What types of Australian Shepherds are there?

Known as "Aussies" to their pals, Australian Shepherds have a mellow demeanor but are hard-working and energetic dogs. Cowboys and rodeos have made them renowned across the country, but they're truly a breed native to the United States.

After a lengthy voyage around the globe, Australians finally made it to the American West. Basque explorers from northern Spain brought the Pyrenean Shepherds, who are descended from them, to Australia. Australia's indigenous Basques mated with British Collies to produce today's beloved Aussie dog. As a result, the descendants of Basques relocated to California, in which the dogs dazzled the cowboys with the intellect, friendliness and loyalty to their masters.

Today, an Australian Shepherd can be seen doing just about any profession that requires a canine coworker. See-eye dogs, therapy dogs, K-9 cops, or shepherds are just few of the roles these dogs play. Rodeos remain a favorite venue for them to do tricks.

Black, blue merle, red, & red merle are the four recognized coat colors of purebred Aussies by the American Kennel Club. A minimum of 14 distinct colors are recognized by the AKC within each of these subgroups. An Aussie that isn't on this list will still be a lovely and loving working dog, but they won't be a purebred Australian Cattle Dog.

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Colors associated with an Australian Shepherd

It is possible to mix and match the four standard colors of the Australian Shepherd to create an array of unique looks.

Australian Shepherd in all-black coloration

Solid color is governed by an Australian Shepherd recessive gene, so it is quite rare to see a dog born with just one color. You can find completely black Australians without any marks on ranches or suburban streets equally.

It's not necessary for an Aussie's coat to be fully free of white or tan blotches to be considered a solid color.

Most black Australians have brown eyes, however the hues range from very light to quite dark. Take a picture if you encounter a black Australian dog with gem hazel eyes – they're quite rare.

Black with a contrasting color AKC Canine Good Citizen

The Aussie breed is known as "black bicolor," or simply "black bi," since its only two coat hues are black and white. It's common to see a light and dark Australian Shepherd with a white face and paws and a full black coat the rest of the way down to its tail. Also, it may have white "points" over its eyes: specks of color.

Instead of white, some black Aussie Shepherds have tan markings on their coats. Black and tan Aussies have tan patches on their eyes, cheeks, throat and chest. This doesn't make them "black bi," because the label is reserved for white-secondary Aussie people, and they've got two colors.

An Australian Shepherd that is completely red.

When the strong black gene is absent, the recessive red gene is activated. It's a little more difficult to breed red Australian Shepherds, but that only enhances their value.

The red of an Aussie coat can take on a variety of hues. Depending on the light, cinnamon is practically gold in color, while liver is dark gray as well as black. Some of these colors are auburn, chestnut and ruby for red Australian Shepherds.

Only a very small percentage of Australian cattle are naturally red, and because of this, deep red Aussies are much more scarce. If you happen to run into one, it's a good time to celebrate!

Australian Shepherds with Red Bicolor markings

A red - and - white Australian Shepherd is known as a "red bi," just like the term "black bi" denotes. A red bi Aussie's face, chest, and legs are covered in white markings, as well as on the rear ends of the necks in some cases. They'll be totally red from the forelegs to the tail.

There are no red and white Aussies. If a red Aussie has no white in it, tan markings are not possible.

Australian Shepherd with Merle Blue Hairs

A dog with a Merle coat is significantly more common than one with a full black or red coat, due to Merle being the dominant patterning gene in Australian Shepherds. As a reminder, "merle" refers to a marbled coat in which lighter and darker hues are put together to form a richly mixed pattern.

When the merle gene is found in a black Australian Shepherd, the dog is known as a "blue merle." Merle Aussies can be either black or red. If you look at the photo, you'll see why: the dark spots are surrounded by areas of gray, which make a whole picture look blue from a range.

The entire coat of a blues merle Aussie is marooned. A dog's coat can be any shade of gray, ranging from charcoal to silver. It's rare to see Australians of this color, but it's a one-of-a-kind sight.

Australian Shepherd Blue Merle Bicolor

The foundation color of a blue merle bi Australian can be either tan or white. As a single patch mostly on chest or as far as the dog's chest, forelegs, or middle can show off the white and blue merle combination.

turquoise, teal, and light brown There are a few Aussies here and there. A distinguished aspect is given to them by the tan and copper tips on the eyebrows and the occasional tan beards.

An Australian Shepherd with a Blue Merle Tricolor coat

Merle tricolore in shades of blue Another popular purebred canine is the Australian Shepherd, which comes in a variety of colors. If you're looking with most beautiful canines you'll ever come across, go no further than these white-ruffled beauties. These Australians are one of a select few breeds that have won both a breeder's show as well as a rodeo competition.

Merle-colored hairspray Blue or brown eyes are common in Australian Shepherds, though they might have one of each color. Their eyes, like their fur, can be marbled in the same way.

American Staffordshire Terrier

Intense shade of red Merle and red genes combine to create the Australian Shepherd breed. Unlike marbling a black coat, marbling a red coat results in a sandstone-like look. Your family began herding sheep in the harsh outback of Australia, so it's bound to bring back memories.

They don't need to be completely marbled to be a deep red merle Australian Shepherd. Prior to being deemed a distinct coat color, a few patches of copper and/or white are permissible.

Intense shade of red A marbled eye is also common in Australian Shepherds, which lends the dog a deep, vibrant look. Blue plus brown marbling, brownish with blue texture, and one of each in really unusual canines are the most common combinations.

What are the character traits of an Australian Shepherd?