The Aussie comes in four color patterns: self, white bi-color, copper bi-color, and tri. Self is all one color, no trim. This means the dog's body is completely one type of color. A spotted coat, such as a merle (see below) counts for that one color, so a merle may be a self, as well as the solid red or black dog, even though it posesses at least two colors of fur in the coat.
Copper bi is a self with copper trim. Other breeds refer to this as tanpoint. The copper may occur above the eyes as shepherd spots, around the eyes as spectacles, all over the cheek, muzzle and front of the throat. The front and rear feet and legs may be all copper. There is no set maximum or minimum, though it is preferred that the copper remains in the areas I have described.
Unlike copper, there can only be so much white. Below is my interpretation of maximum white on a blue merle dog. (Please note, he is NOT this white, the magic of a paint program!)
As you will see the maximum allowable white is this: ears dominated by color (51% or more), the eyes and ears completely surrounded. The white of the collar does not exceed the point of the withers, the white on the belly does not rise more than four inches into the body, and the stifle white stops at the main body. The dog above could be shown in conformation. A dog with less white is definitely within the standard.
Tri is a self with copper and white trim. The rules for both copper and white apply here.
Copper and white trim |
No Trim |
Copper trim |
White Trim |
Now on to the four acceptable colors. These are black, red, blue merle (often referred to as simply blue) and red merle. Blacks and blues must have black noses, lips and eye rims, and reds must have liver (dark brown).
The blacks must be jet black, while the blues may range from powder blue (nearly white) to steel blue (nearly black). The correct blue is not to be confused with dilute blue that occurs in other breeds.
The reds may range anywhere from a pale brown to a deep chocolate, but the correct color is that of a deep liver.
The merles should ideally have no diluted spots, but some naturally occur.
Black |
Blue Merle |
Red |
Red Merle |
