**Please note if any of our pups do not meet the standards accordingly to the registries they will be sold as pet/companion only**

http://www.ashgi.org/home-page/genetics-info/faq/colors-dq

Disqualifying Mismark Patterns

Qualifying (Standard) & Disqualifying (Non-Standard) Colors

 

 

 

 

Australian Shepherd coat colors are primarily determined by two main gene loci: the B (black/brown) locus and the M (merle) locus. The presence or absence of a “red factored” gene also plays a significant role. Let’s break down the various colors and how they interact.

Key Genes and Their Effects:

• B Locus (Black/Brown):
  • BB: The dog carries two dominant genes for black. The dog will appear black (or black merle, blue merle) and can only pass on the black gene to its offspring.
  • Bb: The dog carries one dominant black gene and one recessive brown (red) gene. The dog will appear black but can pass on either black or brown to its offspring (they are “red factored”).
  • bb: The dog carries two recessive brown (red) genes. The dog will appear brown (red, or red merle) and can only pass on the brown gene to its offspring.
• M Locus (Merle):
  • MM (Double Merle): This combination is generally avoided in breeding as it can lead to severe health issues like blindness and deafness. Dogs often appear predominantly white with minimal color.
  • Mm (Merle): The dog carries one merle gene and will display the merle pattern (blue merle, red merle).
  • mm (Non-Merle): The dog does not carry the merle gene and will have solid base colors (black, red, tri, bi).

Base Colors of Australian Shepherds:

1. Black: A solid black coat. Genetically, this would be BB mm or Bb mm (if not expressing merle).
2. Red (Brown): A solid brown coat. Genetically, this would be bb mm.
3. Blue Merle: A black base coat with areas diluted to gray/blue, creating a mottled pattern. Genetically, this would be BB Mm or Bb Mm.
4. Red Merle: A red/brown base coat with areas diluted, creating a mottled pattern. Genetically, this would be bb Mm.

Additional Patterns and Markings:

• Tri-color: Refers to the presence of three distinct colors: a base color (black or red), white markings (on the muzzle, chest, legs, and collar), and copper points (tan markings typically on the cheeks, eyebrows, legs, and under the tail).
• Bi-color: Refers to two distinct colors: a base color (black or red) and white markings, without copper points.

Explaining Color Combinations with Reference to Your Graphic:Let’s go through the examples provided in your graphic, explaining the genetic basis and outcomes.I. Solid Color Crosses (Non-Merle)

• 1. BB x BB = 100% Black
  • Genetics: Both parents contribute a dominant ‘B’ gene.
  • Explanation: All puppies will inherit ‘BB’, resulting in 100% black puppies. None will be red-factored if both parents are truly ‘BB’ (not ‘Bb’).
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows two black dogs (BB) producing only black puppies (BB).
• 2. BB x Bb = 100% Black (red factored)
  • Genetics: One parent is ‘BB’ (black, no red factor), the other is ‘Bb’ (black, red factored).
  • Explanation: All puppies will be black. 50% will be ‘BB’ (not red factored), and 50% will be ‘Bb’ (red factored). The graphic simplifies this by indicating all offspring are “red factored” likely meaning they carry the ‘b’ allele.
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows a black dog (BB) and a black dog (Bb) producing only black puppies, with the note “red factored” implying the possibility of carrying the recessive ‘b’ gene.
• 3. Bb x Bb = 50% Black (red factored), 50% Brown (red)
  • Genetics: Both parents are ‘Bb’ (black, red factored).
  • Explanation: This is a classic Mendelian 1:2:1 ratio at the B locus.
    • 25% BB (Black, not red factored)
    • 50% Bb (Black, red factored)
    • 25% bb (Brown/Red)
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows two black dogs (Bb) producing both black and brown puppies. The “red factored” note for black puppies is key.
• 4. bb x bb = 100% Brown (Red)
  • Genetics: Both parents are ‘bb’ (brown/red).
  • Explanation: All puppies will inherit ‘bb’, resulting in 100% brown (red) puppies. This is why you can’t get black puppies from two red parents.
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows two brown dogs (bb) producing only brown puppies (bb).
• 5. Bb x bb = 50% Black (red factored), 50% Brown (red)
  • Genetics: One parent is ‘Bb’ (black, red factored), the other is ‘bb’ (brown/red).
  • Explanation: This is a test cross.
    • 50% Bb (Black, red factored)
    • 50% bb (Brown/Red)
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows a black dog (Bb) and a brown dog (bb) producing both black and brown puppies.

II. Merle CrossesNow we introduce the ‘M’ (merle) gene. Remember, MM (double merle) is generally avoided due to health risks. The graphic does not show MM crosses, which is good practice.

