Is The Blue Bay Shepherd Right For Me
The Blue Bay Shepherd is a gentle giant who makes a loving companion. This dog breed is also healthier and more active than many purebred dogs.
Fans of rare dogs often rush into the latest dog fad without proper research. If youve done your homework on this breed and have experience handling large dogs, you may consider getting a Blue Bay Shepherd.
However, these dogs are only bred at Palm Bay, Florida by Vicki Spencer. Dont let anyone else claiming to have this dog fool you.
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Our Goal And Continued Commitment To You
At Von der Otto we want to make your experience with your dog as happy as ours. Continue building relationships with our customers and customers with each other. Strive to have happy, healthy and beautiful German shepherd dogs with outstanding temperaments for everyone. Stay in touch with new customers and old customers for years to come. Answering questions for any problem that may arise. Our #1 goal is to take special care of our customer and our dogs. Read More….
Are Blue Bay Shepherds Wolf Dogs
The breed is called Blue Bay Wolf Dogs not just for their appearance they really do carry wolf DNA. However, dont let that scare you.
The Blue Bay Shepherd Wolf Dog is five generations away from pure wolves, and their wolf-like qualities end with their physical appearance.
Vicki tries to keep the wolf DNA down to about 6% to ensure no feral tendencies arise in her dogs. However, it isnt a precise science, and a Blue Bay Shepherd may share up to 40% DNA with wolves.
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Blue Steel Panda German Shepherd Price Grooming Training
The Steel Blue Panda is arguably the most visually striking of the German Shepherd breed. They have a characteristic greyish-blue coat which gives them their Steel Blue name. In addition to their steel blue coat, their eyes can match too. They stand out from the traditional brown/black coloring that is synonymous with the breed.
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Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy Price & Expenses: Can You Afford A Blue Bay Shepherd
Spencer did not publicly state the price of Blue Bay Shepherds in the Southern Breeze Ranch website but according to some pet owners who purchased them, they may cost around $3,000 to $3,200.
I know this is somehow expensive but remember that this has been the lifes work of its sole breeder. You are also assured that the quality of the Blue Bays are not compromised because there are no questionable breeds added in developing them.
Aside from the initial cost of buying the pup, there are also some additional expenses that a Blue Bay Shepherd owner should expect. They are the following:
| Type of Expense | |
| Total | $325 |
The estimated total initial amount that you need to spend in buying a Blue Bay Shepherd and maintaining them is $3,325 to $3,525. Note that this still doesnt include vaccination and health check-up fees.
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Blue German Shepherd Faqs
How much does a Blue German Shepherd cost?
A standard German Shepherd normally costs between $300 and $700 for a puppy. A Blue German Shepherd puppy is much more expensive and can cost anywhere between $1,200 and $1,500. This is due to the fact that the breed is rare and finding a breeder can be difficult. Always make sure you buy from a reputable breeder who can show you health clearances for both parent breeds.
If this is out of your price range or you would prefer to adopt, you can always take a look at your local shelter and see if there are any German Shepherds who need their forever home!
Are Blue German Shepherds different to other German Shepherds?
There is not much difference between a Blue German Shepherd and a standard GSD. The main difference is the color of their coat, which is down to a recessive gene that those dogs with blue coats inherit. Although the AKC recognizes this blue gene as a fault, they really are the same breed with the same temperament and needs as other GSDs!
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Feeding A Blue Germanshepherd
The blue GermanShepherd will eat, on average, between 3 to 4 cups of dry food a day. Because GermanShepherds are susceptible to bloat, it is advised to spread food across severalsittings during the day. The exact amount of food will vary on the size of yourdog and their activity levels throughout the day.
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Nutrition For An German Shepherd Dog To Purchase
German Shepherds are known to have sensitive stomachs, so youll want to choose your dog food carefully. These dogs need high-quality protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Youll want to find more nutrient-dense foods for puppies than for adults. We recommend feeding your German Shepherd dry food. Not only is this the most economical, but it promotes healthy teeth and gums.
The total amount of calories needed for your German Shepherd depends on their life stage and activity levels. Most German Shepherds are only fed puppy food until they are six months old to prevent joint damage as they proliferate.
Ensure the primary ingredient in whatever food you decide on is whole meat, not a meat byproduct. Also, look for barley, rice, and rolled oats, which are easier to digest.
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Health Characteristicsof A Blue German Shepherd Dog
The blue GSD has thesame health tendencies as the normal black and tan variants, and their lifespanis 7 to 10 years.
