Merle Border Collie Guide: Blue Merle, Red Merle & Slate Merle

Merle Border Collies have beautifully patterned coats that can come in many different colors including blue merle, red merle, slate merle and lilac merle. In addition to their beautiful coats, they often feature striking amber, blue or green eyes. It’s no surprise that these dogs are super popular because of their appearance! Nevertheless, prospective owners need to be aware of the health dangers of the merle gene, especially ‘merle-to-merle’ breeding and Double Merle Border Collies.

If you are interested in Merle Border Collies keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about the different coat colors!

Table of Contents

What Is A Merle Border Collie?

Merle Border Collies have a coat pattern that features mottled patches of various colors depending on whether they are a blue merle, red merle, slate merle or lilac merle. The merle gene dilutes random sections of the coat to a lighter color whilst leaving patches of their original coat color remaining. It may also affect eye color and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. The coat occurs when a Border Collie carries the “M” Merle allele and a negative “m” copy of the Merle allele.

Merle Border Collies look like any other Border Collie except for their coat color. Instead of a solid red (liver) or black coat, the merle gene causes mottled patches of color. A Blue Merle originally has a black coat however the merle gene has diluted areas to grey and white while a Red Merle originally has a liver coat where the merle gene has diluted areas to beige and white.

blue merle border collie — Blue Merle Border Collie via @lillys.life.adventures

Are Merle Border Collies Purebred?

Yes, Merle Border Collies are purebred. The merle gene is naturally occurring for Border Collies like it is for Australian Shepherds, Great Danes, Dachshunds and Corgis. While Border Collies can come in so many different merle patterns they are one of the rarest Border Collie coat types. This is one of the reasons why there is the misconception that they are not purebred.

For a lot of other dog breeds, the merle gene is introduced. This is the case for Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Chihuahuas. As there are so many breeds where the merle gene has been introduced, a lot of people assume that it has also been introduced to Border Collie lineage however this is not the case at all.

Merle Border Collie Colors

Merle Border Collies can come in many color variations including:

Blue Merle
Red Merle
Slate Merle
Lilac Merle
Sable Merle
White & Blue Merle
White & Red Merle

Blue Merle Border Collie

What Is A Blue Merle Border Collie?

A Blue Merle Border Collie features black, grey, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Their body, tail, ears and sides of their face usually feature the merle pattern and they 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. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into lighter colors.

Are Blue Merle Border Collies Rare?

While the merle gene is dominant, it is still quite rare to see Blue Merle Border Collies around compared to common coat colors. Out of all the merle coat variations, blue merle is one of the most common. Red merle is also quite common while slate merle and lilac merle are a lot rarer.

Red Merle Border Collie

What Is A Red Merle Border Collie?

Red Merle Border Collies have a red (brown), copper, beige and white coat in a mottled pattern. Most of their coat is a beige-grey and they feature red (brown), white and copper patches throughout it. They also usually feature a large white patch on their chest, neck, legs and muzzle. Red Merle Border Collies have light or dark brown noses. In most cases they have light brown or amber eyes however they can sometimes have green eyes.

Are Red Merle Border Collies Rare?

While the merle gene is dominant, it is still quite rare to see Red Merle Border Collies around compared to common coat colors. Out of all the merle coat variations, red merle is one of the most common. Blue merle is also quite common while slate merle and lilac merle are a lot rarer.

Slate Merle Border Collie

What Is A Slate Merle Border Collie?

Slate Merle Border Collies look a lot like Blue Merle Border Collies however their coats are much lighter and even more diluted. They are a Black Border Collie that carries the merle gene with the dilute gene expressed. Their merle pattern has hardly any black in it – it’s mainly grey and dark grey. Their body, tail, ears and sides of their face usually feature the merle pattern and they have a large white patch over their chest and neck. They are usually created by breeding a merle Border Collie with a non-merle Border Collie that has two recessive dilute genes.

In most cases, it is very hard to distinguish between a Blue Merle Border Collie and a Slate Merle Border Collie. Slate Merle Border Collies look like a Blue Merle Border Collie that has just has a bit more white on their coat than average.

Lilac Merle Border Collie

What Is A Lilac Merle Border Collie?

