His Grace the Duke Waited in Midnight Velvet for the Guests to Arrive
Soft brown eyes, a white blaze, and a flowing white chest ruff give this red and white Border Collie a surprisingly gentle look for a duke. His coat is a deep midnight blue velvet with round gold buttons marching down the front, gold embroidery on the sleeves, and lace at the throat and cuffs. His shoulders are squared toward the viewer, and one velvet-clad arm rests quietly as if he is waiting for the next guest to be announced.
Notice the cracks and the faint golden specks in the dark background. Painters often layered thin, glowing glazes of oil over darker underpaint, which gave velvet that deep, rich look where the folds seem to swallow the light.
The Border Collie's red and white coat is just one of many color patterns for this breed. They are working dogs through and through, known for their intense focus and quick learning. A collie with nothing to do may start herding people, bikes, or toys, so give them jobs like fetch, hide-and-seek, scent games, or agility. They usually need a good amount of exercise every day. Brush the medium-length coat weekly, and chat with your vet about activity levels as your dog ages.
A duke like this would surely run his estate with patience, good manners, and a gentle nudge to keep everyone in line.
