With dominant genes, youll get the most prevalent color of black and tan followed by others listed here that arent as common., Meanwhile, German Shepherds that have rare colors get them as the result of recessive genes. These colors are most common because they come from dominant genes. This is why recessive colors are rarer and harder to breed for.

The medium-length coats are considered to be a short-haired variety. The panda pattern of German Shepherds is called a tricolor and it is a symmetrical white, black and tan pattern. The black coat color in a German Shepherd dog is considered a true recessive gene. But other genes can interact with eumelanin to change how the black shows up in the coat. This is also why they are often said to be unusual colors. Other dog breeds, like poodles, have a greying gene that dulls their fur color over time. Which Colors Are Considered Rare or Fault Colors in the German Shepherd? The German Shepherd coat can be bred in six solid colors and five color patterns.

For a time following World War II when anti-German sentiment was at an all-time high, the German Shepherd breed was even renamed the Alsatian Wolf Dog, which is thought to perhaps be a recognition of the breeds hybrid wolf-dog origins. Do German Shepherds Like Water? Aside from their gorgeous russet coats, brown or liver German Shepherds can have piercing golden eyes. The black and tan color is usually seen with a black facial mask well. These traits include aspects such as personality and temperament, conformation (appearance) and size, height and weight, coat type, eye and nose color, dew claws and paw pads, tail, gait, and the topic of our discussion here coat color and pattern. Including those that arent recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)? 7 Different GERMAN SHEPHERD Coat Color Patterns. What are Some of the Best Therapy Dog Breeds? An all-black or sable colored German Shepherd coat is also typically acceptable in the show ring, although maybe judged less preferentially in some dog club circles. The most common colors found in liver German Shepherds include solid brown, liver and tan, and liver and white. While blue-black shepherds are extremely popular among pet owners, they only represent only 6.8 percent of all German Shepherds. However, it has been noted that White Shepherds make better family pets as they have milder personalities and less aggressive. As this popular German Shepherd breeder and owner forum showcases, the presence of any white in a German Shepherd dog can quickly produce intense debate and disagreement. Our puppies come with lifetime health guarantees, first year of shots and an extensive dog training program here at our premises in Spring Grove, Illinois. As a large breed dog, they are prone to shoulder or hip dysplasia, and bloat. Rare colors are often seen as a marketing ploy by people attempting to make more money off the GSD litters that do not conform with its standard. White GSDs are an example of this, but its also possible for black and tan Shepherds to inherit this maskless gene. Blue German Shepherds are the result of a recessive gene combination, similar to their liver-coated counterparts. In general, geneticists note that red is one of the least recessive of the recessive genes, so to speak. The liver is along the lighter spectrum of dilute or washed-out phaeomelanin. Their lineage comes from their ancestor Horand von Grafrath, who was a little darker than the modern black and tan GSDs. This is a much more complicated aspect of color genetics in dogs, but suffice it to say that when eumelanin is lightened, it can turn into a blue or gray coloration. If you wanted to see some of the different coats our dogs have you can visit our adult dogs page here. These often manifest in the same pattern found in typical tan and black German Shepherd.

Liver or blue can also be shown, but its near impossible for these hues to win at a conformation show, while white is entirely off the table. This variety of German Shepherd can come in many different shades of gray, ranging from nearly white to a deep charcoal color. We offer lifetime guarantees on health and temperament. German Shepherds are one of the most popular dogs in America and England. Standard colors, like solid black and black and tan, are variations from recessive genes. As long as your GSD puppy came from a reputable breeder and had parents with excellent temperaments and health, physical qualities shouldnt be a priority. Mini breed, big love: all about the Chipin Dog. Learn About the Standard German Shepherd AKC-Approved Coat Colors. Can Dogs Eat Sardines? They both are double coats, having a denser guard layer over a softer undercoat., Additionally, long coats are known as fluffies and medium coats as shorthairs., According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America, the preferred colors of the German Shepherd Dog are black, tan and red, although the dogs coat color may vary a little. Their iconic black markings give the German Shepherd dog breed a range of colors and certain characteristics. Black German Shepherds are the result of two German Shepherds bred together and they are a pure breed. Although you may not expect it, pure white German Shepherds descended directly from the same German Shepherds that black and tans did. Black and silver German Shepherds carry a recessive gene, but they are still a popular selection among pet owners. In general, this type of dog is genetically similar to the average tan and black German Shepherd, the only difference being in its color combinationsoriginating from the KIT Gene mutation that causes white spotting. However, the clubs official AKC breed standard also makes it clear that certain colors and patterns are strongly preferred over others in particular, strong and rich colors. If a Liver and Blue GSD have a litter, theres a chance of getting Isabella puppies due to the double dilution. Later, von Stephanitz added in other breed lines to give more diversity to the gene pool for health reasons.

