
While this happens rarely, these dogs aren’t considered completely black and may lose some points in competitions due to their color. However, since they are quite rare and in high demand, black German Shepherd puppies cost much more than other color variations.īlack German Shepherds can sometimes have hints of powdered blue color in their coats.

The black color is allowed by breed standards, so black-coated German Shepherds can compete in show rings like all other Shepherds.ĭespite common beliefs the black color doesn’t cause any additional health problems and these dogs are as healthy as “traditional” GDS. Black German Shepherdīlack German Shepherds are very rare, and only around six percent of all GSD have an entirely black coat ( source). In most cases, the coats of agouti Shepherds are a mix of gold, tan, black, or grey colors. Interestingly, sable German Shepherds are usually born with tan coats and their coats start to develop the true color as they get older. German Shepherds with a sable pattern have two or more bands of color on every individual hair.

This is mainly because the sable is a genetically dominant coat color in German Shepherd breeds.Īlso known as the agouti coat pattern, sable is one of the oldest coat patterns in existence ( source). Sable German Shepherds have a rather unique coat color but are at the same time quite common. This coat pattern is preferred in Canadian and American show line German Shepherds and desired by most breeders. Saddleback German Shepherds also have distinctive black face “masks” and black muzzles. However, a lot of people call this the “blanket” pattern since it looks like someone put a black blanket over a dog’s back.
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They will have two colors – black and tan is the most common color combination, but some can be black and red.ĭogs with this coat pattern will have a large black patch of fur, in the shape of a saddle, on their backs. The saddleback Shepherds are by far the most common type of German Shepherds.

Here are the five different types of German Shepherd based on coat color and pattern: Saddle Coat German Shepherd On the other hand, working line German Shepherds would never win in a ring, since they are bred for working, not showing. Please note, show line German Shepherds are bred to reign supreme in show rings, so they are bred for their looks, not work ethic. Bred to possess extraordinary working abilities, German Shepherds are versatile workers and are often used for search and rescue tasks, but are also amazing family pets. 5 Types of German Shepherdĭeveloped by Max von Stephanitz, the German Shepherd is a medium to large-sized working dog breed. For example, the American Kennel Club and the World Canine Organization doesn’t recognize White German Shepherds. However, certain color variations aren’t allowed to compete and some are considered faults and can affect the scoring.īear in mind that not all types of German Shepherd are accepted and recognized by major canine organizations. While the breed standard recognizes only medium and longhaired German Shepherds the coat colors can be varied. While the physical appearance varies from one type to the next, all are considered a part of the German Shepherd Dog breed. In this article, we’ll tell you more about different types of German Shepherd and hopefully help you decide which one is the best for you! How Many Different Types of German Shepherds Are There?īased on their appearance, coat color, and pattern there are five different types of German Shepherds.

If you are looking for a loyal, obedient, and highly trainable dog, the German Shepherd might be a perfect choice. A show line German Shepherd is bred to reign in the ring, but a GSD from a working line is bred solely for work and will never win a competition.įurthermore, while black and tan German Shepherds are the most common, this breed can sport many different coat colors and patterns. While they are highly popular, most people don’t know that there are show line and working line German Shepherds.
