The Appearance Of The Black Shepherd Dog
All characters of the pure black german shepherd dog resemble that of the other german shepherds as they are the same breed, with a similar genetic constitution. The weight of solid black german shepherds ranges between 60 to 85 pounds and they stand tall at 22 to 26 inches. Females are usually smaller than males by an inch or two.
The all-black german shepherd dog has semi-pointed ears that stand erect on their rounded forehead, long neck, a long squared muzzle, dark almond-shaped eyes, black nose, and a long tail. They have short legs and they are longer than tall. Some may be taller than others but that totally depends on the parental traits and has nothing to do with their color.
They have sturdy, muscular legs and a strong muscular body. The back of the solid black shepherd is straighter compared to other colored shepherds and their coats can range from short-haired to long-haired. The long-haired german shepherd has a feathering or flowy appearance to its coat.
The pure black german shepherd would not have stripes or markings of any other color on its coat except in some cases where they are known to have patches of brown or white on their paws, legs, and/or chest. black shepherd puppy reaches its adult size by 2 years of age.
FACT :Though They Are The Same Breed, Black German Shepherds May Be Larger Than Standard German Shepherds
What Are The Breed
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.
The ones that are favored are black and red, black and tan, or black.
The bi-color, black and cream, black and silver, and gray Shepherds are accepted in the show ring but often do poorly when compared to the deeper shades above.
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.
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Black German Shepherd Coat Type
Black German Shepherds are noticeable, thanks to their solid black coats. Their fur can be anywhere between short and long with the short being the more common one, but the longer coats are more sought-after.
If they come with a long coat, you can expect them to have the appearance of flowing, skirting, or feathering.
These dogs are solid black in color, which means they cannot have any other markings on them. Still, there are several other variations of black found on some other coat variations. Well go over most of them.
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Solid Black German Shepherds
Black German Shepherds are solid-colored. Some can have a few stray white hairs on their chest or minimal brown on their paws, but they should look completely black.
Any noticeable markings or coloring will put them under the bi-color category.
They can come from two black GSD parents, or one of them is black and tan.
Black isnt a dominant gene and is easily suppressed by other colors, which is why theyre often marketed as rare.
But before you buy a black German Shepherd puppy, we recommend that you adopt one from German Shepherd rescue organizations.
Due to the black dog syndrome, any dog of this color has a lower chance of being adopted.
German Shepherd Dog Care
German Shepherds can be a handle to care for. They have large grooming needs, a hungry appetite and need a lot of exercise to keep them entertained. However, its always worth it!
You should ensure that you are exercising your German Shepherd for 60 to 90 minutes a day. This includes walks, playing and mental games. Your doggie will want a big back yard to run around in too, so they will not be getting the exercise they need if you live in a small apartment.
Without adequate exercise, they can develop unwanted and destructive behaviors due to frustration and boredom.
The German Shepherd is a very intelligent dog and is therefore very easy to train. Their ease of training means that they make a great family dog as well as a dog for couples or individuals. However, they can be a little stubborn, so you should never punish them or scold them.
If youre lucky and have a medium coated German Shepherd dog, you may be able to get away with brushing them twice a week. However, if your dog has long hair, then youre going to need to brush them daily to prevent knots and tangles forming. They can shed a lot too, so their grooming needs can be difficult.
Because the Shepherd is a large dog, their diet should also be large. It is recommended that you feed them a diet specially formulated for large dog breeds and you should always check the back of the dog food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding your dog based on their weight.
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Are Black German Shepherds A Different Breed
Since black German Shepherds are very rare and make up only 6.8% of all German Shepherds, some might think that they are a different breed than other German Shepherds.
Although they are the same species, there are a few differences between the black German Shepherd and other dogs of the same species.
Lets take a look at a few of these differences.
What Is The Most Common Color Of German Shepherd
Black is prominent across most variations of GSDs. From black and tan, which are often working lines, to black and red for show, most German Shepherds have a hint of black.
If you are looking for the most common overall color of a German Shepherd, the two that come out on top are black and red and black and tan. The show line dog of this bicolor look will be the cheapest yet will command a price significantly higher than a working dog of the same pair of colors.
