What is a mismark? A mismark is a simply a dog that has markings that are outside the desired boundaries. The sketch included with this post shows a "Max White" aussie- one that has the most possible white without being a mismark. Notice the dog still has color over the eyes, ears, and saddle area.
Solid black and red coats are the least common coats among Aussie dogs, with solid red being the absolute rarest. The red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning red fur must be present in both parents to make a red-colored pup.
They often have two different colored eyes.
The Australian Shepherd is one of a few dog breeds that commonly have two different colored eyes, called heterochromia. 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.
Look at the dog's body size and shape.
The Aussie's body is slighter longer than it is tall. They stand about 20-23 inches tall at the shoulders for males, and about 18-21 inches tall at the shoulders for females. The Aussie has a sturdy build that is solid but well balanced.
Red merle dilutes have medium-toned dark patches on a pale background with pale liver on the nose and other exposed skin. Given the extreme variation in red pigmentation in “normal” reds and red merles it is possible that a dilute might not be recognized as such.
What Is a Harlequin Merle Australian Shepherd? A Harlequin Merle Australian Shepherd carries the merle gene and the co-dominate modifying gene for harlequin. Instead of the normal Merle pattern, Harlequin Merle Australian Shepherds have white patches between each dark patch instead of grey or copper.
You can determine whether a black dog is red factored several ways: If it has a liver parent or offspring, by doing a DNA test, or by breeding it to a liver colored dog to see if you get liver puppies.
They are well known for their abundant energy, so prospective owners may be wondering: Are Mini Aussies really that hyperactive? Yes – but don't let that scare you away! A hyperactive dog is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you can meet their needs.
Australian Shepherds will bark at strangers, loud noises, and other animals as a way of getting rid of all that excess energy. More so, they can display the same type of behavior towards squirrels, thunderstorms, or even a passing car.
Interestingly, while small dogs typically have longer life expectancies, mini Australian shepherds, which the AKC recognizes as the miniature American shepherd, have a life expectancy of just 12-13 years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We might not all be able to agree on everything, but it seems when it comes to our favourite colour, the world shares the same opinion! A survey done by YouGov was carried out across Australia, the US, the UK, Germany, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia found that our favourite colour is blue.
Red Aussies usually have amber colored eyes, although they may occasionally have one or both eyes that are blue.
Start by letting him start barking, then when stops barking, say "Quiet" in a firm commanding voice and give him plenty of praise and a treat or two. Repeat until he associates the cue "Quiet" with stopping the noise and getting a treat.
Do Australian Shepherds get lonely? Aussies are very sociable dogs. They can feel lonely when they're left alone often and are prone to suffering from separation anxiety. This is when dogs feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety over being apart from their owners.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners. True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
Australian Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds, coming in at 16th on the American Kennel Club's most recent ranking. Aussie's are loved by many because they are smart, high-energy, versatile, loyal, and loving dogs.
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).
If you plan to breed a dog with the merle gene, you should not breed it with another of similar genetic makeup. If lucky, the dog will be colorful and healthy, but there is a substantial chance that the double merle gene offspring could be blind, deaf or both. In other words, don't do it.
What is a double merle? A dog that inherits two dominant versions of M is a double merle. In Australian Shepherds these dogs usually will have excessive amounts of white, be deaf in one or both ears, and have serious and generally blinding eye defects. In a few severe cases the eyes have been missing altogether.