History & Origins Of The Black German Shepherd
German Shepherds, like many other breeds of dog, were founded to create a better working dog.
The GSDs we know and love today are the result of breeding from a number of other breeds, most notably the classic herding dog, the Berger Picard.
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The first German Shepherds came about at the very tail end of the 19th century and quickly spread around the world.
Theyve excelled in military careers, as service dogs, in search and rescue, and many more lines of work.
Black German Shepherds are nothing new.
As long as the breed has existed, these incredible dogs have shown their impressive form beneath a fine and shiny dark coat.
The Black German Shepherd Everything You Need To Know
The Black German Shepherd is a recognized variation of the German Shepherd breed. While some people think that the black color of this dog is the result of a defect in the breed and others think the dogs are a crossbreed, we are here to tell you that this is not true!
Although these dogs are relatively rare, they carry many of the same traits and characteristics as other variations of the German Shepherd breed and are known to be very loyal. These dogs are bred to produce the perfect working dog and German Shepherd dogs have gone on to have careers in the military, the police force and as other service dogs.
If youre interested in learning more about this dog, read on below as we go into detail about their history, their characteristics and what caring for this pup is like.
A Black Gsds Coat Can Turn White Due To Skin Conditions
There are some skin conditions associated with dogs. One such condition that affects German Shepherds is Leukotrichia. This skin condition causes a dog to lose hair or makes it gradually turn white.
Leukotrichia is generally associated with inflammatory and metabolic diseases such as cutaneous lymphocytosis, cutaneous lymphoma, vitiligo, and Alopecia areata. Hormonal imbalance and the use of certain medications have also been linked to skin conditions.
Read the case of Vela, a female black German Shepherd Dog whose color turned white over in two years, starting from the head to the rest of the body. Vets diagnosed her with Leukotrichia. The condition was later linked to Alopecia areata after thorough follow-up.
Alopecia areata is an uncommon immune condition that causes hair loss by disordering the hair cycle and the production of melanin . Interruption of the hair cycle comes as a result of damage to the hair bulb, while hair discoloration results from the failure of melanocytes to deposit color to the hair. See the case in this article.
In Velas case, Alopecia areata had disordered the melanocytes, making her hair turn white . Some dogs with Leukotrichia may eventually regain their hair pigmentation.
Talk to your vet immediately if you notice any white patches or hair loss.
Other skin conditions that can affect your black German Shepherd include black hair follicular dysplasia and Collie nose,Nasal solar dermatitis.
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How Rare Are Liver German Shepherds
Liver German Shepherds are understandably rare. Thats because most breeders dont reproduce them. Then, only a few, and mostly backyard, breeders breed them to earn from their rarity.
Most of the reputable breeders dont intentionally produce liver German Shepherd dogs.
Why?
Thats because its color is not up to show standards. Ill explain more about that in answer #10.
With that, only a few breeders intentionally try to reproduce this breed. Some are doing it to earn extra.
Thats because liver German Shepherds rarity is a cause to cash in more money.
Now, only dog parents whose intentions are to take home a rare GSD will get one.
But liver GSDs arent favored if it were for the dog show business. With that, theyre bred less.
Moreover, the gene that causes this color is a recessive B locus.
To come up with a liver GSD, youd have to have parent GSDs that have that recessive gene.
To be clear, lets have a short genetic lesson:
Things You Didnt Know About The Black German Shepherd
The Black German Shepherd is a pure German Shepherd and doesnt qualify as a separate breed, but it stands out because of its color 100% black. The Black German Shepherds are very rare, and for that reason, their price is much higher, you can expect to find a Black Shepherd puppy around $700 to $2000.
Stay with me and find out 7 things you didnt know about this black beauty.
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Are Liver German Shepherds Known To Have Specific Health Conditions
Liver German Shepherds arent known to have specific health conditions. They share the same predisposal to diseases with other GSDs. Thats because their color is their only distinct quality from other GSDs.
The coat color of a liver German Shepherd dog doesnt have anything to do with their health.
Liver GSDs have the same expected health as every other German Shepherd dog.
Now, German Shepherd dogs are known to be a healthy breed.
If you take care of them properly, guarantee that theyll enjoy a long and healthy life.
That effort will make things easier for them
Despite being predisposed to many diseases.
What are those issues?
