If your German Shepherds come only in their classic black and tan colour, you’ll be surprised to hear that these athletic dogs come in a much wider variety of colours. But what other colour coats do German Shepherds have?
The most common coat colours include black and tan, sable, and solid black, with black and tan being particularly iconic. German Shepherds can also display variations such as blue or liver.
While black and tan is the most recognised colour combination, sable and solid black are also popular among enthusiasts.
A black and tan German Shepherd is the most common colour you’ll see in this breed, usually showing itself as a black saddle with black markings on their faces and tan taking up the rest of their bodies. Since this is the most common colour, we’re going to take a look at some more interesting colours.
The black and silver German shepherds are descended from the bloodlines of original working German shepherd dogs. Their silver shows a warm, off-white colouring that is patterned in a similar way to black and tan, with a black mask and saddle and silver everywhere else.
This lighter colour, while striking, doesn’t lend itself to show rings where officials prefer a darker, bolder appearance.
Black German shepherds are an unmistakable striking sight. Pure black German shepherds are not especially rare and are usually the result of the breeding of two black parents. However, black is the result of a recessive gene, so it’s possible a black and tan parent can produce a black puppy.
Black German shepherds must have a solid black colour, otherwise, they will be deemed bi-coloured German shepherds.
Blue German shepherds are an extremely rare find because they are bred neither for work nor for show but purely for the aesthetic.
This distinct and warm colour appears as a dark chocolate brown with an unmistakable blue tint. They have lighter eyes and a unique grey nose instead of a black one.
Like liver German shepherds, the AKC considers this colour a ‘serious fault’ but still recognizes it as an official colour. While they are officially accepted German shepherd colours, this colouring will prohibit them from competing in shows.
A white German Shepherd is so rare that many people incorrectly believe it to be the result of albinism, which is caused by a very low rate of melanin production.
Their white coat is actually the result of precise breeding and is achieved by breeding two white German shepherds. The white coat is due to a recessive gene, and a different-coloured German shepherd could potentially sire a white one. However, the results would be less predictable.
According to American Kennel Club (AKC), there are 11 recognised German Shepherd colours. These coat colours include:
All German Shepherd colours are accepted as breed standard by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), except for white. Small white markings are viewed as failing, and fully white GSDs are not permitted.
Whichever German shepherd colour appeals to you the most is the one you should choose, as their coat colour has no effect on their health or personality. But a deciding factor is if you want to have them compete in dog shows or not and your personal preference.
If you’re hunting for a rarity, a Panda German shepherd is a beautiful coat that exists only in a purebred German shepherd and is caused by an extremely rare mutation.
A grey German shepherd will have beautiful, striking blue eyes and appear more like their wolf ancestors. If you’re looking for an active working dog, a sable German shepherd is generally bred for work, but if it’s a show dog you’re after, then black and red German shepherds are the most appreciated in dog shows.
Most puppies of the German shepherd breed are born with a solid coat colour which will almost certainly change in the first three weeks. Their coat will fluctuate from light to dark over their first three months.
For the next three months after this, solid-coloured GSDs will begin to show variations in colour as their permanent coats intensify. This will continue until they’re about 18 months old, at which time their final coat colour should have settled.
German shepherds are powerful and intelligent dogs with an undeniable charisma that is reinforced by unique and interesting colours.
Whether you choose a panda coat or the typical black and tan coat, German shepherd colours each lend a unique characteristic to these dogs that will set them apart and makes them uniquely yours.
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