I don't know about shelties, but I've seen both ES and collies whose coat didn't indicate they were tri-factored with heavy black shading.  I haven't seen tri-factored blondies as often in the collies, but I have a photo on my computer of a sable merle collie bitch who's even lighter than Ginny and has produced tris and blues.   

That aside, yep, the genetics are the same.  

Merry



> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:37:56 -0700
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [FARMCOLLIE] Pups in WA state
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Okay, this is, I think, more of a question about how similar breeding works between shelties
> and ES's.  Just wanting to learn a bit.  <ggg>
> 
> Now, in shelties, our sable can be tri factored.   And, Ginny, with her mother being a tri we
> would really assume that she was tri factored from the time she was born on.  Now,  the sire,
> with both parents being sables, could be a tri factored sable  himself..........but you don't
> find out until breeding  him.  Unless you knew both parents were tri factored.  Obviously at
> least one of his parents is tri factored and he inherited that gene.
> 
> And, in shelties, there are hints in the coat color as well that does  help to give clues
> towards judging if a dog/bitch is tri factored.  Is that true in ES's also??  
> 
> Inquiring minds....... 
> 
> Sandra
> MythicWinds shelties
> 
>

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