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Illustrative imageGenetics & coat
Pattern: 
Merle (diluted patches)
Coat color:Blue merle
This trait is tied to breeding for harmful extremes
Merle-to-merle pairings can produce deaf or blind puppies. Color is not quality — breeding for looks at the cost of health harms dogs.
Three questions for the breeder
- Is the second parent proven not to carry merle — with a genetic test, not just a look at the coat?
- Do both parents have a BAER hearing test and a current eye examination on file?
- Have puppies from this or an earlier pairing been born with hearing or vision damage?
Blue merle Rough Collie
Blue merle Rough Collie: what this coat color looks like — with a photo, how it fits the breed standard, and the questions to ask a breeder. Fuller text follows once it's been reviewed.
Breed standard
Blue merle is a color recognized by the FCI standard for the Rough Collie.
Color is not a mark of quality. A price premium for a ‘rare’ color is a warning sign.