color of their fur coat can be surprising to pet parents who are not aware that their dogs' fur does this.
Dogs do not have night vision in the sense that they can see when it's very dark or there's no light. A dog's eye is constructed of a cornea, pupil, lens, and retina which contains photoreceptors made up of rods that absorb light and cones to absorb color and brightness.
Heterochromia is caused by a lack of the pigment melanin in all or part of one eye. In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one of their eyes to appear blue or bluish-white. Heterochromia in dogs is often hereditary, meaning it is passed through their genetic makeup.
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.
The natural bobbed tail is a recessive gene within the Australian Shepherd dog breed genetic code. This genetic mutation curbs the tail, naturally creating a shortened tail that is only about one or two vertebrae in length.