Will Australian Shepherd Puppies Change Color?

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Australian shepherds is their color. Aussies can come in a range of brilliant colors, from red to black to white to blue, with some dogs having a striking tri-colored coat. But if you recently adopted an Aussie puppy, you may be wondering if your dog will keep its current coloring.

Some Australian shepherd puppies will change color. This effect is uncommon and unpredictable, but an Aussie puppy can change colors. However, color changes are rare and can be due to age or spending time outside in the sun. They can also turn white in extreme cases.

If you’re dissatisfied with your Aussie’s color and you hope it will change with age, there is a chance your wishes will come true. This guide will take a look at the most common color changes Aussie puppies undergo.

Color Change in Merle Australian Shepherd Puppies

The most common color change found in Australian shepherd puppies is in blue merle puppies.

Blue refers to the blueish gray color that dominates the coat, and merle is a spotted or marbled pattern. Blue merle Aussies can come in solid, bicolor, and tricolor varieties.

Some blue merle puppies are born with very light-colored coats. The merle sections of their fur may be light gray or almost white. If the puppy is bicolor or tricolor, the blue merle may be so light it blends in with the white, but most blue merle Aussies darken by adulthood.

The blue merle sections of fur turn close to black and become distinct from any white fur the dog may have.

Red merle Aussies may darken with age, as well, and they have a marbled reddish coat. Red merle puppies can be very light in color, but the red in their fur will usually turn a rich, brownish-red by adulthood.

Other Fur Color Changes in Australian Shepherd Puppies

Less common color changes in Australian Shepherd puppies include the loss of white spots and sun-bleaching.

These changes are sometimes subtle, and in the case of sun-bleaching, reversible. There are also some documented cases of Aussie puppies undergoing dramatic and inexplicable color changes.

White Spots

Australian Shepherd puppies with white markings may change color over time, which happens to Aussies, collies, and shelties without any known cause. The white spots and trim simply darken as the puppy grows up.

However, even though the spots may change color, the dog still carries the gene for white fur. Aussies that used to have white spots should only breed with non-white dogs to reduce the chances of breeding a puppy that falls outside of breed standards.

Some Aussie puppies may be born with a “harlequin” pattern of lighter spots over their merle coats. A harlequin Aussie might have large white spots and a diluted red or blue merle coat as a newborn puppy.

Over time, the merle usually darkens, and the white spots shrink, though they do not disappear.

The Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute (ASHGI) has documented several cases of harlequin pattern puppies and the color changes they experience.

Sun-Bleaching

If your Australian Shepherd puppy is red or red merle, she might experience a color change after spending long periods outside. Red fur is prone to being sun-bleached, and the reddish-brown can turn to the yellowish color of straw.

This change isn’t permanent and will fade as your dog sheds her coat and grows new fur.

Dramatic Color Changes

There are also a handful of inexplicable color changes in Australian shepherds. ASHGI has documented some case studies of these mysterious color changes.

In one, a puppy goes from having a reddish coat to a black tricolor to a blue merle–and by one year of age, he is a black tricolor again with only a slight red tint to his fur. In another case study, a puppy is born with a diluted, uniform red coat. By adulthood, she appears to be a typical red Aussie with no trace of dilution.

ASHGI also lists cases of adult Aussies undergoing drastic color changes. These are rarer cases and typically involve the dog losing most of its coloring and turning pure white.

Nose Color Changes in Australian Shepherd Puppies

The breed standards for Australian Shepherds state that the dog’s nose must not be pink after one year of age. A black or blue Aussie must have a black nose, and a red Aussie must have a liver, or reddish, nose.

Aussie puppies may have pink on their noses, ranging from small spots to a butterfly shape to the entire nose. These spots usually darken over time and should disappear entirely by adulthood.

Once your puppy has reached one year of age, his nose should be fully darkened to black or liver.

If he still has pink spots on his nose after one year, he may not meet the qualifications of a standard Australian Shepherd. Blue merles are permitted to have pink spotting on the nose after one year as long as it takes up less than 25% of the nose.

Eye Color Change in Australian Shepherd Puppies

Aussie puppies are born with blue eyes, but adult Aussies have a wide range of eye colors. Some dogs even have heterochromia, which causes two different colored eyes. When your puppy is very young, her eyes will start changing color.

If your Aussie puppy has dark blue eyes, he will probably have brown eyes by the time he is an adult. Puppies with light blue eyes may keep the blue color, or they can turn green, yellow, or amber.

This change can begin as early as three weeks and may not finalize until three months.

Final Thoughts

If you’re worried that your Aussie puppy will change color, consult your breeder about the history of your dog’s parents. If neither of them has any history of color change, your puppy is less likely to change color.

Australian shepherds are a relatively young breed, so the phenomenon of color-changing Aussie puppies is not well-researched or documented. Some puppies simply change color without any apparent cause.

Not all Aussie puppies will change color, and those that do vary in coat, pattern, and degree of change. The color change is a natural, if unpredictable, phenomenon in Australian shepherds.