Unlike other breeds,such as the French Bulldog, the colour blue is not indicative of health issuesor problematic personality traits. The diluted gene is often linked to healthissues in other breeds, such as Colour Dilution Alopecia in Weimaraner, but theblue German Shepherd is not known to suffer any diluted colour related healthissues. Simply put, the blue German Shepherd is simply a colour variation, andtheir health is exactly the same as a traditional coloured German Shepherd.
If looking at buying apuppy the National Breed Club for the German Shepherd recommends that bothparents are tested for Elbow and Hip Dysplasia, and that they should both scoreat least Fair. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal formation in the elbowand hip joints which is prevalent in larger breeds of dogs. Over time thisformation can cause pain in their joints and can often lead to cripplingarthritis in older dogs.
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Getting A Blue Bay Shepherd Puppy
If you are an experienced owner capable of handling such a breed, you will probably start looking for options and ways to get a Blue Bay Shepherd puppy. This is the tricky part. There is only one breeder of certified Blue Bay Shepherds in the world, and that is Mrs. Vicki Spencer from Florida.
People are interested in getting her dogs, and we certainly understand the appeal, but the truth is that getting one of these dogs can be very hard. There are long waiting lists, and you may have to be involved in the further development of the breed . Then there is the question of the price. Your average Blue Bay Shepherd puppy will cost from $3.000 â $3.200. That is a lot of money, considering that such a large dog can eat a lot and still has questionable health.
One additional thing you will have to check before getting a Blue Bay Shepherd puppy is your state and local laws. Wolf-hybrids are heavily regulated, and some places restrict ownership. Although technically, they are not direct wolf-hybrids, some states might place them in that category.
All in all, it is a beautiful breed that will appeal to a lot of future owners. We will watch the development with great interest.
Cover Photo by: sabrewoof
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Blue German Shepherd Puppies For Sale
A word of warning before you get reading blue German shepherd puppies are easy to recognize with their light blue eyes and grayish blue coat. However, as they grow, the pigment in the hair can become indistinguishable from, let us say, a black German shepherd.
For this reason, most breeders cannot guarantee coat colors but simply predict them based on the parent dogs coat color. This should not dissuade you from getting one. Most blue GSD puppies have very unique shades even when adults.
If you are dead set on getting a distinctively blue shepherd, then a blue Dutch Shepherd is the dog for you.
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Origins And History Of A Blue German Shepherd Dog
This variety of German Shepherds is very attractive. The dogs are not really blue. It is a diluted black color that looks quite specific. Despite many myths and wrong beliefs, there are not any sufficient differences in the overall look and behavior of such doggies. Moreover, it is not a separate breed as some people may believe.
That is why the history of a blue GSD started simultaneously with the history of a German Shepherd as a breed. Sometime in the middle of the 19th century, a retired German Cavalry officer, Max von Stephanitz by name, decided to breed the most perfect canines for his sheep farms. It took him about forty years to complete the process and obtain a working dog that could deal with herding and guarding.
Of course, a blue coat German Shepherd is not navy-blue or sky-blue. It looks like its immediate predecessor a wolf but only a bit darker. Such a color is also called diluted black. The color is a result of completely disabled D genes. A D gene produces a deep black color. Parents with the DD or Dd combinations of genes are unlikely to produce blue-coated offspring. Though, the latter combination can sometimes result in this if both parents do have it.
As you have already understood, D stands for a black color. And what about d? Geneticists argue that it stands for blue or diluted black. This gene can completely block black, resulting in an ultimate blue.
Photo from: @raven_the_blue_bay_shepherd
Are they expensive to keep? Well, they can be.
Blue German Shepherds Incompetition
According to theAmerican Kennel Club the blue colour is a serious fault in their genes, andwhilst they can still be entered into activity events, they are rarely seen becausestandard black and tan German Shepherds are favoured. Many owners who have anunfavourably coloured German Shepherd have suggested that their pups face colourdiscrimination in events even in competitions where color should not be judged.
As a general rule youwont really see blue German Shepherd Dogs competing in many national events
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Temperament You Can Expect From Blue Bay Shepherds:
Here is the fantastic temperament and habits of Blue Bay Shepherd Dogs you can expect to have:
- Trustworthy around livestock
You should also note that the dogs temperament and behavior also depend on the training and the environment they live in.
You can shape your doggies attitude by giving them the right environment while raising. Dogs are just like naughty little kids if tamed rightly, they will grow up to be your best companions.
Also, despite having Lupin genes, these dogs are gentle around the livestock and other small animals.
Photo from @bluberryshepherd
Since Spencer wants to develop a dog that is willing to please its owner, trainable, loyal, healthy, and has the physical features of a wolf, she dedicated 20 years in studying and breeding them.
When she came across a blue wolfdog, she realized that its the perfect parent for her breed project. However, finding the other parent, which is the blue German Shepherd, almost pushed her to quit.
