The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd is undoubtedly one of the best dog breeds globally. Australians tend to have bright and lively personalities along with an energetic lifestyle. They are some of the most challenging working dog breeds globally – compared to the Border Collie.
If you have decided to keep an Australian Shepherd, there are many different colors to choose from. But in my opinion, the Blue Merle is the most attractively beautiful color in the Australian Shepherd breed. And it’s no surprise that many other Australian owners would agree.
But do these dogs look like they seem? And are there any benefits to choosing a Blue Merle over another colorful Australian Shepherd? How about loss? If questions like these concern you, here’s the complete guide to the stunning Blue Merle Aussie.
Colors of Blue Merle Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are fantastic with other dogs, especially if they are familiar.
As you already know, the Australian Shepherd has many colors. Some are more common than others, but all are gorgeous.
The four primary coat base colors of the Australian Shepherd include:
black Australian
blue merle Australian
red Australian
Red Merrell Australian
Although we will only cover Blue Merle in the article, others are just as significant. Remember that these four colors are officially recognized colors by the American Kennel Club. For more information, visit the AKC website and click on “Breed Standards.”
These dogs have many other colors, such as yellow, dark, and further diluted dyes. However, they are scarce and are not considered entirely ethical to the breed.
Blue Merle Australian Shepherd’s Eyes
Blue Merle australis have unique eye colors, usually blue with brown spots.
The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd is much more than a coat of a specific color. Their eyes can also be unique in terms of color. Yes, most blue merles indeed have solid eye colors.
However, most of these dogs will have colored spots on their colored eyes. We call them “marble eyes,” and they are amazing.
Solid eye colors for blue merles include brown or blue. And in some instances, blue merles may have eyes of two different colors (brown and blue).
If your dog the base color of the eye is blue, there are likely brown spots. On the other hand, if the blue merle base color of the eye is brown, there is a possibility of blue spots.
Although there can be many variations of eye color with blue merles, most of them will have blue eyes with brown spots.
Price of Blue Merles
Merle-colored Australians, especially blue merles, are in high demand. They are in high demand. As a result, you can also expect to pay a higher price for these dogs.
Most reputable dogs breeders did not charge extra for color choice in the past. But with the sharp increase in demand for Blue Merls, many breeders have opted to charge a premium.
Forex, in this Reddit post, a user claims that a “reputable” breeder is charging him more for the merles and the tricolor. He claims to pay $800 for the tricolor and $1000 for the Blue Merle Australian Shepherd dogs.
Other factors such as ancestry and gender. But the average price for an Australian Shepherd from a reputable breeder can be $650, which is a very significant premium.
Blue Merle: Things to Consider
Why get a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd? Whether you have a Black-Tree, Red Merle, or Blue Merle Aussie, there is no difference other than “cosmetics” or appearance. They are the same great dogs with excellent work ethics. They will love you just like any other Australian.
Blue Merle’s Health
In general, Blue merle Australian Shepherds are relatively healthy dogs. This is especially true if they are purebred Australian from a reputable breeder. However, health issues can arise that are much more common with blue merles.
The dog’s iris is not fully developed, so it does not function like the normal Australian eye.
In other words, the dog’s eyes do not dilate or shrink properly. This means that the Blue Merle will be susceptible to bright light, which can cause problems for them in the long run.
It is not exclusive to the genus Merles. Even non-merged Australians can carry this gene, although not often seen. If you want to keep a dog Blue Merle Australian Shepherd, always be sure to ask the breeder about the condition of the eyes of the parents and offspring.
Varieties of Blue Merle Australian Shepherds
The blue merle does not have a distinctive coat color. Instead, there are four different forms of blue merle australis. Some are much more common than others. However, all are beautiful and unique.
Solid Blue Merle Australian
Despite these dogs being classified as “blue merles,” solid blue merle Australian Shepherds are not as common as you might think. The primary color of their coat is grey, with dark spots or spots. Patches can appear all over your dog’s body and can be in many different sizes and shapes.
There should be no color markings on the solid blue fairing, including the famous white and copper/tan markings. These puppies are great and have an unusual appearance that makes a good ice breaker or conversation starter.
Blue Merrell Tri Aussie
The Blue Merle Australian Shepherd dog is the most unique and beautiful Australian color ever known.
The Blue Merle Tri-Colored Australian Shepherd is probably the most common four forms. In my opinion, they are the prettiest because they have deep rich contrasts in colors. They might as well be my favorite color variant for Australians.
Again, these Australians have a blue base coat with dark spots on their gray/white skin. Although the patches will vary in size and appearance, there is always a gray back.
But what makes Blue Merle Tries to stand out is the white and copper/tan highlights around their bottom, muzzle, ears, legs, and chest. You can imagine, these Pups are elegant and unique – some of the most beautiful dogs in the world.
Blue Merle and White Australian
The blue merle and white Australian Shepherd have a merle base coat with only white markings.
Blue Merle and White Australian Shepherd Blue Merrell Tri-Color are as amazing. As a result, they are considered the second most popular variation among blue merles.
These dogs have the coveted blue merle coat as their base color. However, unlike the tricolor, these Australians do not have copper and tan markings on their skins. Instead, they have only white markings.
Without the tan markings, they can look like Siberian Huskies. For this reason, blue merles with white markings are often mistaken for huskies.
Despite the lack of contrast on the coat, these pups are jaw-dropping. If you see one, you will have a hard time taking your eyes off them.
Blue Merle and Tan Australian
The Blue Merle and Tan Australian Shepherd have only one blue merle base coat with tan/copper markings.
The Blue Merle and Tan Australian Shepherd do not have much in common. These dogs only come in a brilliant blue color (dark spots on gray fur) with tan/copper markings.
It is difficult to differentiate between Blue Merle/Tan vs. Blue Merle Tri-Color. The color difference between a blue merle’s white markings and gray fur is not always transparent.
Nevertheless, these dogs are seen from time to time. But if you’re specifically looking for Blue Merle and Tan Australian Shepherd, you might have a hard time finding one.
Blue Merle Aussie: Temperament
You will have a happy and healthy dog by providing your Aussie with adequate socialization, obedience training, and exercise. For the most part, they are pretty optimistic and friendly dogs. They are full of energy and have a lively personality.
They are highly intelligent dog breeds, but they are also hard workers. So if you can assign them daily tasks like shepherding, they will thrive in their “jobs.”
I would not recommend the Blue Merle Australian Shepherd or any Aussie to potential dog owners who want to walk and play with their dogs.
They are such beautiful dogs that you will turn a few heads at the dog park with these insanely charming blue merles.
Do you have a Blue Merle Australian Shepherd? Please tell us what you think in the comment section below! Plus, please tell us which blue merle coat you like best!
