Question about White GSD's - Page 1

Since white is a masking gene, the white GSD can be genetically any colour, even solid black, so if mated to a correct colour, it will throw correct coloured pups who carry the white gene.  If mated to another white, all the pups will be white.

Margaret N-J

What she said :p

I dont think they have it much in Europe - we dont have it much here either...but there are occasions where a white has thrown a liver or blue white - though I have only heard of one of those, and its a DQ with the whites...the standard calls for black pigment.  White to white will always produce white, except in the rare mutations where the pup might have a birth mark - which again...only seen once (small patchy, black spot on the white fur.)

I think the amount of cream in the coat has a pretty high correlation to the pattern the dog is masking, though I dont know what it is.

~Cate

Actually two whites can produce a colored pup.  I had a B&T female in my last basic obedience class from 2 white parents.  I didn't think it was possible so I was very surprised.  But I know the breeder and the dogs parents personally and DNA was done. 

forgot to meantion the pup is very washed out but she does have a saddle.

then the dog wasn't a genetic white or maybe the dam dog was double bred.  Did one of the parents have a saddle to?  If that was the case then genetically the dog was a black and tan with alot of washing out at the intensity locus.

At the extension locus the most recessive allele (e) is what codes for white - and it is a masking gene - it  prevents the dog from producing any black pigment in their coat.  If two white dogs (both e-e) were bred to each other - there is is no way for an E to pop up anywhere in that mix, and that E is what is needed to produce any kind of black pigment.  Sheila Schmutz just published a very good article in the J.Heredity about this.

Is there any chance you might be able to pm me the breeders site?  It really is genetically improssible and I am interested in having a look at the pups parents just to see what i can get.

~Cate

Thanks to all of you for the replies, I've been wondering about this for a while 

Years ago, I had given someone a solid black german shepherd male pup,
and he bred it to a solid white german shepherd, and all the pups
turned out to be black & tan saddle backs, but their pigment had a washed out,
faded look, it was freaky, and one of the people that got a pup,
complained that his dog was too friendly, just a big lugg...........

One of the parents of the B&T pup from the whites, did have a butterscotch colored saddle.  She wasn't as pure snowy white as most - Her parents were a white and a light B&T.  It really does looke strange because the B&T pup is very faded but the black is not blue (almost charcola) and the tan is like a dark butterscotch color.  Her eyes are very dark though and black nails