Is he a phantom merle?

[speedy]

Well we just got a new puppy today and his name is speedy. I was wondering if any of you could tell me whether or not you think he is a phantom merle. Here are some pictures of him so you can decide he appears to be a black tri but he has spots on his paws and tummy as well as a spot under some white on his nose.

 

[sheltiemom]

looks exactly like my tri at that age

 

[Caro]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a phantom merle?

 

[JessicaR]

I believe she is talking about a cryptic blue which is a merle with very little merling.

the puppy looks like a white factored tri to me which is probably why he has the white spot on his back. the dark spots on his tummy is just skin pigmintation. It can be very hard though to tell if he is a merle by a picture you need to look for gray hairs on his body.

 

[Lightplum]

I would just say he looks like a tri. my sables have the same markings on their feet and stomach.

 

[HopeShelties]

I'd say just a tri with a small body spot of white. Face markings, unless there's a small merle patch, leg white, and some belly white isn't an indication of being a merle.

 

[elaine2004]

Excuse my ignorance but what is a phantom merle?

I had no idea what a Phantom merle was either, Caro! Speedy, looks like a Tri to me as well. The spots on his under side are pigmentation spots just like freckles on us.

 

[SuzieQ1960]

He looks just like my parents' Tri-color boy!

 

[Narmowen]

Nope! He's "just" a white factored tri color!

What color are his parents? If he has two tri-color parents, then he can't be a blue (or a cryptic merle).

 

[Smudge]

This is completely random, but that sheltie paw picture is so cute! That's a great idea for a picture.