The colourful world of the

German Shepherd Dog

For many, the traditional black saddle with tan/gold markings, is considered the 'classic' look and as the only colour of the German Shepherd Dog. The breed comes in a few primary colours with several coat pattern variations, including the Black and Gold, Sable, Bi Coloured, Solid Black, Blue and Liver.

The Black and Gold/Black and Tan, are, traditionally what people are used to seeing and some even believe that these colours are the only colour available.

Sables can come in a variety of mixtures including variations of black sable, grey sable, and red sable

The solid black colour is occasionally seen, and to acquire the solid colour, both parents require the specific gene to be present.

The Bi-Colour, is a derivative of the black gene.

There is also Liver and Blue colours. They can occur in litters but are very rare and are a dilute gene, as well as the solid White.

Blues are a dilution of the colour black. The blue colour replaces the black pigment on the dog. Blues also have a dilution of colouration on the eye and nose leather pigmentation. The blue can be a combination of blue with black saddle or solid blue only. It takes two genes of the same dilution to produce that particular dilute colour.

Livers are also a dilution of the colour black. The liver colour replaces the black pigment on the dog. The liver also has a dilution of colouration on the eye and nose leather pigmentation. Liver can be a combination of the liver with a black saddle or solid liver only. It takes two genes of the same dilution to produce that particular dilute colour.

The white colour is a recessive gene and it can be carried by coloured dogs. Because of its recessive nature, 2 white dogs bred together can only produce an entire litter of all white pups. White, in some cases, can also a dilute of the black and gold, whereby the gold/tan has paled out completely, as has the 'saddle'.

Liver, blue and whites are not rare breeds, they are a disqualifying fault under the ANKC and SV standards .

All three of these colour variations are a disqualifying fault within the breed standard and can not be judged at Australian Kennel Council sanctioned shows.

There was once another colour, the Brindle, although this has not been seen in the breed for many years.

The only solid colour that is acceptable is  black.

Below are the varied and acceptable colours, under the SV standard, of the German Shepherd Dog, click on thumbnails for full size:

Black and gold German Shepherd Dogs start off darker, as puppies and gradually lighten up:

Sable German Shepherd Dogs start off lighter and gradually darker:

Black German Shepherd Dogs are born black and remain black, sometimes, there maybe very slight tan flecking on the legs, they may also have a slight white blaze on chest or toes.

Bi Colour German Shepherd Dogs, can be born nearly solid black, with a small amount of brown ticking of the lower legs, under the tail and with some white blemish, they may also have a brownish coloured spot above each eye.

Top