We should never judge their abilities and personalities based on how they look. Theyre medium in size with an average height of 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm) and a weight of 30 to 45 pounds (14 to 20 kg). The Border Collie comes in various colors, and some of them are common while others are rare. The way they grow up and behave will significantly depend on how theyre treated and cared for. Its a trait thats bred into them. The bottom line is, a Border Collie would do great as a working or herding dog, and as a family pet if theyre adequately trained. Its either a small amount, partial (parti), almost, or completely white. Do you have a white Border Collie? White-bodied dogs with also a white head mostly suffer from blindness and deafness. The pattern is often referred to as Irish and can sometimes vary. Rough & Smooth Coat Border Collies: What you need to know, How to deal with your Border Collie shedding. Every Border Collie would have that noticeable intense gaze called the eye, that they use for their crouch and stare when controlling sheep. Keep reading to find out why and if white Border Collies are different from the colored ones. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this video, you can see what an all-white or albino Border Collie looks like. How old is your Border dog? No matter the color, a Borders double-layered coat can range from short and smooth to long and rough. Farmers or ranchers have a superstition that sheep will not respect or follow a dog thats white or has the same shade of color as theirs. The white-spotting is seen on three basic alternate forms (alleles) that progressively produces more white on canines. Border Collies have eyes that can vary from blue to brown. You can only control it with early training, but its not possible to completely get rid of it. Its commonly seen in merle Borders, but even black and white Border Collies can have blue eyes. Let us know all about it by sharing your story in the comment box below. Genetics: What makes White Border Collies? Privacy Policy DNA Tests. Disclaimer For Borders, coat color doesnt affect their personality. If theres so much pigment, it can be just a high-white normal merle. Its better if youre aware that a merle dog is different from a double merle. The best ways & tools on how to groom a Border Collie. Terms and Conditions The second form creates a white blaze on the face, broad collar area, belly, legs, and the tip of the tail. In fact, a primarily white coat appears on other breeds too, such as Australian Shepherds (Aussies), Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties), and Standard Collies (both rough- and smooth-coated). Theyre not only hardworking, but theyre also loving family companions. Border Collies do have a lot of color combinations, but theyre all the same breed. White coloring or marking in Borders is common, but some are controversial. Even those dogs who have some colors in their hair, but white overlaps on their eyes and ears can possibly have hearing and eye problems. It can also be either be straight, wavy, or curly. If youre concerned about health issues, be cautious about most white Border Collies, even if they have colored spots or merles. Almost all Borders have white markings. What is the best dog food for feeding Border Collies? The most popular and common color of Border Collies is black and white, but as we mentioned earlier, their hair can appear in just about any color pattern. And the white should not predominate their coat color. Does he or she have health problems? A dogs attitude and skills are more useful in identifying its ability to work (like herding). The rarest are those who have a pure white coat from head to toe. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a breed standard that specifies a preference to a Border Collie with dark brown eyes, as well as a keen and intelligent expression. Border Collies do well with kids and other pets like cats. But organizations, such as the American Border Collie Association (ABCA), considers a Borders appearance to be irrelevant to their job or task. Do white Border Collies have a different temperament? All dogs, no matter the color or breed, deserves affection, too. All-white Border Collie puppies come from parents who are both merles (carriers of the merle gene). Youd find Border Collies who either have none or tiny white spots on their chest and toes. Others call it piebald, which is also a patterned-white coat with some colored-spotting. Even with medical records, you should still have your dogs hearing, and eyesight tested. If you think its impossible to train a blind AND deaf dog, think again. It gets worse during shedding season as their hair is transitioning from a winter coat to a summer coat. A pair of white-factored Borders can produce color-headed white puppies. There are lots of ways that you can teach primary and advanced commands, but some people use a vibration collar. In order to win, they must conform as close as possible to the breed standards. Collie vs. Border Collie: Which is the right shepherd dog for you. The third and last one causes excessive white coloring that ranges from minimal to an all-white coat. Theres nothing wrong with making sure, so you know how to help your dog adjust or live his or her life to the fullest. They mostly are tricolor black, tan, and little white blazes. Health problems: Are white Border Collies deaf and blind? This genetic form is avoided by breeders and buyers as they can be considered defective, not because theyre lethal. But do be aware of their herding instinct, which means they may herd and nip. They who only think about producing Border Collies with coat colors that are stunning, rare, and sometimes defective. Any broken teeth or scars will not be counted against the dog when inside the ring in deference to their working origin. Keep in mind that NOT ALL Borders will suffer from being deaf and/or blind. But its less frequent. Aside from the eyes, white or double merle Border Collies have a nose that is mostly or all pink. Borders can also have single-color furs such as Australian red, which is also known as blonde or gold. Some breeders dont care about the consequences of breeding merles. Aside from the color, its still energetic like other Borders: Theres a belief going around that a Border Collie with a white coat wouldnt be an efficient working or herding dog. Heres how you can use it: A pure white Border Collie is also called lethal white, which is a misleading and incorrect term. There would be times that theyd have different colored eyes due to the lack of pigmentation in the eye called heterochromia. Thats why two merles shouldnt be bred together as a quarter of their litter will inherit the gene that impairs the ability to make pigment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); BorderCollieHealth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Contact Us Some of the shades seen in Border Collies are lilac, lilac and white, tricolor, brown and white, red and white, red merle, blue merle, slate merle, white merle, blue and white, and brindle. Other than that, ask essential questions about the conformation and background of the puppy youre interested in. White factor, a term used to refer to heterozygous dogs, is a recessive gene that affects the amount of white spotting. They are still the smartest dog in the canine world, and would always have the same energy that their breed is known for. Canines used in dog shows have physical traits that are more homogenous compared to working Border Collies. The Border Collie breed is not hypoallergenic and sheds throughout the year. There are many points that can be specific, such as coat and structure. But if the dog is a lethal white like an albino, they do have blue eyes.