While most Shelties are sable (brown & white), this breed enjoys several other color variations like tricolor (black, brown, & white) and blue merle (mottled blue, white, and sometimes also with patches of brown or black).

Sheltie color “swatches” provided courtesy of Woodruff Shelties.

Since the sable gene is dominant over all other color genes, two “branches” of the Sheltie breed have developed in order to promote the blues, tris, and blacks.  While there are many breedings between the two branches in order to capture qualities needed, breeders are always conscious about the color results as they plan their litters. Each breeding pair is chosen for the temperament and soundness of the puppies, and not only for the desired color.  Most breeders specialize in either sables or “all other colors”.