Who Should Own A Black German Shepherd
Properly trained and socialized black German shepherd pups make wonderful companions to people of all ages and families with children.
Due to their large size and highly energetic nature, these dogs are best suited for large homes with spacious, fenced yards.
While they can live outdoors, black shepherds should primarily be kept indoors so they can regularly interact with their people and stay close to them.
In addition, because of their high social needs and potential to develop separation anxiety, they thrive in families where someone is at home often and able to keep them company.
If you live alone, travel a lot, or have long working hours, the black GSD isnt the right breed for you.
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Quick Facts About Black German Shepherd:
- Weight: 65 to 90 lbs
- Height: 25 to 27 inches
- Size: medium to high
Temperament: stable, loyal, active, obedient, trainable, intelligent, and courageous
Coat color: Black
Breed type: herding
Lifespan: 10 to 13 years
There are many people who are looking to make Dogs main priority as a member of their family because not every breed of dogs can be adopted for an indoor environment.
If you are a pet lover and want a companion for a long time then Black German shepherd is the best choice you can ever get.
The good thing about them is that they can follow you anywhere and obey you, where most dog pets are very difficult to change in every way possible.
You can train it and give it a purpose to make the most of it around the house by feeding him and give it the full liberty to sit on your beds and laps.
There has been seen that many house owners choose this breed because of its intelligence and cleverness over the other species of dogs.
You cant just find them on streets or rescue them from any place, they are special kind of breeds that are often time very hard to find.
That is why below we have listed some real facts about what are the reasons you need to consider Black German shepherd for your homes to help you understand what exactly it is.
What makes this breed very unique, how you can adopt it, and why they make a perfect companion instead of other breeds of dogs.
Cost Of German Shepherds
If you intend to buy an eight-week-old German Shepherd, you can expect to pay between $1,200 to $1,500. Of course, the actual price differs from location to location and between different breeders. In this article, well share the average price breeders usually charge, which includes vaccinations and a German Shepherds health bill. You can get older German Shepherds thatll cost less than eight-week-old puppies.
The only difference between older versus younger German Shepherds is that theyll already have habits developed. The main reason for the price difference is because many people prefer raising puppies. If youre looking for a cheaper option, you can get a GSD puppy from a shelter. Thankfully, there are numerous shelters with gooey-eyed German Shepherds in search of a loving home.
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The Average Cost Of A German Shepherd: How Much Does A German Shepherd Puppy Cost
The average price of a purebred German Shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder is around $800 to $3,500. Show quality German Shepherd puppies can cost anywhere between $6,500 and $10,000. Other factors such as coat color also affect the pricing of GSD puppies.
As you can see, the purebred German Shepherd puppy price range is quite high compared to other breeds due to increased demand.
They are even more expensive when they are bred from a generation of high-quality German Shepherds or those who came from show lines.
A GSD that is trained to become a working dog or service dog for the police or military is typically bought for $10,000 to $20,000.
German Shepherd breeders take a lot of time in producing GSDs from the working line and providing them with training at a very young age.
Coat color also determines a German Shepherds price. Aside from the standard black and tan coat, GSDs also come in solid colors like white, black, and blue. As expected, the rarer colors are more expensive than common ones.
The table below shows a comparison of each German Shepherd price for the different GSD colors:
| German Shepherd Color | |
| Blue German Shepherd | $2,500 to $3,500 |
The white German Shepherds price is a bit higher than the standard GSD color since it is less common. The appearance of white hair is a result of a recessive gene similar to black GSDs.
Since the breeding process for these dogs is quite selective, its expected for puppies to be priced a lot higher.
How Do You Pick A German Shepherd Puppy From A Litter
Selecting your German Shepherd puppy from a litter
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Black German Shepherds: Dog Traits And Care
Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned throughout the years how to optimize the breed’s health and wellness.
There are a lot of different types of German Shepherds, and one of the more popular is the black German Shepherd.
Many people think that the Black Shepherd is the result of cross-breeding or defection in the German Shepherd breed, but this simply isnt the case. In fact, black dogs are officially recognized within the breed standard.
Thats not to say that theyre common, though. Black German Shepherds are actually relatively uncommon, though they are becoming more and more popular.
How Much Does A Purebred Race Of German Shepherd Cost
German Shepherds inherit genetic and phenotypic characteristics from their parents and forebears.
