There is a special connection that you can only get with a dog. One look into their big round eyes will make you immediately fall in love.
These pets have an infectious and comforting energy that helps to lift the mood of everyone around them.
With dogs being such loyal and loving companions, it’s no surprise that many people want to add them to their homes.
If you have found yourself looking for a new furry family member, you might have stumbled upon the blue merle sheltie.
This beautiful dog is affectionate, loving, and unique, so it’s no surprise that you want to bring one home. Blue merle shelties have striking characteristics and energetic personalities, so keep reading to learn more information on this one-of-a-kind breed.
What is a blue merle sheltie?
You have most likely heard of shelties, also known as Shetland Sheepdogs, before now. Well, the blue merle is one of the variations of the original sheltie, called the sable sheltie.
This breed originated from Scotland and was mainly used for herding and guarding. They are incredibly athletic and love to round up everything, including children if you have any.
The blue merle is similar in all ways to the original sheltie except for the genetic mutations in its fur and eyes.
To check your merle shelties’ health status or their DNA checks, please visit the Embark vet website for all the help you may need.
Do blue merle shelties have blue eyes?
The answer to this question would be both yes and no. Blue merle shelties have a genetic mutation that can give them blue eyes. However, they could have one blue eye and one brown eye or a mixture of both.
A typical blue merle will not necessarily face any health issues regarding its eyes, but a double merle variation will have more abnormalities.
Shelties, in general, have a history of eye problems, specifically collie eye anomalies. This is a degenerative eye problem that arose because of cross-breeding between shelties and collies.
The eye will appear more small and sunken than normal, and will eventually lead to early blindness if not treated. This eye disorder presents at birth, so you will be able to tell early on if your blue merle struggles with this disorder.
There are surgical treatment options available, so be prepared to get your sheltie checked and treated if you suspect this problem.
For your Puppy’s vitamin supplement, foods, toys, or other dogs product please visit the Health Extension website.
What do blue merle shelties look like?
If you want to differentiate blue merle shelties from their other companions, you need to look at the eyes and fur.
Blue merle shelties typically have blue eyes with occasional brown variations mixed in. The traditional sheltie only has brown eyes unless they have a genetic abnormality.
The main way to differentiate blue merles from other shelties is by looking at their fur colors. They are typically a mixture of whites, grays, tans, and blacks.
Apart from these differences, blue merles are the same as sable shelties. They are between 15-25 pounds and they stand at a height of 14-16 inches tall at the shoulder.
What is the temperament and personality of blue merle shelties?
Blue merle shelties are very similar to their brothers and sisters in terms of personality and temperament. They are incredibly energetic, loyal, and intelligent animals.
They love to be challenged with new activities and training regimens. If you want your blue merle to be happy and healthy, make sure you plan a time for them to exercise and release some energy.
If you don’t, you might discover that they found a way to release energy in a way that you won’t be fond of. Along with being incredibly intelligent, this breed is loyal as well.
They take their job of protecting family and herds very seriously, which makes them a little wary of strangers. If you are inviting someone new over, make sure you introduce your blue merle sheltie to them in a safe and controlled way.
Don’t worry though, blue merles are friendly and loving dogs, so they warm up to people pretty fast.
Are there other variations of the blue merle sheltie?
You might look at the blue merle sheltie and think about just how beautiful this dog is and hope there are other stunning color variations.
Well, the blue merle sheltie has another variation called the double merle, but this dog struggles with quite a few health issues. The double merle is a second mutation of the blue merle.
This dog has a loss of pigment in its genetic code and will typically have all-white fur with blue eyes. Although this sounds visually appealing, this dog typically struggles to see and hear.
There are levels to how much their hearing and eyesight are affected. They could end up being completely blind and deaf or only slightly impaired in one area, it depends on the dog. The double merle is created when two merles breed with one another.
So, if you plan on breeding shelties, consider getting genetic testing done to avoid getting a double-merle mutation.
Do blue merle shelties have a genetic problem?
Blue merles have genetic differences from their original counterparts, but they don’t present as problems or issues for the dog.
Blue merles are genetically different from sable shelties in their fur and eyes. Technically speaking, the fur color of the blue merle is not different from sables, but it’s modified.
The genetic mutations make it so the base colors in the eyes and fur appear lighter instead of their typical dark colors, which is why they have more gray and blue undertones on them.
This breed has stunningly blue eyes with a beautiful colored coat variation that can catch everyone’s attention.
You will find that blue merles have at least one blue eye and blue-gray fur as part of their mutation. Thankfully, their genetic modifications do not affect their health in any way, unless you breed a double merle.
These dogs make wonderful additions to many households, so hopefully, you learned some more information that will help you better understand the needs of your sheltie. Remember, plenty of exercise and affection, and everything will be fine.
If you have any concerns about your blue merle and their health, don’t be afraid to get them checked out at the vet.
Overall, blue merles are unique and vibrant color variations of shelties. If you are fortunate enough to include this puppy in your home, take good care of them, and have fun trying to resist those striking blue eyes.