Notably, theres no such thing as a silver gene within German Shepherd DNA. The sable coat color is actually a pattern where the hair is black-tipped with a lighter contrasting color as the hair gets closer to the skin. Long Hair vs. Short Hair German Shepherds: Whats the Difference? These dogs have more difficulties tolerating hot or humid climates because they will overheat quickly if their topcoat is too thick. The color is usually some variation of cream, tan, or silver/grey. Despite being outdoorsy, these dogs are naturally clean and dont need frequent baths. White German Shepherds arent prone to having genetic disorders, but history hasnt been kind to them.

Is that even possible? Still, black and tan German Shepherds are most common, especially in the United States, Thanks to Rin Tin Tin, a pup rescued by an American soldier from a French village bombed during World War I. Temperament is determined by breeding, care, and training. Throughout their lifetime, the sable color of the German Shepherd can change numerous times yet whilst the color of their coat can change, their markings remain the same. The German Shepherd dog can also display the sable color or pattern, where its fur is black-tipped. This breeds long history and varied lineage has led to certain colors being very commonly seen, while others remain quite rare. Read below to discover some of the rarest German Shepherd colors around. Its true, and in this blog post, we will discuss some of the different colors of German Shepherds and the commonness and rareness associated with each one., Genes play a role in the colors and patterns that all dogs sport. But GSDs are loyal and obedient, as well. Much like the Blue German Shepherd, this coloration is caused by a recessive dilute gene. The last one is especially common with blue German Shepherds. What are the breed-approved German Shepherd Coat Colors? The American Kennel Club considers blue coats in German Shepherds to be a serious fault, meaning that they see the color as a detriment to the breed. What are the Friendliest Dog Breeds to Bring Home to Your Family? The variety of other colors that their coats include are red and even gold. There are six solid colors and five color patterns that are recognized for the purposes of the official German Shepherd breed standard. It represses the black and makes it brown. Arguably the rarest color of them all., these dogs have double dilution genes responsible for both the liver and blue coloring. If you are new to dog ownership or dog breeding, you may not be that familiar with the concept of a dog breed standard. According to the German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA), most colors are permissible.. with their golden-brown to amber-colored eyes, they look almost magical. At Regis Regal, we breed, raise, and train German Shepherds that are not only beautiful on the outside but also have a good temperament and intelligence that makes them anything from a, If you are in the Chicago area and would like to find out more about our world-class, Service Dogs for Children with Special Needs, longcoats we currently have available for sale here, deliver your German Shepherd to your residence. To preserve the breeds integrity, the AKC holds strict standards for GSDs to prevent certain undesirable traits from contaminating the bloodlines. As Vom Slekira Kennels explains, each German Shepherd puppy will inherit one gene for coat color from each parent dog. If you come across an albino German Shepherd, he would have a pink nose and pinkish-blue eyes. Black and tan is a very popular combination that has been favored by many dog owners for years. Two White German Shepherds need to be bred to produce a pure white German Shepherd.

Any noticeable markings or coloring will put them under the bi-color category. Lighter sables are easier to distinguish because theyll retain some of a German Shepherds undercarriages classic markings. from West Germany. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As Captain von Stephanitz said, the coloring of a dog has no significance whatsoever for service., Posted on Published: July 27, 2020- Last updated: September 18, 2021, Bichon Frise German Shepherd Mix: The Fun of a Shepherd in a Small Package, How Do German Shepherds Show Affection? Are you ready to discover all the wonderful colors of the German Shepherd? As their name suggests, these dogs are black with a cream-colored underbelly. Click the image below for your FREE copy! Alternatively, if you dont live locally, we offer a private courier service where we can deliver your German Shepherd to your residence. Belgian Malinois vs. German Shepherd: Which Is Better? Long-haired GSDs have a coat thats looser and softer. Because of this, many people today erroneously believe that these snow-colored dogs are flawed genetically.

Black German Shepherds have thick coats and they can have up to two coats. Isabella-colored German Shepherds, also known as lilac German Shepherds, are the rarest of the rare when it comes to GSDs. In fact, those who own black German Shepherds will tell you that they are very smart and loyal. Or how about the color liver or sable? serious fault and against their breed standard.

Anyone who wishes to show their GSD should know that there are 11 AKC-approved colors for the Shepherd dog breed, but NOT all of them can partake in dog shows. This is where the white color of White Shepherds might seem a bit high maintenance because they can get dirty easily. It might be difficult to spot these unique dogs on the street or even in competitions due to various regulations, but this list has that covered. Our bloodlines started out of the top 2 bloodlines in the world, Vom Arlett and Bad-Boll. Some can have a few stray white hairs on their chest or minimal brown on their paws, but they should look completely black.