Understanding the Shetland Sheepdog Blue Merle Breed

The Shetland Sheepdog Blue Merle is a beautiful and unique breed. They have a distinctive coat pattern with a mix of black and gray colors.

Their merle coat is caused by a specific genetic variation that affects the production of melanin, resulting in a mottled or patchy appearance.

This breed is known for its intelligence and trainability, making them a popular choice as family pets and working dogs.

The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a small herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands.

Shelties are known for their intelligence and trainability, which makes them a great breed for first-time dog owners.

They are highly energetic and require regular exercise to stay happy and healthy.

Shelties are generally small in size, weighing between 25-40 pounds and standing between 13-16 inches tall.

Their distinctive blue merle coat is a result of the interaction between two types of melanin, eumelanin and phaeomelanin.

This unique coat pattern can make them appear to have a "diluted" appearance, with a bluish-gray tint to their fur.

The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a loving and loyal companion to its family. They can be reserved and even aloof with strangers.

Shelties are known to get incredibly excited, barking incessantly and spinning around like a top when they see another dog. This behavior is a common sight.

Their strong herding instinct is also responsible for their tendency to nip at objects and, unfortunately, children. This is a habit that needs to be trained out of them.

Fortunately, Shelties are very smart, so early training can help curb these unpleasant behaviors. With consistent training, many of these issues can be addressed.

The breed in question has a distinctive appearance. Its short, dense coat is often black, but can also be blue or fawn.

One notable feature of the breed is its muscular build. This is due in part to its athletic ability, which is well-suited to its original purpose as a working dog.

The breed's head is wedge-shaped, with a distinctive stop at the eyes. Its ears are erect and triangular.

Its eyes are almond-shaped and dark in color. This gives the breed a keen and alert expression.

In terms of size, the breed typically stands between 20 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.

A healthy adult breed can weigh anywhere from 50 to 70 pounds. This is due to its muscular build and dense coat.

Shetland Sheepdogs, or Shelties, come in a variety of colors, with at least 11 different genes controlling their coat colors. The main genes control the base coat color, dilution, and pattern.

The Agouti Gene is one of the major color genes in Shelties, controlling the amount of tan or black in the coat and influencing whether those hairs are banded or solid in color. It comes in three alleles: Sable, Tricolor, and Black.

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The Merle Gene is another important gene, controlling whether dark fur and eyes are diluted, usually from black to blue. The Merle gene is an interrupter of the Agouti gene and comes in two alleles: Merle and No Merle.

Here's a breakdown of the Agouti and Merle genes:

Shelties can be a beautiful shade of blue merle, but it's essential to understand the genetics behind their coat colors to predict the possible outcomes of breeding.

The Shetland Sheepdog coat is a double coat, with a dense undercoat and a long, straight outer coat. This unique coat structure is one of the defining characteristics of the breed.

The double coat is made up of two layers, with the undercoat being short and close to the body, and the outer coat being long and straight. The outer coat often appears to be standing out from the body due to the dense undercoat.

Shelties come in three basic colors: a golden to mahogany sable, black, or blue merle. The blue merle color is a distinctive gray-blue color with some black markings.

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The Shetland Sheepdog's coat is truly one of a kind, and it's easy to see why it's so beloved by dog owners.

The Sheltie's body is long, although it's short in stature, giving it a unique and endearing appearance.

Its double coat is made up of a short, close undercoat and a long, straight outer coat.

The undercoat is dense, which makes the outer coat look like it's standing out from the body.

The Sheltie's head, ears, and feet are all adorned with long, straight hair.

Its mane is frilly and abundant, adding to its already impressive coat.

The legs and tail of the Sheltie are also long and furry, making it a joy to behold.

There are three basic colors in the Sheltie breed: a golden to mahogany sable, black, or blue merle (blue-gray with some black).

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Shelties have a range of colors, but it all starts with two main genes: Agouti and Merle. The genotypes of the six underlying Sheltie colors are determined by these genes.

The Agouti gene comes in two forms: aa and aa / aa, which create different coat patterns. The Merle gene also has two forms: mm and Mm, which determine the intensity of the coat color.

Here's a breakdown of the genotypes of the six underlying Sheltie colors:

Each puppy inherits a specific combination of alleles, which combine to create variation in Sheltie colors and patterns.

White Shelties can have a significant proportion of white on their chest, legs, and collar.

These dogs often have a white stifle that starts on the hind leg and runs into the belly area.

In some cases, the white coloration can be more pronounced than in other Shelties, creating a striking appearance.

Blue Merle and white Shelties, on the other hand, have a marbled effect with patches of black on a gray background, combined with tan and/or white.

This combination of colors can be quite beautiful, but it's essential to remember that the Merle gene can also have health implications.

White-factored Shelties, with their more significant proportion of white, can be just as stunning, and their coat colors are often normal, like blue Merle.

White & Tan Shelties have both white and tan on their coats, in addition to black patches on a gray background. The degree of tan coloring can vary from dog to dog, but it's commonly seen around the face and on the ears and legs.

Shelties with white & tan coats can have a range of tan coloring, from barely noticeable to prominent. This variation in tan color is a normal part of the breed's diversity.

In Shelties with white & tan coats, the tan color often complements the black patches and gray background, creating a unique and attractive appearance.

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