Coat & Color
The Australian Shepherd is a double coated breed and will need to maintain scheduled grooming. The overcoat varies from straight to wavy to curly, and is of medium length and texture. It's also weather resistant. The undercoat is soft, dense and varies in quantity with variations in climate. Most Aussies will blow their coat once a year in the early summer months, though some may blow coat twice a year. It is found that Australian Shepherds kept inside shed all year round. Hair is short on the head, front of forelegs and below the hocks. Back of forelegs and britches are moderately feathered. Males usually have thicker mane and frill than in females.
The coat comes in two recognized and acceptable colors - Black and Red, with one recognized and accepted coat pattern - Merle. Together they make up four colors - Black, Blue Merle, Red and Red Merle. Each of these may have white markings on the neck, chest, legs, muzzle, underpants and blaze. Tan/Copper points are acceptable above the eyes, the muzzle and cheeks, as well as the front legs, hind legs and feet. All in various combinations.
The wide variation of color combinations comes from the interaction between the color allele, which is either black (B) dominant or red (b) recessive, and the dominant merle allele (M), but the basic body colors of Australian Shepherd's are black and red. Both black and red are solid colors, which means they carry two solid genes. Merles on the other had carry a merle gene and a solid gene. One gene comes from each parent. With color, the dominant gene is the trait you see. The recessive gene is the trait you do not see unless it is paired with another same recessive gene. Black is dominate over red and the merling gene is dominate over the solid gene. A dog with two BLACK genes is BLACK/BLACK and appears BLACK. A dog with one BLACK gene and one RED gene is BLACK/RED and appears BLACK. A dog with two RED genes is RED/RED and appears RED.
BLACK/BLACK has only black genes to give and thus all his pups will be black although they may carry a red gene if the other parent contributed a red gene. BLACK/RED will produce black or red pups. When it passes on its black gene, black pups will result. When it passes on its red gene if paired with a red gene from the other parent, the pups will be red. These blacks are often referred to as "red carriers" or "red factored". RED/RED is a red. Two reds will produce 100% reds only, there is no black gene to dominate. If a red is bred to a BLACK/BLACK all the pups will be black but all will carry a red gene. If bred to a BLACK/RED both black and red pups may result, and all will carry the red gene. * In this text, BLACK is referring to both black and blue merle, as RED is referring to both red and red merle.
If you are interested in knowing more about Aussie colors, check out the following links:
Black
Black is one of the basic coat colors of Aussies. They usually have white markings on the face, chest, legs, and under parts. Copper points are commonly seen on the face and legs. Black Aussies usually have brown colored eyes, but they may have one or both eyes that are blue. Their pigment is black, meaning that their nose, lips, and eye rims are black. Black is dominant over red.
Black colored Aussies may be:
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solid black (self black)
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black with white markings (black bi)
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black with tan/copper points (black and tan)
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black with white markings and tan/copper points (black tri)
Blue Merle
The blue merle is genetically a black dog carrying the merling gene (M-Locus), which breaks up the black color into a pattern of black patches on a grey background, often creating a "blue" effect. The shades of gray can range from light silver to dark smoke, and the black spots can be small specks to very large patches, creating a wide variety of interesting combinations. Merles characteristically may become darker with increasing age. Blue merle Aussies may also have white markings on the face, chest, legs, and under parts. Copper points are also commonly seen on the face and legs. Blue Merle Aussies may have solid colored eyes, but usually have marbled or flecked colored eyes. Sometimes they even have two different colored eyes. Blue eyes are most common in merles, then they are solid colored Aussies. Their pigment is black, meaning that their nose, lips, and eye rims are black. Black is dominant over red. Merles are allowed small pink spots on their nose, but must not make up more then 25% of the nose.
Blue colored Aussies may be:
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solid blue merle (self blue merle)
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blue merle with white markings (blue merle bi)
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blue merle with tan/copper points
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blue merle with white markings and tan/copper points
Red
Red is one of the basic coat colors for Aussies. Their red can range in color from light cinnamon to dark liver. They may have white markings on the face, chest, legs, and under parts. Copper points are also commonly seen on the face and legs. Red Aussies usually have amber colored eyes, although they may occasionally have different colored eyes. Their pigment is liver/brown, meaning their nose, lips and eye rims are liver/brown. Reds should never have black hairs and they are recessive to black.
Red colored Aussies may be:
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solid red (self red)
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red with white markings (red bi)
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red with tan/copper points (red and tan)
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red with white markings and tan/copper points (red tri)
Red Merle
The red merle is genetically a red dog carrying a merling gene (M-Locus). Red merle is a combination of red patches or spots, ranging from light cinnamon to dark liver color, on a background that can range from buff to silver. Just as the background color can vary, so can the color and size of the red areas. Spots can be small speckles to patches that cover large areas of the dog. Merles characteristically may become darker with increasing age. Red merles may also have white markings on the face, chest, legs, and under parts. Copper points are also commonly seen on the face and legs. Red merle Aussies may have solid colored eyes, marbled colored eyes, or may have two different colored eyes. Blue eyes are most common in the merles then in the solids colored Aussies. Their pigment is liver/brown, meaning their nose, lips and eye rims are liver/brown. Red merles should never have black hairs and they are recessive to black. Red is recessive to black, but merle is dominate over solid. Merles are allowed pink spots on their nose, but must not make up more than 25% of the nose.
Red merle colored Aussie may be:
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solid red merle (self red merle)
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red merle with white markings (red merle bi)
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red merle with tan/copper points
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red merle with white and tan/copper points