Lilac Merle Border Collies look a lot like Red Merle Border Collies however the dilute gene is expressed which makes their coats significantly lighter. Their merle pattern has hardly any red in it – it’s mainly cream, grey and beige-grey.

Their body, tail, ears and sides of their face usually feature the merle pattern and they have a large white patch over their chest and neck. Lilac Merle Border Collies are usually created by breeding a merle Border Collie with a non-merle Border Collie that has two recessive dilute genes.

The reason why they are called ‘Lilac Merle Border Collies’ is because their super diluted red patches appear to be a light purple color in the sun.

Merle Poodle Guide: Blue, Chocolate, Red & Phantom Merle!

Sable Merle Border Collie

Sable is a coat color where hairs are black-tipped with roots in a lighter solid color. Sable hairs cover most of the body of a Border and they may have white patches on their chest, neck, muzzle, head, legs and tail.

What Is A Sable Merle Border Collie?

Sable Merle Border Collies feature sable, brown, white and tan colors in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern. Usually most of their coat is sable with smaller brown and tan patches throughout it. They usually have a large white patch on their chest and neck as well as a white patches on their muzzle, belly and feet and sometimes on the tip of their tail. Sable Merle Border Collies are the rarest merle coloring for Border Collies.

Double Merle Border Collie

What Is A Double Merle Border Collie?

A Double Merle (M/M) Border Collie has little to no color in their coat as they have inherited two copies of the dominant “M” allele. Unfortunately, Double Merle Border Collies are affected by severe ocular defeats and deafness. They may be deaf in one or both ears and may be blind or have totally lost an eye. Double Merle Border Collies are also called ‘lethal whites’ due to their coloring and health issues.

Double Merle Border Collies are the product of ‘merle-to-merle’ breeding and are very controversial if they have been purposefully bred. This is because Double Merle Border Collies will always pass on a copy of Merle to their puppies and should not be bred together. Most official bodies refuse to register dogs that are a product of merle-to-merle breeding.

Are Merle Border Collies Healthy?

Double Merle Border Collies are likely to have health issues. It is problematic when two Merle Border Collies are bred together as there is a 25% chance for each puppy born to be homozygous (M/M) for the merle trait. M/M carriers are called double merle and are very likely to have ocular and auditory defects.

Common Merle Health Problems

Hearing Impairment – up to complete deafness
Vision Impairment – up to complete blindness
Skin Cancer – an increased risk due to the lack of pigmentation on skin
Micropthalmia – rare condition causing small and often non-functional eyeballs (high risk for Double Merles)

Responsible Breeding Practices

Breeders who want to produce merle puppies should mate a Merle Border Colllie with a non-Merle (m/m) Border Collie as the incidence of health risks is reduced. Roughly 50% of the litter will be Merles and most likely none will be Double Merles. That being said, there is still a risk of producing Double Merles as a cryptic merle mutation exists.

Cryptic Merle Border Collies carry the merle gene however they do not have a merle coat. That means there is a risk that breeders will cross a Cryptic Merle Border Collie with a Merle Border Collie and accidentally create Double Merle Border Collies. Breeders should perform DNA tests for the cryptic merle mutation before breeding.

Merle Border Collie Names

Marble
Dusty
Storm
Merle
Brandy
Luna
Bambi
Stormi
Amber
Galaxy
Earl
Spot
Crumbs
Bijou
Comet

Merle Border Collie vs Australian Shepherd

Merle Border Collies look extremely similar to Merle Australian Shepherds however there are some key differences. In terms of appearance, Merle Border Collies are generally smaller and more compact than Australian Shepherds that are more muscular. They are usually a similar height however Australian Shepherds can be up to 15 pounds (6.8kg) heavier. Both Merle Border Collies and Merle Australian Shepherds have angular ears however Border Collie ears are angular and raised while Australian Shepherd ears are angular and floppy.

They also both have a similar temperament as they are both herding dogs. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are very loving and get along really well with their family members. Generally Australian Shepherds are a bit more friendly as Border Collies can be wary of strangers. You can see why so many people have difficulty telling them apart if they both have a merle coat!