• 6. Bb Mm x Bb mm = 50% Black Merle (red factored), 50% Black
  • Genetics: Black merle (Bb Mm) x Black (Bb mm)
  • Explanation:
    • B locus: Bb x Bb will produce BB, Bb, bb (as seen in example 3).
    • M locus: Mm x mm will produce 50% Mm (merle) and 50% mm (non-merle).
    • Combining these: You’ll get black merles (Bb Mm), black (Bb mm), and also potentially brown merles (bb Mm) and brown (bb mm) if the ‘b’ allele from Bb is passed on and combined with ‘Mm’ or ‘mm’.
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows a Black Merle (Bb Mm) and a Black (Bb mm) parent producing Black Merle (Bb Mm) and Black (Bb mm) puppies. This specific graphic outcome seems to focus on the black base, implying the ‘b’ allele influence might be omitted for simplicity in these merle examples, or assumes we’re only looking at the black line. A full Punnett square would show more possibilities.
• 7. Bb Mm x bb mm = 50% Black Merle (red factored), 50% Black (red factored)
  • Genetics: Black Merle (Bb Mm) x Brown (bb mm)
  • Explanation:
    • B locus: Bb x bb produces 50% Bb and 50% bb.
    • M locus: Mm x mm produces 50% Mm and 50% mm.
    • Combining:
      • 25% Bb Mm (Black Merle, red factored)
      • 25% bb Mm (Brown Merle) – Not shown in graphic’s outcome, but genetically possible!
      • 25% Bb mm (Black, red factored)
      • 25% bb mm (Brown/Red) – Not shown in graphic’s outcome, but genetically possible!
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows a Black Merle (Bb Mm) and a Brown (bb mm) parent producing Black Merle (Bb Mm) and Black (Bb mm) puppies. Again, this specific graphic’s outcome may be simplified.
• 8. Bb Mm x Bb Mm (Merle to Merle Breeding)
  • Genetics: Black Merle (Bb Mm) x Black Merle (Bb Mm)
  • Explanation: This is a high-risk breeding due to the 25% chance of MM (double merle) puppies.
    • B locus: Bb x Bb results in 25% BB, 50% Bb, 25% bb.
    • M locus: Mm x Mm results in 25% MM (double merle), 50% Mm (merle), 25% mm (non-merle).
    • Combining these: You get a wide variety of colors, including double merles, black merles, red merles, black, and red.
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows two Black Merle parents (Bb Mm) producing:
    • 25% Black Merle (red factored) – (e.g., Bb Mm)
    • 25% Brown Merle – (e.g., bb Mm)
    • 25% Black (red factored) – (e.g., Bb mm)
    • 25% Brown – (e.g., bb mm)
    • Crucially, the graphic here shows expected percentages of colored offspring, but implicitly excludes the highly likely (25%) Double Merle (MM) outcome that also occurs in such a cross. This reinforces why this cross is discouraged.
• 9. Bb Mm x bb Mm (Merle to Merle Breeding)
  • Genetics: Black Merle (Bb Mm) x Brown Merle (bb Mm)
  • Explanation: Again, a high-risk breeding for double merles.
    • B locus: Bb x bb results in 50% Bb and 50% bb.
    • M locus: Mm x Mm results in 25% MM (double merle), 50% Mm (merle), 25% mm (non-merle).
    • Combining these will lead to a mix of black merles, brown merles, black, red, and double merles.
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows a Black Merle (Bb Mm) and a Brown Merle (bb Mm) parent producing:
    • 50% Brown Merle – (e.g., bb Mm)
    • 50% Brown – (e.g., bb mm)
    • Similar to above, it excludes the double merle (MM) possibility which would occur. This simplification in the graphic is to show desired color outcomes, not comprehensive genetic possibilities including undesirable ones.
• 10. bb Mm x bb Mm (Merle to Merle Breeding)
  • Genetics: Brown Merle (bb Mm) x Brown Merle (bb Mm)
  • Explanation: Another high-risk breeding for double merles.
    • B locus: bb x bb results in 100% bb.
    • M locus: Mm x Mm results in 25% MM (double merle), 50% Mm (merle), 25% mm (non-merle).
    • Combining these will produce brown merles, brown, and double merles (predominantly white with brown patches).
  • Graphic Interpretation: Shows two Brown Merle parents (bb Mm) producing:
    • 50% Brown Merle – (bb Mm)
    • 50% Brown – (bb mm)
    • Again, implicitly excludes the 25% MM (double merle) from the outcome list.

---

Summary of Graphic Examples (with important nuances):The graphic you provided is a helpful visual guide for common breeding outcomes, particularly for solid colors and the expected merle/non-merle distribution from single merle parents.However, it’s crucial to understand a few things that the graphic simplifies or doesn’t explicitly state:

• “Red factored” (Bb): Many “black” dogs are genetically “Bb,” meaning they carry the recessive ‘b’ gene for brown. This is why black dogs can produce red puppies when bred to another red-factored black or a red dog.
• Double Merle (MM): The graphic does not explicitly show the MM outcome for merle x merle breedings (examples 8, 9, 10). This is a critical point in responsible Australian Shepherd breeding. When two merle dogs are bred, there is a 25% chance of producing puppies with two copies of the merle gene (MM), which can lead to severe health problems. Responsible breeders never intentionally breed merle to merle.
• Tri-color/Bi-color: The graphic primarily focuses on the base coat color and merling. The presence of white and copper (tri-color) or just white (bi-color) markings is determined by other genes (specifically the S series for white markings and the at allele for tan points) that are inherited independently of the B and M loci. So, any of the black, red, blue merle, or red merle dogs can be tri-color, bi-color, or self-colored (solid color with minimal white).

By understanding these genetic principles and combining them with the visual aid, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of Australian Shepherd coat color inheritance.

 

It is very important to have your Australian/Miniature American Shepherd tested before breeding if you purchased full breeding rights not just for health issues but for hidden color pattern issues.