The German Shepherd is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, but not everyone knows it has 13 distinct color variations. From the short stock coat of the East German working line dogs to the extreme long stock coat of some West German show line dogs-there is a shape, style and color tailored to you and your lifestyle. There are three main types of hair on German Shepherd Dogs: ground hair (undercoat), guard hair (topcoat) and whiskers.
Sable-colored shepherds tend to have bands of colors in their fur. Basically, their coat is made of strands of various colors like brown, black, silver, and red. These bands usually have a layer of black hair over them.
Individual hairs may have multiple colors as well, a phenomenon called Agouti hair. The most common sable combination is black hair over cream bands. Some even have gray over.
Explore all the German Shepherd coat colors-from classic black and tan to rare blues and livers. Learn how color affects appearance, genetics, and breed standards. German Shepherd Colors: A Detailed Guide to Coat Variations German Shepherds are a beloved breed, known for their intelligence, loyalty, and striking appearance.
While many envision the classic black and tan coat when they think of a German Shepherd, these dogs actually come in a wide range of colors and patterns. SUMMARY German Shepherds are of different types depending on their coat color, working abilities, rarity, and short & long hair. The most popular GSD is the Black and Tan German Shepherd, who have a recessive trait that gives them an all-black coat.
The color of a German Shepherd's coat is genetically determined. The original color of German Shepherds was sable. Experts say sable German Shepherds have the most complicated color.
Usually, different fur colors are scattered over the breed. But in sable German Shepherds, every strand of hair has a combination of colors. People may see them as black and tan German Shepherds, especially from afar.
From the short stock coat of the East German working line dogs to the extremely long stock coat of some West German show-line dogs-there is a shape, style, and color tailored to you and your lifestyle. There are three main types of hair on German Shepherd Dogs: ground hair (undercoat), guard hair (topcoat), and whiskers. Get to know the various coat colors that German Shepherds can have with our German Shepherd Color Chart.
Use it to help identify your German Shepherd's unique coat color and about the breed's appearance. Discover the 14 shades of German Shepherd colors in detail. Learn about coat and color varieties, markings, patterns, and popular colors.