In March 2011, she finally had her first litter. She wrote that the foundation dog used is a European German Shepherd she imported in France and the blue-colored wolfdogs she has been breeding.
Her first two pups are named Jordan and Passion, and they have the ideal personality, temperament, and coat color she desires.
Blue Haired German Shepherd Home Care And Health Care
Aside from the grooming issues mentioned above, most dog owners should find that the day to day care of these dogs is pretty much the same as that of a normal GSD.
They need the same diet and exercise regimen to deal with the energy levels and keep them fit. They need the same type of home with enough space and a loving family to take care of them.
These dogs are no more delicate for being designer and there should be no problem looking for blue German Shepherd kennels like the Sliverylake Heavy Duty Dog Crate with Tray.
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Blue Puppies Born 111413
Weâre shocked to present three BLUE pups out of our highly anticipated Aria & Filius litter. These gorgeous, unusual pups will not be sold for breeding purposes, however, they will be sold with the same comprehensive health guarantee as pups meeting the standard in all aspects.
ALL BLUES HAVE BEEN PLACED. WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY MORE, EVER.
You Already Have The Puppy At Home Or Have Paid The Full Price
If you already have a puppy in your household from a breeder with some red flags called out here, then love it and take the best care of it you know how! Many of the potential problems are simply risk factors and you could very well end up with a perfectly normal, healthy and happy GSD from even the worst of situations.
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Adopting A Blue Germanshepherd
On the other hand, ifyou are considering rescuing a German Shepherd, then the American GermanShepherd Rescue Association has listed rescue centres dedicated to this breedand you may find some blues that need a home. With rescue costs being, onaverage, between $50 and $350, you will be saving a life, and saving money thatyou can spend on extra toys.
History Of The Blue Bay Shepherd
The Blue Bay Shepherd is the lifes work of one woman, called Vicki Spencer. Unlike many established dog breeds, which were founded decades, centuries, or even millenia ago, the Blue Bay Shepherd is a thoroughly modern breeding project.
Which means we have unprecedented access to information about how they started out and what Spencer is trying to achieve, via her writing and interviews.
The first litters of foundation Blue Bays were born in March 2011 by crossing blue-coated wolf dogs with traditional European German Shepherds. Since then, Spencer says five more breeds have contributed to the Blue Bay Shepherd gene pool, and she plans to outcross with one more breed before closing the studbook.
Shes kept the exact genetic recipe of Blue Bay Shepherds closely under wraps, but anecdotal reports from people who have bought her dogs then paid for genetic testing suggest that Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies have contributed.
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History Of German Shepherd’s Puppies For Sale
The first German Shepherd appeared in Germany in 1889. Max von Stephanitz saw a dog that resembled a wolf at a dog show. He was so enthralled with this dog that he adopted it and registered it as the first German Shepherd. Von Stephanitz then developed the standards for German Shepherds, with the main emphasis placed on utility and intelligence.
The first German Shepherd was shown in 1907, and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America was later formed in 1913. The breed exploded in popularity after World War I, where the German soldiers frequently used them in battle. US soldiers returned home describing the wonders of the dog, from appearance to personality, and demand for them rapidly increased.
German Shepherds were used on both sides as mine detectors, guards, messengers, and sentinels throughout World War II. They were so widely used that a program was created called Dogs For Defense, which gave thousands of dogs to the army. Although the initial program fizzled out, a revival occurred in 2007 with the same mission.
German Shepherds have also been used as service dogs. Their temperament and obedience make them highly trainable. Their size makes them great help for those living with mobility issues, and their personality allows them to be therapy dogs or emotional support dogs.
Adopting A Blue German Shepherd
When adding a new dog to your life, you may prefer adopting over shopping. While, in general, German Shepherds are pretty common in rescues and shelters, this isnt the case for Blue German Shepherds.
Finding a Blue German Shepherd to adopt takes quite a bit of luck. However, you can increase your chances by connecting with breed-specific rescues in your area. At the end of the day, if you have your heart set on a Blue German Shepherd, youll probably need to buy one from a breeder.
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Is A Blue Bay Shepherd Good With Kids
Blue Bay Shepherds are sweet, intelligent, and playful dogs. The little wolf DNA they carry doesnt make them a danger to childrenVicki ensures this in every dog she produces.
Their size can be dangerous for toddlers, though, as these dogs may inadvertently hurt them. Nevertheless, the few people whove owned this dog feel safe having their Blue Bay Shepherds around their kids.
Still, theres a lot we dont know about this dog breed at this point. When it comes to households with kids, its better to go with a tried and tested dog breed rather than a breed you know little about.
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