German Shepherd Color Options

One of the smartest and most popular dog breeds around the globe is a shepherd. These animals are also distinguished by a special devotion to the owner. They love children, and their children. And this, despite the fact that they are fighting dogs. We are used to seeing the most popular among the shepherd dogs - German. Yes, and hearing the word "shepherd", immediately appears the beauty of black and brown color. But this is not the only possible coat color - there are other, more unusual ones. They will be discussed in our article.

Genes and alleys are not a fully understood topic. It is sometimes unclear why the dog has this particular color. The pigment responsible for the color of the coat is melanin. In turn, it is already divided into two pigments, which are responsible for dark and reddish colors. Among the options for reddish shades, yellow can also appear. We will try not to delve deeply into the nature of the genes, but still consider a little.

There are two types of genes: dominant and suppressed. Dominant - the main. Accordingly, most of the dog will be influenced by this particular gene. The suppressed gene is secondary. Thanks to him, spots, lines, patterns will appear.

The location of genes is the chromosome division. There are only 12 departments, and the variations of genes in each department are from 2 to 6. Not all of these genes will be necessary in each department.

German shepherds are divided into several types - the so-called lines. Each line is a breeding place for this breed. There are about 10 such lines in total. Each line differs from each other in its location and its pattern. There are a lot of color options.

The eastern German line, Czech, American, and even old-American are widespread. Among the unusual lines, the panda stands out. This dog has an incredible black and white color, reminiscent of a panda coloring. There are also varieties without a mask. Such shepherds do not have the usual pattern on the face.

And to make it clearer, you should consider all the most basic types of colors of German shepherds.

The color of the coat of the German Shepherd is most often approximately the same. But sometimes it’s not immediately possible to understand that it is a shepherd in front of you, and not some other breed of dog. The difference can be in the length and stiffness of the coat, as well as in the figure.

Under the unusual name is the black color of the wool on the back. The abdomen, neck and legs can be of several color options: from grayish to red. On the face as if wearing a mask to match the back.

The type of coloring, not recognized in the world community, is found infrequently, but does not belong to the rare color.

From the name it is clear that colors are like wolfs. In another way, the color is called zoning. The color on the hairs of the coat is arranged in rings. Each of the hairs has a black color at the end, then comes a yellow color, again black, and this ring closes a lighter shade. Standing ears and an elongated muzzle - all this is combined in a shepherd of this kind.

We are most used to such shepherds. In this case, there is a combination of dark brown with light yellow-orange.

Quite a rare species. It can appear in parents of standard colors, but it is not considered a malfunction in genetics. Dark brown color and long coat have a rich combination.

This type of wool is quite common in nature. It can be either weakened or darkened, saturated. Most often, a black and tan color is considered a coloring option - a black dog with brown spots. Such a suit is very similar to the coloring of the Doberman.

Among all the colors, there are always exceptions - the rarest colors that nature uses to give an unusual look to the German shepherd. Let's get acquainted with them.

Elite and exclusive color - black. It is very difficult to find such a dog, because in the whole world there are less than 4% of them. The color looks very noble, at first glance you will not say that it is a German shepherd. This color, combined with a flexible character and easy-to-learn, is one of the favorite combinations of dog breeders.

Black German shepherds became a rarity gradually, as they were knitted with relatives of a black shade. Thus, black-haired dogs became very few.

The most interesting thing is that at the birth of a puppy, it is impossible to determine what color it will be in the future, since there is a constant change in shade. The color becomes clear only when the dog is overgrown with top coat. There are exceptions when the color from childhood of the puppy remains the same for life.

This color is found even less frequently in the nature of shepherd dogs. Moreover, this is the appearance of an additional gene that simply contributes to the weakening of black pigment. Breeders consider such a dog to be defective. Outwardly, on the contrary, the dog looks very cute and unusual. In addition, these dogs have blue eyes.

Very beautiful color that looks great on a dog. This color is also rejected. Sometimes it has a red tint or just goes red, which is also not the norm and standard. But the black color with a splash of red is very welcome.

Perhaps the most controversial type of color. It is recognized only in the USA and Canada. A separate white breed was specially bred there. Around the world, this color is also a marriage.

Such a dog can not be called an albino, that is, a white color is not a mutation or a deviation in health. The dog’s eyes are necessarily dark, like nose and mouth. All shepherd dogs are very peaceful to their owners and young children, but they are wary and distrustful of strangers. White shepherd dogs are calmer in relation to strangers, and when training, the approach to education requires a more loyal than to relatives.

Like a change of teeth, the very first molt is very important for the animal, including the German Shepherd. During this period, smooth hair is replaced by hard hair of an adult. The beginning of molting can be observed at approximately 3.5–4 months. By the age of 7 months you can already see a clearly defined shabrack. By 10 months, growth at the withers ends, but the animal is not yet considered an adult dog.

Puppies are born very cute, chubby. The number in one litter can reach twelve! And all, most likely, will look approximately the same. Only with age will each puppy manifest its own unique color. From birth to about three weeks of age, they all have approximately the same appearance - a pointed muzzle, large black nose and short shiny coat.

Starting from the first week, special care is required for the pet's hair. Be sure to bathe 2-3 times a week, as well as combing after it. During moulting periods, the requirements increase: combing is mandatory daily. You can use for this either a furminator, which is very convenient for animals with wool of different lengths, or a metal comb. The second is less convenient, but it may be optimal for you - each of us is individual.

So that after the first molt the coat looks healthy, glossy, and its colors are saturated, you need to properly feed the puppy from the first days of life. Initially, in the first two weeks, the puppy eats mother’s milk. Later, complementary foods begin to be introduced. Pay particular attention to the meat composition. It should be in the diet of at least 60%.

The German Shepherd is one of the smartest dog breeds. She has a stable psyche and lends itself perfectly to any training, and can also perfectly adapt to any living conditions. The German Shepherd can be a great friend and an excellent defender of your family. But thanks to care and proper care, your pet will also become a matter of pride and beauty.

See German shepherd colors for more details.