Black Border Collie Guide: Can Border Collies Be All Black?

The Black Border Collie is a purebred dog originating from the Anglo-Scottish border. While black is often featured on Border Collie coats, it is quite rare for Border Collies to have an all-black coat as most feature white markings on their coat.

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

Cover Image Credit: @pgh_walker88 via Instagram

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Can Border Collies Be All Black?

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 and some even have white patches all over their neck, chest, head, legs and tail.

Most breeders call Border Collies that have black faces and only small white markings on their chest “Black Border Collies” while ones that have more substantial white markings on their face and chest are usually called “Black and White Border Collies.”

Black Border Collies usually have dark brown eyes, black noses, black eye rims and black nails.

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.

Black Border Collie Characteristics

Black 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	Black double coat.
Eyes	Brown, hazel or green.
Shedding	Moderate to high.
Apartment Adaptability	Not suited to apartments.
Good with Children	Sometimes.

Are All Black Border Collies Rare?

All Black Border Collies are extremely rare. There isn’t a high demand for solid black coated Border Collies so not many people specially breed them. That being said, black is a standard coat color according to most kennel clubs including the American Kennel Club (AKC).

While solid Black Border Collies are rare, Black Border Collies with white markings are very common. The gene for the black coat is dominant which explains why it is so common. Border Collies that inherit “B/B” or “B/b” will have black fur.

The seventeen standard Border Collie colors are:

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

Black Border Collie Genetics

The B-locus controls whether a Border Collie is black or brown. 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 Border Collie Price

Solid Black Border Collies are more expensive than the average Black and White Border Collie as the coat color is much rarer. All-black Border Collies sell for prices between $2000USD and $4000USD.

On the other hand, Black and White Border Collies usually cost between $1800USD and $3000USD however some can be even more expensive. They are generally the cheapest type of Border Collie as the coat is so common.

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Coat Variations

Black and White Border Collie

Black and White Border Collies are mainly black, featuring white markings on their chest, neck, legs as well as a white blaze marking on their face. It is one of the most common coat patterns for Border Collies and probably what you picture when you think of a Border Collie.

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 points 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.

Black Merle Border Collie (AKA Blue Merle Border Collie)

The official name for a Black Merle Border Collie is “Blue Merle Border Collie“. Some people incorrectly refer to them as Black Merle Border Collies as these dogs would have had a black coat if the merle gene hadn’t diluted sections of it to grey, white and tan.

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Blue Merle Border Collies feature the merle pattern over their body, tail, ears and sides of their face and 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 usually have black noses and can either have brown or blue eyes.

Size

Black 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.

Temperament

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

Black 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. Border Collies are also very intelligent so they pick up tricks very quickly and are quite easy to train. They should be socialized from a very young age, especially around young children otherwise they may be inclined to herd them.

Lifespan

Black 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

Black 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.

Name Ideas

Black Male Border Collie Names	Black Female Border Collie Names
Ink	Raven
Jet	Pepper
Soot	Piper
Aidan	Penny
Oreo	Cindy
Mickey	Sadie
Reece	Grace
Angus	Berry
Vader	Ash
Bean	Cecilia