White markings? - Page 2

White that extends to the base of the toes usually goes away 100% as the pups grow. White is considered a fault by the standard, but, it's interpretation is based somewhat on pigment in the dog. If the dog has good pigment and a little white spot on the chest or feet. Most judges will not let that detract from the dog. Some will depending on the extent. There are VA dogs with white feet, white nails, and white spots on their chest.

My Ursus grand-daughter was born with white on her chest, and one hind foot. I didn't like this, and asked a number of people about it before I would purchased her. They told me it would probably go away, and they were right. It has completely disappeared, except for one white toenail. It's quite common in German showlines, and is nothing to worry about.

A friend of mine I just talked to breeds some American lines and said she often has puppies with white feet. Is it more common in American lines, as well as German showlines? I have little experience with American lines or German showlines, but am curious and alwasy eager to find out as much as I can...at least when it comes to GSDs. :) Thank you guys so much for all the responses...I am greatly relieved.

I asked Fred Lanting about it, and he was the one who told me it was very common in German showlines. I haven't seen that much of it in American lines, at least from the pictures I've seen, but my bitch is half American/half German, so, who knows which side it came from?

In order for the puppies to have white spots on chests and toes, I am pretty sure that both parents most carry the "white spot gene" as it is known. The white spot gene causes white spots or blazes on chests, faces, toes, or tips of tails. The white spot gene is NOT the same gene responsible for solid white GSDs. It is not a big deal and very common. Most of the white toes go away. You will probably see most of them fading within 3 weeks. I had a litter of nine recently, 7 puppies had a white spot on chest and some white toes. When they left here at 8 weeks, only one puppy still had a white spot on his chest. As long as the white has no bearing on the puppies pigment (lip, nose, paw pad colors after the initial newborn pink is gone), you should not be concerned. I have also purchased puppies with white on the chest and it usually diminshes to a small dot or goes completly away before they are mature. If anyone knows differently, I would love to know.

One puppy does have a very tiny white tip on it's tail...this really panicked my, as I have never seen this before. I guess this does make sense. The sire of the litter, I was told, was born with a very small white spot, so maybe he does carry the "white spot gene." Crossing him with this female, who evidently carries it also, obviously sealed the deal and most of the puppies have white spots. I'll keep track of the markings and add to this post in a few weeks, if anything changes. Thanks again so much for all the information.

A fiend of mine had the reddest black/red puppy with white toes. So they really stuck out against the red ( 3/5 West G Showline/ 1/4 working). I think it disapeared... I used to joke with her that when the pup grew up she should find a mud puddle and walk her pup through it before showing... anyhow I can't remember seeing the white when the pup grew up. I saw another B/T (pure am specialty Showring) pup had a white sock up the pastern... It went away when I got to see the dog as an adult. I think Karly Arminius had a white spot on the chest... It was a VA ... I think it was that one. I would not worry about it right now. An American Show dog with a ton of white on the chest was GV Inflight's spencer and it was pronounced because he happened to be Bi-Color.

Here is the link to a picture of Inflight's Spencer, I see what you mean about the white, I can really see it on his chest. http://www.concentric.net/~inflight/spencer.html

Hey Kristen. Zelda I think had a little small white spot on her chest, and also on one of her toes when I first got her, but that went away. I think it may go away with those puppies as time goes on. This is Shane, by the way. Hope Zelda is doing well there.

rockinrranch, I have had one puppy with a white tail tip. He was all black, so it was very noticeable. I FREAKED, but another breeder told me not to worry, and sure enough it was almost completly gone by eight weeks. I have showlines, used to have working, and have seen it with both, but more in the showlines.