Sheltie Colours?

[labgirl]

Please help, I've got myself in a muddle. I thought I knew all the colours shelties came in, but now I realise I don't

So I know there is a sable and white,
but what's a sable merle?

I know what a blue merle is,
but am I right in thinking you can have a bi-blue? And if so how do you tell the difference?

I knew there was a tri-colour, never realised you could have bi-black as well.

Have I missed a colour? If someone could list what colour variations there are and how you tell the difference it would be very much appreciated. I feel a bit silly for asking really.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

This is a great site that shows photos of pretty much every color combination possible:

http://www.lynnlea.com/SheltieCoatColor.htm

GeeRome also wrote this great article on colors and genetics, which features photos of shelties who own people on the forum:

http://sheltie-hair.blogspot.com/2008/10/shetland-sheepdog-coat-color-genetics.html

 

[labgirl]

Thank you for that, its helped clear up my brain muddle!

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Thank you for that, its helped clear up my brain muddle!

It's not you! All of the different color combinations are dizzying! Especially when you get into breeding and genetics!

 

[BarbV]

Another great book reference is Sheltie Talk - not just about colours, but everything Sheltie.

btw, GeeRome....I had not seen your finished product with pictures. It's a fantastic reference!

 

[labgirl]

Thank you - I was going to ask about a good sheltie book.

Funnily enough I was out today and I hadn't seen ANY shelties out for walks lately (thought they no longer existed in these parts ) and I'm going down the road and there is a lady with 5 and she had nearly every colour

So I'm going "oooh, that's a blue merle, that's a tri-colour, that's a bi-black."

So I have a better idea of what I'm looking for now. Thanks again

 

[GeeRome]

I was recently asked to write a page for my boss' dog color genetic website. Here is the link to the site ...
http://homepage.usask.ca/~schmutz/dogcolors.html

Under "Specific Breed Examples" there is a "Shetland Sheepdog" option. I also wrote that. It goes a little more into detail about the actual genetics, but does include pictures for reference. I hope to collect more DNA samples and photos this weekend as there is a dog show here that is hosting a Sheltie Specialty. That site will potentially be updated again in the next week or two with new data.

 

[labgirl]

Thank you for that, I hope you get on alright with your samples and photos.