With beautiful coat coloration and hardworking capabilities, there are hardly any dog breeds that can compete with the Blue Merle and Red Merle Mini Aussies. Despite their popularity, many pet enthusiasts are still confused about how these two dog breeds are different from each and which one would be a better option for them. To clear the haze, we bring to you our today’s article, Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Five Major Differences. So without further ado, let’s get things rolling.
Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie
| Blue Merle Mini Aussie | Red Merle Mini Aussie | |
| Size | 18-23 inches | 18-23 inches in height |
| Appearance | A grayish coat with a tinge of blue, with patches of white and black.
Their ears are Semi-Prick, floppy, and short and long tails. |
A reddish brown coat, with lighter or darker white and red patches. Eyes are usually blue but may show heterochromia in some cases. Ears are Semi-Prick and fluffy |
| Ancestry |
Pyrenean shepherds were brought to Australia, where they were cross-bred by the Basque people with Border Coolies. Later, these cross-breed were introduced to America and, like other Australian shepherds, were used as herding dogs to look after their livestock. They were selectively bred to produce miniature versions. |
The Red Merle Mini Aussie has the same lineage as the Blue Merle Minnie Aussie.
However, during cross-breeding, a separate set of genes were introduced, which is the primary reason for their color difference. Apart from that, they all hold the same ancestry. |
| Behavior | Highly intelligent and loyal beings, quite easy to train and to be able to socialize easily, they do very well with kids.
These dogs are highly energetic and demand a lot of attention from owners. |
Active dogs, brimming with energy, highly intelligent, and socialize quite well.
Get attached to their owners, and demand a lot of attention. |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years | 12-13 years |
Key Differences Between Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie
Both the dogs, Blue Merle Mini Aussie and Red Merle Mini Aussie, were originally bred for the same purpose, herding the flocks.
With time, however, their purpose has changed, and now many people simply keep them for their looks and friendly nature.
However, ranchers still consider this breed of dog as one of the best shepherd dogs out there, and for them, both dogs hold a high value.
1) Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Size
Both the Blue Merle Mini Aussie and the Red Merle Mini Aussie are miniature breeds of the Australian Shepherd. These dogs are almost similar in size and may range anywhere between 17-23 inches in height.
The size of a dog depends on a couple of factors like the lineage, their parents, and also on their genes.
A Blue Merle from one breeder may be shorter or taller than each other or against a Red Merle Mini Aussie from the same or different breeder.
2) Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Appearance
The primary difference between the two most sought-after dog breeds is their coat. Blue Merle Mini Aussies have a predominantly grey or silver-colored coat with black spots or patches.
A special dilution gene in Blue Merles causes the blue-gray coloration, preventing the black pigment from taking over. Blue Merle dogs may also have white markings on their chest, face, and legs.
Their eyes may be brown, blue, or both, a condition that we call heterochromia, and they may exhibit a marbled or speckled appearance.
On the other hand, Red Merle Mini Aussies have predominantly reddish-brown coats with lighter or darker red patches. The red coloration is caused by a different gene which is called gene M, which affects the distribution of the red pigment.
Like Blue Merle dogs, Red Merle dogs may have white markings on their chest, face, and legs. The gene M is a dominant gene that is responsible for the Merle coat pattern.
Their eyes may be brown, blue, or a combination of both, and they may have a marbled or speckled appearance.
3) Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Ancestry
If we trace back in history, Australian shepherds are directly linked to Pyrenean Shepherd Dogs. When the Basque People, who were originally from Spain and neighboring regions, started immigrating to Australia, they brought their dogs too.
These dogs, when bred with British dogs like the Border Coolie, it gave rise to a completely different lineage, the Australian Shepherds.
When trade started between America and Australia over livestock such as sheep, these dogs were introduced there, too, as they excelled as shepherd dogs.
Later, many American breeders were bent on creating a miniature breed of the same Australian Shepherds. With this purpose, they began their selective breeding.
In the process, miniature dogs came into being with heights a little over or within 17 inches. These dogs, due to their coat pattern, were called Merles, and whether red or bluish-gray, determined their name as Blue Merle Mini Aussie or Red Merle Mini Aussie.
4) Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Behavior
Since both the Blue Merle and the Red Merle have the same lineage, therefore there is hardly any change in their behavior. These dogs are highly intelligent and can be trained quite easily.
Mini Australian Shepherds are quite social dogs and do great around children, and as a result, are excellent family dogs. However, they need a good deal of physical activity to stay fit.
Mini Aussies are highly loyal dogs, and as they grow, they develop a deep attachment with their owners. This nature is evident from the habit of being clingy and demanding attention all the time.
5) Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Lifespan
Blue Merle Mini Aussie and Red Merle Mini Aussie have a lifespan that ranges from 12- 13 years of age. The lifespan of a dog depends on several factors like health conditions, diet, etc., and may differ from individual to individual.
Since Blue Merle Mini Aussie and Red Merle Mini Aussie come from the same ancestor, they are quite genetically identical. Therefore there is hardly any difference in their lifespans.
Here, we conclude our today’s article on Blue Merle Mini Aussie vs Red Merle Mini Aussie: Five Major Differences. We will be back with many more such interesting articles, so keep a close watch on our website. If you have liked our content, then please share it with your peers and on other social media platforms.
References:
- The Happy Puppy Site- Blue Merle Australian Shepherd Dogs
- The Happy Puppy Site- Red Merle Australian Shepherd Dogs
- A-Z Animals- Australian Shepherd
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A zoology student turned writer. Nature has always been a magnet to me, and to unearth some of its secrets through my articles is my prime intention. If not engaging myself with nature and anime content, you can always find me going through some Bengali classics or filling the air with some soulful Tabla beats. An artist, trying to throw some colors to my blank canvas of life.