Blue Ridge Shetland Sheepdog Club
Sheltie Information
Sheltie Colors
These dogs are only examples of some of the patterns and shadings you can find in Shelties.
Please click here for more examples.
SABLE
photo courtesy of Shadymist website Westar Shadymist Aidan
SABLE - Sable is probably what most people think about when they think of Shelties. Sable ranges in hue from light golden sable to a deep mahogany (that can be almost black it is such a dark brown) with various shades in between. Sable is the dominant Sheltie color.
TRI COLOR
photo courtesy of Shadymist website Am/Can Ch Sunshines Highlander
TRI COLOR - A tri color Sheltie is a black dog with varying amounts of white and tan.
BLUE MERLE
photo courtesy of Shadymist website Ch. Shadymist Strike'em Out
BLUE MERLE - The Blue Merle is a dilution of the Tri Color. The black is diluted out to grey with varying amounts of black mottling or merling. The grey can range in shade from an icy gray to dark grey. The Blue Merle has varying amounts of white and tan.
SABLE MERLE
photo courtesy of Shadymist website Am/Can Ch. Laureate Santana, ROMC
SABLE MERLE - This is a Sable dog with a dilution gene. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell a Sable from a Sable Merle.
BI BLACK
photo courtesy of West Wind Dog Training, Willo'Wisp Ventura Farscape, RN CGC
BI BLACK - This is a black and white Sheltie
BI BLUE
photo courtesy of Shadymist website Shadymist Timeless Tapestry
BI BLUE - This is a Blue Merle and White dog without any tan points (what you get if a Bi Black has the dilution gene).
COLOR HEADED WHITE
U-CH Phoenix Wyndmyst Casablanca, courtesy of Pamela Moore SABLE CHW
This is a dog with a primarily white body with some colored spots and color on the head. This happens when the white factoring (what helps determine the amount of white on the dogs) gets a little "out of control." CHWs are severely penalized in the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs for Conformation but they are allowed in the United Kennel Club. These dogs can also compete in various performance events in the AKC and CKC.
DOUBLE MERLE
(aka Double Dilute White) - This is what happens when two merles (either blue or sable) are bred together. The doubling of the dilution gene causes almost totally white dogs. Double Merles are also prone to hearing and vision problems so breeding two merles should be avoided.
site updated 8/2010