As for pet food, a high-quality diet is vital for your border collie's overall health and energy levels, and you can expect to spend around $30 to $60 per month, depending on your dog's size and activity level. While border collies are generally healthy, they can be prone to certain health issues, such as collie eye anomaly and hip dysplasia. Border Collies Blue Merle are generally healthy dogs that can live up to 12-15 years with proper care. However, like any other breed, they may develop certain health issues. Border Collies Blue Merle are prone to certain health problems, such as deafness and eye disorders. Maintaining their hearing by visiting a veterinarian regularly, and black, blue, fawn, gray, white. Patterns. bicolor, merle, sable, tricolor. Other Traits. cold weather tolerant, good hiking companion, requires lots of grooming, strong loyalty tendencies. There's been no better ambassador to the collie breed than Lassie, the beloved dog from the 1940s silver screen who saves the day again and again. The Effect of Coat Color on Border Collie’s Health and Behavior. As of this day, there is no identified effect of coat color on a Border Collie’s behavior. However, in terms of health, many scientific pieces of research point out that merle and all-white dogs or albinos are more prone to a list of diseases and congenital disabilities. Border Collies are prone to this mutation, which is why it’s important to test for it. They are prone to a few different health problems and the mutation can make them sensitive to certain medications, so it’s essential to know whether or not your Collie has it. - Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian Proper nutrition is essential for the health and well-being of your Blue Merle Border Collie. Providing a balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs is crucial. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate type and amount of food for your dog based on factors such as age, activity level, and overall health. The dogs have these issues due to the fact hat the merle gene strips all pigment from the inner ear, meaning the dog cannot hear, and it causes the eyes to not develop properly in utero. Be aware, one copy of the merle, denoted as Mm will not cause any of these issues, only MM will and a responsible breeder will never breed two merles together. Border Collie; Chihuahua; Dachshund; Great Dane; Shetland Sheepdog; While merle dogs are undeniably beautiful, it’s important to note that the merle gene can also be associated with some health concerns. Breeding two merle dogs together can result in a higher likelihood of deafness, blindness, and other health issues in their offspring. March 14, 2022 John Woods. The border collie is a smart, energetic, medium-sized dog breed, reaching 18–23 inches tall and 26–44 pounds in weight. Border collies live between 10 and 17 years. With their athletic builds and eager personalities, border collies are best suited to owners with the time and energy for a highly active pet. Health & Wellbeing. The average lifespan of a Border Collie is 12-15 years and they’re generally very fit, active dogs. As a breed, there may be some hereditary health issues including eye problems and hip dysplasia, although breeders have developed some DNA testing for these conditions. 1fpazOf.