As a result, purchasing a purebred German Shepherd puppy from a reputable breeder can be costly, but it is a more conscientious option because you are potentially avoiding puppy mills.
Furthermore, buying from a reputable provider can put your mind at ease because youll know your puppy grew up healthy, avoiding unethical activities.
Depending on the quality and type of the dog, a purebred German shepherd might cost anywhere from $1200 to $3,000 or $4,000. The breeding facilities play a crucial role because of the numerous facilities incorporated in the breeding procedure.
For instance, a reputed breeder may have exceptionally high breeding standardsqualified families, extensive health assurances, including medical procedures such as any surgery or orthopedic repair for animals with hip dysplasiaresulting in a $5,000 price increase.
Furthermore, knowing what your purebred German Shepherd puppys basic appearance and behavioral qualities would be like before purchasing one is beneficial. Obtaining purebred German Shepherd pups from a reputable breeder should always be your priority.
Proceed with care if the bargain looks to be too good to be true. Purchasing from a reputable and experienced German Shepherd breeder is unquestionably superior to buying from a backyard breeder or a pet store.
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Take Vaccinations From Cheaper Centers
Did you know that your local dog rescue center offers vaccinations at very low rates? Did you also know that at times the centers offer certain vaccines for free? Well, you heard that right! You can take advantage of these low costs to save on your finances.
Notably, dog vaccines are the same whether you take them from your dogs vet or the rescue center.
Why Do Some German Shepherd Puppies Cost More Than Others
Not all puppies will cost the same amount of money. There are many reasons for this and understanding how puppy pricing works can help you make a better decision as you settle on where to buy your puppy from. When looking at breeders, breed variations, and other key factors, the more you know, the better things will go.
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All Black German Shepherd Breed Appearance And Standard
As weve mentioned the black German shepherd will present with either a medium or long coat. They are both double coats, having a more dense guard layer with a softer undercoat.
The black German shepherd is a solid black color. They have a domed shape head with a long, square muzzle. Their ears sit erect on their head. They have long necks, which sit low when running or prowling. They are large, majestic and powerful.
They look very similar to a standard German shepherd, but it has often been found the black German shepherds have straighter backs, so they avoid some of the problems with this breed. Despite this, we know that they do suffer with a lot of the same health issues.
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 do.
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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Why Are German Shepherds Expensive
German Shepherds are no more expensive than other dogs of their size. They can get extremely expensive if you purchase a trained GSD. Protection dogs alone can cost up to $55,000 and up to $62,520 over the course of their lifetime. An average GSD purebred thats untrained typically costs only about $8,000 over the course of their lifetime.
GSDs often have hip and joint problems which can add thousands in vet care bills later in their life.
How To Tell What Color A German Shepherd Puppy Will Be
German Shepherd puppies will change coat color and pattern up to around 2 years of age.
However, you can tell much sooner what color your puppy will be, just by being observant.
Sinceall German Shepherd dogs are born one of three colors, you will need to watchclosely as they start to grow if you want to determine which color they willbe.
Black and Tan puppies will start to show patches of tan coloring around 8-weeks of age. However this coloring will be subtle, and you need to look closely in some cases to see the changes.
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How Much Is A German Shepherd Puppy Cost Near Florida
German Shepherds are not inexpensive pets. Expect to pay roughly $1,500 to $3000 for a puppy from a competent breeder . The case is no different near Florida. However, you may expect certain discounts from a number of providers. Nevertheless, if the prices are too good to be true, well, that is a huge red flag. Skip ahead and move on to the next browsing store or provider.
How Large Are Black German Shepherds
Its worth mentioning again, in detail, that Black German Shepherds are typically larger than the standard GSD version. Black German Shepherds can be up to 26 inches tall and weigh 88 lbs, surpassing the classic variety.
Black GSD puppies will reach their full-grown size between 18 months to 2 years old.
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Temperament & Intelligence Of The Black German Shepherd
The Black German Shepherd has the same temperament as a regular GSD and has, therefore, been used for the same jobs . They become very bonded with their family and should not be left alone for long periods, or they will exhibit destructive behavior.
Black German Shepherds are highly intelligent and are courageous and confident dogs who do equally well as working dogs or family pets. While they are very affectionate and loving dogs with their family, they are aloof with dogs and strangers they are not familiar with, and even then, they are picky with who they want to spend their time with.