A popular breed known for their strength, intelligence and loyalty, German Shepherds are handsome dogs that do well in a variety of situations, including law enforcement roles, dog shows and around the house. as beloved pets. While many people are familiar with the standard brown and black coat of the German Shepherd, few realize that German Shepherds come in a wide range of fascinating colors. It can be difficult to spot these unique dogs on the streets or even at competitions due to various regulations, but this list has you covered. Read below to discover some of the rarest German Shepherd colors.
Dark Red Color
Red is the result of a recessive gene, but it is quite common, especially in a sable pattern that replaces the beige color of the German Shepherd with a shade of red combined with black. In general, geneticists note that red is one of the least recessive genes, so to speak. Additionally,
red dogs with a liver gene tend to fade over time, so breeders may choose to keep fawn coated dogs away from reds to preserve the color.
Did you know
Police use German Shepherds because they are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and perseverance. They were first bred for military and police forces in the 20th century.
Flatter
Beige German Shepherds are quite rare, but they have been around for a long time. In many cases, they show up in litters when white German Shepherds are bred with another color, suggesting a later genetic mutation. Fawn belongs to the color category of sable, which encompasses various reds, but is significantly lighter, mimicking the fur of a baby deer. Notably, fawn is also known as ay sable. The fawn coat can be combined with others in the characteristic spotted pattern of the German Shepherd, allowing for black fawn, liver, etc. color combinations.
Black
Although popular with pet owners, only 6.8% of German Shepherds are black. Unlike white or light-colored German Shepherds, the American Kennel Club recognizes and allows all Black
German Shepherds to compete in dog competitions because they are not considered “undesirable” or “defective.” They can come from two black parents or from a black parent combined with another color.
Did you know
Although Black German Shepherds are essentially the same as their counterparts, they tend to have straight backs rather than the sloping type associated with the breed that typically leads to spinal issues.
Grey
Silver/grey German Shepherds are quite rare and differ significantly in appearance from the tan and black color combination typical of this breed. Notably, there is no silver “gene” in the German Shepherd’s DNA. Instead, Gray German Shepherds are the result of an agouti gene that interacts with a red color group. The resulting mixture thins the dog’s coat to a gray or tan appearance.
Did you know
Other dog breeds, like poodles, have a graying gene that fades over time.
White
White coated German Shepherds are the result of a recessive gene, which makes them rare. The first recorded appearance of a White German Shepherd occurred in the late 19th century in Germany during a breeding program. As with any recessive trait, White German Shepherds can still produce colorful puppies. Since these dogs look a lot like the stereotypical German Shepherd, they behave similarly and don’t require extra care. That being said, the American Kennel Club has banned them from participating in dog shows, marking their color as a fault.
Did you know
In general, dogs with lighter coats are disqualified from AKC events because they often lead to poor or unethical breeding practices.
Blue
Blue German Shepherds are the result of a combination of recessive genes, similar to their liver coated counterparts. The main difference between their genetics is how the “blue” and “liver” genes interact with other colors. The gene at locus b completely blocks the black gene, while the gene that causes blue fur only partially blocks the black gene. As a result, Blue German Shepherds are significantly darker than Livers. Notably, like a Russian Blue cat, these dogs are not literally blue, but rather have gray fur with a bluish tint.