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The Original German Shepherd Colors
There are different color variations of German shepherds. Some are accepted by the American Kennel Club and others are not.
However, the original German shepherd colors are accepted by most organizations.
After all, you can consider these colors as the different colors of German shepherds in the 1800s to 1950s. In short, theyve been around for the longest time.
The original German shepherd coat colors consist of the following:
- Solid Black German Shepherds
- Black and White German Shepherds
- Solid White German Shepherds
Contrary to what you may believe, these three colors are actually one of the most common colors of German shepherds. Its just that its not common in places like America. There are, however, coat colors that are popular in America and other countries.
How To Care For A German Shepherd
A German Shepherd puppy can become one of the best companions a pet parent could ask for, but they dont come work-free. German Shepherds need regular grooming, plenty of exercise and a lot of training. However, these pups are quick studies, and all your efforts will be rewarded.
A German Shepherds grooming needs are rigorous compared to other dog breeds. Their dense double coat protects them from sun exposure and keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Brush your pup every day with a pin brush to keep the coat shiny, clean and healthy, especially in the spring and fall when they shed the most . Bathing too frequently can strip their coat of its natural oils, so plan on bathing your German Shepherd every three to four months, or when they get really dirty.
During their daily grooming sessions, brush your German Shepherds teeth with a canine toothbrush and toothpaste to prevent tartar buildup, and have your vet professionally clean their teeth once a year. German Shepherds ears do not need to be cleaned regularly, but while youre brushing out their coat, be on the lookout for signs of infection such as redness and ear odor.
About once a month, your pups nails will need a trim if they are not ground down naturally through all that exercise. Youll know its time when you hear them clacking on hard surfaces. Get the how-to here.
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Is It Time To Bring Home A Black German Shepherd
Before getting a dog, you have to make sure its the right breed for you and if youre ready to take on the responsibility.
The Black Shepherd is easy-to-train and a low-maintenance pet, great for first-time dog owners. If you decided on this beautiful and rare canine youd be getting a combination of courageous, intelligent, and loyal.
But this breed is not only all about the cunning looks they can take on different types of jobs. They can be a fearless police dog or a reliable service dog.
They will also be happy as a family pet. But youll need to make time for them since this breed doesnt like being alone and will require an hour of daily exercise.
Getting a German Shepherd with a rare black color may be pricey, but its worth it.
Do you already own a Black German Shepherd? We would love to hear about your experience with this amazing creature. Share them with everyone in the comment section below.
Health Of The Black German Shepherd
Anecdotally, it also seems that fewer black German Shepherds have been victims of the painful trend for banana backed German Shepherds which is a good thing!
An all black Shepherd is prone to the same health issues as any other colored German Shepherd. Unfortunately, German Shepherds are known for being at at a heightened risk of developing quite a few medical problems.
The most common issue that these dogs face black, black and tan or otherwise is hip and elbow dysplasia. This malformation of the socket, pain and eventual lameness can really impact the dogs life. To protect their litters, good breeders health test the parents, including through joint exams.
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What Were German Shepherds Bred For
German Shepherds a large-sized breed that originated in Germany in 1899 was part of the Herding Group. Known for their courage, loyalty and guarding instincts, their history of herding has meant they are great guard dogs, police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, and guide dogs for the blind.
“As the name suggest, German Shepherd dogs were originally bred to help shepherds herd animals, but have since become a versatile working dogs, often in the military, police and other emergency services, as well as guide and assistance dogs,” Bill tells us.
How Big Is A Black German Shepherd Adult
They are generally large dogs, standing around 20 to 25 inches tall. GSDs are all longer than they are tall and can weigh in anywhere from 60 all the way up to 100 pounds.
Black German Shepherd dogs are sometimes reported as being slightly larger and more muscular than non-black dogs of their breed. We cant find any quantitive evidence of this, but it could well be that either by accident or design, breeders specialising in black GSDs also used larger than average dogs in their breeding lines.
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Common And Original Colors
Though there are a lot of variations of German Shepherd colors, the original ones are sable, black, white, and grey. There are also certain variations of these colors that developed in the process of breeding or are caused by genetic modifications. The main colors accepted by international kennel associations are black and tan, black and red, bicolor, black, sable, and grey. Some organizations are ready to accept liver and tan as well as blue. They believe that the purity of the breed depends on the intensity of the color, so the diluted hues are not acceptable.
