This color is called 'Blue' in the Kelpie breed. When present in the
homozygous recessive form (d/d) it dilutes black (eumelanin) to blue or
grayish color, and red ("e/e") to cream or pale yellow.
Skin pigment (especially the nose) is also diluted to a grayish color and the
irises to a brown, gold, amber or gray.
Sometimes the blue color is mistaken for the dilute brown (fawn) color and
vice-versa.
*NOTE: Most people think that to produce the blue color, one has to breed
blue to blue -- not so. As long as both parents carry the "D" allele, either in
the homozygous (d/d) or heterozygous form (D/d), the blue color will be
produced. Some have said this is a "rare" color and therefore sell puppies
for a much higher price. This is not true, this color is no more rare than the
black or brown color.
Example: A person can breed black (with or without tan points) to black and
produce blue colored pups as long as BOTH parents are carrying the
dilution gene.
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