Black And White Border Collie Guide – Everything To Know!

The Black and White Border Collie is a purebred dog originating from the Anglo-Scottish border. Black and white is the most common coat pattern for Border Collies and is probably what you think of when you picture a Border Collie.

If you want to know more about Black & White Border Collies, keep reading this article to find out the answers to all your questions about this coat color!

Cover Image Credit: @titanium_lady_sia via Instagram

Table of Contents

What Is A Black and White Border Collie?

Black and White Border Collies feature a bi-colored coat that is mainly black with white markings. They usually have “Irish spotted” markings meaning that they feature white patches on their chest, neck, legs, tail and also have a white blaze marking on their face.

Are Black and White Border Collies Rare?

Black and White Border Collies are not rare at all. In fact, black and white is the most common color combination for Border Collies.

Historically there was a preference for darker colored dogs for herding which is one of the reasons why black and white is such a prevalent Border Collie coat color. There was a belief that sheep would not respect a light coloured dog or one that had too much white on it. Breeders therefore focused on breeding darker colored Border Collies such as Black Border Collies or Black and White Border Collies.

Are All Border Collies Black and White?

Not all Border Collies are black and white. They can come in many other coat colors such as:

Black
Blue
Blue Merle
Brindle
Gold
Red
Sable
Sable Merle
White & Black
White & Red
Red Merle
White & Blue
White & Blue Merle
Lilac
Saddleback Sable
White & Red Merle
White Ticked

The seventeen coat colors listed above are recognised by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as standard Border Collie colors. If you Border Collie is one of these colors, you can register it with the AKC as it conforms to the breed standards. Most of these coat colors are also recognised by kennel clubs around the world.

Black and White Border Collie Characteristics

Black & White Border Collie Characteristics
Height	18 to 22 inches (45.7cm to 55.9cm).
Weight	30 and 55 pounds (13.6kg to 24.9kg).
Temperament	Lively, hardworking, intelligent.
Activity Levels	High.
Exercise Requirements	1 to 2 hours per day.
Lifespan	12 to 15 years.
Coat	Sable double coat.
Eyes	Brown, green or blue.
Shedding	Moderate to high.
Apartment Adaptability	Not suited to apartments.
Good with Children	Sometimes.

Genetics

The B-locus controls whether a Border Collie is black or brown while the S-locus controls how much white is on their coat. The gene for a black coat is dominant so a lot more Border Collies are black compared to brown.

A Border Collie will have black fur if they are:

A Border Collie will have brown fur if they are:

Black and White Border Collies are Irish spotted meaning that their white markings are located on their legs, chest, neck, muzzle and tip of their tail. Dogs are Irish spotted when they carry “si/si” at the S-locus.

Coat Variations

Black Tri Border Collie

Black Tri Color Border Collies have a mainly black coat with white and tan markings. The white markings are located on their chest, neck, legs and face while the tan markings are on their eye brows, muzzle, ears, back and tail. They look a lot like Black and White Border Collies but have additional tan markings. The tan markings are significantly smaller than the white markings.

All-Black Border Collie

Black Border Collies can be all black however they are very rare. Most Black Border Collies have some kind of white marking on their chest.

The distinction between Black Border Collies and Black and White Border Collies is that Black Border Collies have minimal white markings and a mainly black face while Black and White Border Collies have extensive white markings that often extends onto their muzzle and face.

It’s much more common to find solid black coats in Border Collie mix breeds such as the Bordoodle (Border Collie x Poodle). You can read all about Bordoodles in our in-depth guide here.

Blue Merle Border Collie

Blue Merle Border Collies feature patches of black, grey, white and tan in a distinct mottled pattern as they carry the merle gene. Their body, tail, ears and sides of their face feature the merle pattern and they usually have a large white patch over their chest. They also have white markings on their tail, legs, muzzle and down the middle of their head. Blue Merle Border Collies have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes.

Black and White Border Collie Price

Black and White Border Collies are the cheapest type of Border Collie as it is such a common coat color combination. Black and White Border Collies usually cost between $1800USD and $3000USD. Some sell for prices higher than this but it depends on the breeder and the dog’s pedigree.

Black and White Border Collie Breeders

If you are looking for a Border Collie breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog. Check out their current litters here!

PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over 200,000 puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! You won’t regret having a look at their Border Collie puppies here as they are so cute!

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Temperament

Black and White Border Collies are a high energy, intelligent and extremely hard working dog. For these reasons, they do very well in physically and mentally challenging environments such as farms where they can herd livestock and run around a lot.

In general, Border Collies require a lot more exercise per day than other breeds. If you can’t provide them with lots of play and exercise, they may become destructive out of boredom.

They also need plenty of mental exercise. Border Collies are very intelligent meaning that they love to learn new tricks and are quite easy to train. Their training should begin from the time they are a puppy and should include proper socialization. This socialization program should include introduction to young children otherwise they may be inclined to herd them.

Size

Black and White Border Collies get to a height of 18 to 22 inches (45.7cm to 55.9cm) tall and weigh between 30 and 55 pounds (13.6kg to 24.9kg) when fully grown.

You can also get smaller Border Collies called Mini Border Collies however this is an unofficial size. You can read all about Mini Border Collies in our Border Collie size guide here.

Lifespan

Black and White Border Collies have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a Border Collie including size, gender and whether they are desexed or intact. These variables mean they can have shorter or longer lifespans than the average.

You can give a Border Collie the best chance of living a long life by giving them plenty of daily exercise, feeding them healthy food and keeping on top of vet appointments.

Shedding & Grooming

Black and White Border Collies shed a moderate amount throughout the year and heavily twice a year during seasonal shedding when they lose their undercoat. Their coats consist of the outer layer of ‘guard hairs’ which are what give Border Collies their color while their undercoat is white and very dense.

The heavy shedding lasts for 2 to 3 weeks during spring and autumn when they lose their undercoat. They are not hypoallergenic as they produce a moderate amount of dander which irritates allergy sufferers.

The best way to reduce the amount that your dog sheds is to regularly brush them. Slicker brushes are great for dogs with single coats and deshedding tools are great for dogs with double coats.

Name Ideas

Male Black & White Border Collie Names	Female Black & White Border Collie Names
Oreo	Dottie
Pongo	Millie
Otto	Stella
Boots	Luna
Tux	Coco
Charlie	Pepper
Bandit	Britney
Darcy	Lucky
Badger	Ellie
Ace	Belle