Other Unique Shepherd Colors
Although rare, pure white, solid blue, fawn color, pure red, and spotted black and white are also found. However, neither of these colors are accepted when it comes to competitions as these colors will only be found due to severe genetic mutations, or they simply dont match the breed standards for the show. A breeds color doesnt necessarily come with health issues, and neither of these does.
To know if your German Shepherd is genuinely black, you need to make sure there are no patches or stripes of another color. Black Shepherds have unique features that are associated with the color, including a straighter back. Youll notice that the average German Shepherd has a slanted back with short legs.
Although black Shepherds still have short legs, they stand taller, making them appear bigger and stronger. There are black varients with spots, creme, silver or tanned patches or combined with a red coat, but these variants look like the average Shepherd and are hard to mix up with the black version.
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Black & Tan German Shepherd
This color combination is the bread and butter, so to speak, of the German Shepherd. For most people, when they picture this breed, its with this color. But even with this common color, there is plenty of room for variation.
The tan fur can range fromdeeper hues to a shade that almost approaches silver along the edges. The black color usually appears as a saddle-like pattern along the back and can vary quite a bit in size.
Something to keep in mind is that GSDs born with this pattern usually begin life darker and slowly lighten as they mature. The best way to get an idea of how a pups coat will develop in adulthood is to meet the parents .
Darker, especially black, coloration is recessive in the German Shepherd. So if both the parents display the black and tan coloring, then the pup is more likely to as well.
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German Shepherds Come In A Variety Of Colors
Like many other breeds, German Shepherd dogs come in a wide variety of coats and colors. However, some colors are not accepted by major kennel clubs and are thus considered faults. Many prospective owners prefer a nice coat and unique color on their dog. While selecting a puppy, however, one should also know which coat colors are accepted by major kennels and which meet the breed standards.
German Shepherd dogs are intelligent, courageous, and devoted. This is what makes them one of the most highly sought after breeds in the world.
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Appearance Of Black And Tan German Shepherds
The black and tan German Shepherd is a beautiful dog breed. They are easily distinguished by their black and brown fur coloration.The black and tan German Shepherd is a medium to large sized dog breed. They typically weigh between 50 and 80 pounds.
They have a strong, muscular build with a long tail. The coat of a black and tan German Shepherd is double layered. The outer layer is coarse and stiff, while the undercoat is softer. The coat is thickest around the neck and chest area. Black and tan German Shepherds shed moderately throughout the year.
Is A German Shepherd A Good Family Dog
“German Shepherd dogs are a good choice for a variety of owners due to their intelligence and well-balanced character,” Bill explains.
“They can be a good addition to a family but can also be a great four-legged companion for a single owner or a couple. However, they are large and very active dogs that require more than a two hours exercise every day, which means they are better suited for owners with a larger house with a garden, and someone who enjoys exercise and spending time outdoors.”
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How To Recognize A Responsible Breeder
A responsible breeder will want to meet you in person and ask you questions to find out if the puppy is a good match for you. When you meet, they should be happy to show where the puppy was raised and you should also be able to meet the parents of your puppy. Make sure you inspect the health of both parents and the litter before buying.
German Shepherd Colors & Patterns
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Categories German Shepherds
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When getting a German Shepherd, one of the most important things to consider is his function. Is he going to be a family pet? If so, he must look friendly. Will he be a guard dog? If so, he must look intimidating. And if you want to enter the dog in the show ring, he better look the part. The color of the German Shepherd plays a vital role in all of this.
German Shepherd colors are usually black and red and black and tan. Tan or red can be replaced by liver, white, cream, or silver, whereas black can be replaced by blue, or gray. These colors are often distributed in a bicolor pattern, including saddle, blanket-back, sable, and brindle.
In this article, you will learn more about every German Shepherd color, including the various combinations, the rarity of each, how the dogs look, and the best use of them. You will also learn more about the distribution of these colors and the patterns you can expect a GSD to have.
Each section also includes a best for verdict that highlights my recommendation for who the specific dog is best suited for. Lets get started!
Below is a deeper dive into each of the German Shepherd colors documented so far.
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