color in shelties

[rivendellfarms]

Awhile back (in 2011) you had some owners inquiring about the black and tan. There were several black and tans registered in this country and more in UK. The color was a dominant gene and when we entered WWII we had 4 left and since there was not much breeding done during the war, when we came out of the war, there was only one left and he was too old to be bred. The "old breeders" that I have interviewed have said that they were useful in improving both the sable and the tri colors as their tan was extremely rich in color and their black was a blue black and many of them had grey to black skin. I have spoken with the English Shetland Sheepdog club and to my amazement they still have classes for the Black and Tan, but of course there are never any present. As of 1985 or 1986, here in the US there was a Black and Tan color choice on the "blue slips" we all use to get. With the new registration, that color has been removed. I have some pictures of the Black and Tan in shelties and in collies, has there was a Black and Tan smooth collie that was used heavily.

 

[Lynnel]

My Wily who went to rainbow bridge five years ago was a tri with brown areas on his bib? Is that what your talking about?

 

[rivendellfarms]

No, the Black and Tan had no white at all.....Where the white bib and collar would be theirs was Tan.....the black and white pics that I have located are vey strange looking as it appears to be a dirty dog. HOWEVER, Jean Simmonds of Carmylie shelties has assured me they were a gorgeous color. They were hard to finish, and I am not sure if any of them did, but my guess would be no. It is sad that we have loss the gene as this could be of help today with pigment, faded sables, and washed out tris.