Australian Shepherd Red Merle Border Collie
Many people can make the argument that solid red merles are actually red merle white aussies.
Australian shepherd red merle border collie. He was known as hyper hank very popular for his frisbee skills back in the 1970s. Aussies are tied for the 42nd smartest dog breeds while the border is the king of dog intelligence sitting at the number 1 spot. The red patches can range in color size and shape. However the border collie is undoubtedly more intelligent.
Red merle australian shepherds are likely to thrive in dog sports such as flying disc games flyball herding trials agility tracking or obedience sports. Both the border collie and the australian shepherd are generally quite healthy dogs and there are no major concerns or health problems to be aware of above the average pup. With blue merle red merle black or red with or without white markings the australian shepherd also has a distinctive coat. Both the australian shepherd and border collie are intelligent dogs.
With both breeds classified in the herding group it is no surprise that a mixture of both breeds produces a focused and intelligent hybrid. Australian shepherds are lovely active dogs and the red merle australian shepherd is no different. One common issue that results from a double merle breeding is eye defects. The border collie australian shepherd mix is a hybrid sheepdog where both parent breeds have been historically bred for herding livestock such as sheep and cattle on farms and ranches.
Still your dog does not need to be that intelligent. In fact one aussie was once a frisbee champion. An australian shepherd with a solid red merle coat looks very similar to the other two variations as well. The spots can be tiny speckles or large patches depending on the dog.
The border collie australian shepherd mix will have a fairly long coat in a range of potential color combinations. Australian shepherd coats are thick and medium length in black blue merle red merle and red with or without white markings. It is basically a working or herding dog like its parents and it needs a job to do at all times. This breed is known for its fantastic looking dogs but for some the red merle australian shepherd in particular stands head and shoulders above the other members of the breed.
Red merle australian shepherd health the merle color gene can be problematic for an australian shepherd when both parents contribute the gene to a puppy. These physical and behavioral descriptions could also be applied to the border collie. This is called a double merle and it is associated with a variety of potential health issues. As with a lot of dogs they are both prone to elbow and hip dysplasia in later life which is where the affected joints are abnormally formed and can cause painful arthritis.