Shawnee Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I have attached several pictures of my male border (Amans Patriae, call name Patriot). The breeder says he is a lilac merle, but I am not sure. The pictures show him at various ages and I would like to get some feedback from others familiar with the breed and with coloring. I have been researching genetic testing places but can't find one that does the merle gene (VetGen does all the colors except merle). Any suggestions? I will try to get a better picture of him today. I understand how the merle gene works, that is not my question. I just want to know if any of you think he is a lilac merle or another color merle. I just don't see the dilution being on the chocolate/red, but it is possible as he has a few patches that are darker chocolate/red....coule he be a lilac/blue merle...his brother in the litter was clearly a blue merle....my little guy is an unusual merle color and I just want some other opinions on which "merle" he is....we are trying to narrow his color/markings down for his paperwork.... thank you! Shawnee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 The lighting is bad in some of the photos, but he looks like a blue merle to me. Some people would call his color "muddy" because of the brown tint to certain areas. Lilac merles are genetically red and dilute. I am seeing a black nose, which rules out both of those genes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 The lighting is bad in some of the photos, but he looks like a blue merle to me. Some people would call his color "muddy" because of the brown tint to certain areas. Lilac merles are genetically red and dilute. I am seeing a black nose, which rules out both of those genes. Possible sable merle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Liz is correct in pointing out that with a black nose, black patches, and black eye rims, your dog cannot be red or lilac. I would have said blue or tri blue merle, but as I don't keep up on all the candy merle colors folks are producing these days I couldn't say for sure if he's some other sort of merle. I can say for sure that he is not a red or lilac merle. (For your own confirmation, you could find out if the cross has produced red dogs or dilutes before; if not, then it's less likely that your dog could be either, even despite the phenotypic evidence that says he's not.) J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I think he's a blue merle or tri blue merle. He looks a lot like Kristine's Dean. http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=28694 http://www.bordercollie.org/boards/index.php?showtopic=29543&st=0&p=367483&hl=dean&fromsearch=1entry367483 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would say blue merle...but that's just from looking at google images and this website http://www.bryningbordercollies.com/Border-Collie-Colours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawnee Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Thanks for all the replies. I was thinking blue merle also, but the red/chocolate color is throwing me off. Here are several pics I just took outside, hopefully you all can see him better. He has a few darker chocolate/red spots also, hopefully you can see those. I tried different angles. His coloring is so odd from what I am used to seeing in merles. His tail, however, is the typical blue merle coloring. I looked at the picture of the tri-color merle and he looks a LOT like him...so maybe that is what he is. In the third and last photo you can see the darker red/chocolate spots on the lighter red/chocolate coat color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixx Posted October 28, 2011 Report Share Posted October 28, 2011 Kind of looks like a sable merle... Twisp just posted a thread like this, you should check it out in the general discussion area... the puppies posted look very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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