Blue Merle Border Collie (Ultimate Breed Guide)

Blue Merle Border Collies have beautifully patterned coats featuring black, white, tan and grey. In addition to their pretty coats, these Border Collies often feature striking amber, blue or green eyes. It’s no surprise that these dogs are super popular because of their appearance!

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 colours!

Cover Image Credit: Photo by Rafaëlla Waasdorp on Unsplash

What Does A Blue Merle Border Collie Look Like?

Blue Merle Border Collie feature mottled patches of black, grey, white and tan in their coat in a distinct mottled pattern as they carry the merle gene. 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.

The reason why Blue Merle Border Collies have such a distinct coat is because they carry the “M” Merle allele and a negative “m” copy of the Merle allele. The merle gene dilutes random sections of their coat to a lighter colours whilst leaving patches of their original black coat colour remaining. It may also affect eye colour and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. Blue Merle Border Collies would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted sections of it into lighter colours.

Do Blue Merle Border Collies Have Blue Eyes?

Most Blue Merle Border Collies have blue or brown eyes however they can occasionally have green eyes. Blue Merle Border Collies do not always have solid coloured eyes. Their eyes sometimes feature flecks of other colours or marbling in them. Blue Merle Border Collies are also prone to having odd-ball eyes where one eye is a different colour to the other. They may have one brown eye and one blue eye.

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 other Border Collie coat colours. Out of all the merle coat variations, blue merle is the most common. Red merle is also quite common while slate merle and lilac merle are a lot rarer.

Blue Merle Border Collie Characteristics

Blue Merle Border Collie Characteristics
Height	45cm to 55cm
Weight	13kg to 25kg
Temperament	Lively, hardworking, intelligent.
Activity Levels	High.
Exercise Requirements	1 to 2 hours per day.
Lifespan	12 to 15 years.
Coat	Merle double coat.
Eyes	Brown, blue or green.
Shedding	Moderate to high.
Apartment Adaptability	No.
Good with Children	Sometimes.

Blue Merle Border Collie Temperament

Blue Merle 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. Blue Merle Border Collies require a lot more exercise per day than other breeds. If your household 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 socialised from a very young age, especially around young children otherwise they may be inclined to herd them.

Blue Merle Border Collie Lifespan

Blue Merle 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.

Blue Merle Border Collie Size

Blue Merle Border Collies get to a height of 45cm to 55cm tall and weigh between 13kg to 25kg when fully grown. They are the most common and largest Border Collie size.

Blue Merle Border Collie Shedding

Do Blue Merle Border Collies Shed?

Blue Merle 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 colour 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.

Are Blue Merle Border Collies Hypoallergenic?

Blue Merle Border Collies are not hypoallergenic as they produce a moderate amount of dander which irritates allergy sufferers. They are moderate to heavy shedders depending on the time of year which is why they drop lots of dander throughout the year.

Blue Merle Border Collies Name Ideas

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

Blue Merle Border Collie vs Blue Merle Australian Shepherd

Blue Merle Border Collies look extremely similar to Blue Merle Australian Shepherd however there are some key differences. In terms of appearance, Blue 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!