The white gene is carried independently of colour. White in the
Collie is not so much as a colour as a condition just like the dilution gene. The white Collie does come with a colour that is inherited just like a
non-white collie. In the white though, the only place you usually see the colour is
on the head and maybe a body spot or two.  The white means that they
inherited the white gene and can produce a white.

White Collies can only be produced when bred to another White Collie, or to a
white-factored Collie. A white-factor is a dog that carries the white gene, but is
not white itself. It can USUALLY (not always) be detected by a unique marking
inside of the back legs. The white extends in an unbroken line all the way up
the inside of the back leg and is visible by looking at the dog from the side.

White Collies are healthy. What we wish to express is that the White gene itself
does not affect the health. This is not to be confused with a Double Dilute white
Collie which can have health problems and are often born blind, without eyes
or deaf. They also suffer from internal problems such as liver and kidney
problems and if they live through the first few weeks, USUALLY die at an early
age because of the internal problems. There have been many Double Dilutes
that have been grown out and lived long and productive lives, but this is the
exception. If bred, it can only produce a Merle. The Double Dilute can only
occur when two Merles are bred together and that offspring inherits a
Dominant dilution gene from each parent; thus the Double Dilute. It appears
white, but is not a TRUE white.

White Collies are 90-99 percent all white and are homozygous for the white factor s^w. The head of the White Collie is coloured according to its genotype (sable, tricolour, blue-merle).

The White Collie is a healthy dog as sable and tricolours, and is on its way to win more and more popularity in Europe. The White Collie has noting to do with a double-merle which may be defective.

How do you produce a White Collie?

A tricolour coated dog is use in the example below.  These tricolour coated dogs could be substituted with a sable, sable-merle, or blue merle coloured dog.  The gene for a white factoring does not effect the sable, tricolour or merle colour except for the greater amount of white in the coat if it is present.

The white factoring gene in the Collie will be represented as follows:

                                                                                   
                        White Collie                    White factored Collie             Non-White factored Collie

     +         =  

A white collie bred to another white collie will produce only white puppies.
The puppies produced in this breeding may show different amounts of colour in their white coats.
All puppies from this breeding will carry the white factor gene

    +         =  

A white collie bred to a non-white factored collie will produce only white factored puppies.
There will be no white collies and no non-white factored collies in this litter.
All puppies from this breeding will carry the white factor gene.

    +         =    &  

A white collie bred to a white factored collie will produce white puppies and
white factored puppies.
The puppies produced in this breeding may show different amounts of colour in their
white coats and white in the coloured coats.
All puppies from this breeding will carry the white factor gene.

    +         =    &  

A white factored collie bred to a collie that does not carry a gene for white factoring will
produce both white factored puppies and non-white factored puppies.
Approximately half the the puppies from this breeding will carry the gene for white factoring.

    +         =    &     &

A white factored collie bred to another white factored will produce white puppies, white factored puppies and non-white factored puppies.
Approximately two thirds of the puppies from this breeding will carry the gene
for white factoring.

Some noted White collies in history:

Former US President Lyndon B. Johnson's
White Collie, Blanco

Blanco was born on July 19, 1963 and registered as
Leader Blair Jamie of Eden.  He was a gift from a little girl in Illinois
n December 1963.  He was given to a Kentucky doctor and is wife before the president left office. 
Blanco died in September 1974 of a heart attack.  President Johnson always shook hands with
Blanco when he left or returned to the White House.

Grace Coolidge
with Rob Roy

Our Babies three months on....