BC Museum: Lilac Border Collies

THE BORDER COLLIE MUSEUM Permanent Collection

LILAC BORDER COLLIES

First, let's define this most interesting color.

Liisa Sarakontu of Finland says that lilac is "'bb dd' [or] double dilute. It is brown and blue at the same time. That color is called 'silver' in Weimer[aners], 'isabella' or 'fawn' in Dobermans, ['fawn' in kelpies], 'blue bark' in Finnish Lapphunds, and 'lilac' in most other animal species (cats, rabbits, mice etc.)."

Linda Rorem, of Pacifica, California, says, "My understanding of lilac is that it is a dog who has the 'b' gene on the B locus from both parents (which dilutes or changes black pigment to chocolate), and also has the 'd' gene on the D locus from both parents (which dilutes or changes black pigment to blue (maltese), but acting on a dog that is chocolate produces 'lilac' (Weimaraner color)). Because these genes are on different loci, a dog can have both of them, rather than having to have one or the other. So the lilac dog is [genetically] bbdd and this causes a further dilution of the red (chocolate or bb) to that rather flat brownish/greyish color called lilac by some. Thus, it could be said to be both 'dilute red' (bb - chocolate) and 'dilute blue' (dd - blue)...A dog could also be a saddle-pattern and have a lilac saddle, just as it could have a chocolate saddle or blue saddle; or a sable and have chocolate-, blue-, or lilac-tipped hairs (that wouldn't be too noticeable on a lightly shaded sable); or be a chocolate, blue, or lilac tanpoint [tricolor]."

These two lilacs, Antje (a 4 month old bitch pup) and Bayko (an 8 month old male) belong to Lieven Ruysschaert of Krubeke, Belgium. Lieven says they are the first two lilac pups ever to be born in Belgium.

This is Grace, a lilac pup who belongs to Kim Baumgart of Gentle Shepherd Farms in New York State. Note the dark red spots on her coat. She may be a lilac merle or just a red merle. The jury is out. Her sire is Platinum, a blue and white Border Collie. Her dam is Pepper, below, also possibly a lilac tri, a lilac merle or just a red merle. Kim says that Pepper is registered as a blue (gray and white) but her coat color is very "washed out looking". Note that Pepper also has dark patches of red, and one of her eyes is partially blue, which Linda Rorem says is indicative of merling.

This adorable girl is Pepper, belonging to Pam Hutchinson of Country Way Farms in New York State. She is a lilac tri, though there is some thought that she might be a merle. See her left eye. It is partially blue, which is sometimes indicative of merling.

This is Sagehill's Never Another ("Rowdy"), pictured at 4 months old. He is a smooth coated lilac and white Border Collie bred by Paulena Renee Hope of West Virginia. Rowdy's dam was Silversage's Ever So Clever ("Never"), a red merle and the sire was a red and white. Rowdy is owned by one of Paulena Hope's students, Robin S. of Maryland. (Thanks to Ann Marie Hill of New York State for sending these photos.)