Any DIFFERENCES apart from colour??? - Page 1

Would be interested to hear your views as to whether you feel the different coat colours in GSD's possibly matches with any physical or temperament differences?

(I am considering an all black GSD - which is why I was interested as to whether there are other subtle differences with coat colours).

Thank you,

Vixen

I wouldn't say much has to do with coat color, BUT different lines tend to be certain colors...so I suppose it would be loosely related.  The variety and difference more has to do with lines (show vs working)...working tend to be higher drive and harder IN GENERAL

I wouldn't say much has to do with coat color, BUT different lines tend to be certain colors...so I suppose it would be loosely related.  The variety and difference more has to do with lines (show vs working)...working tend to be higher drive and harder IN GENERAL

and

Damn sorry...continued:

and showlines tend to have better confomation and softer/laid back IN GENERAL.

Working lines tend to be darker and are usually solid black, sable, bicolor, blanket black and tan/red.

Showlines are usually Saddleback black and red/tan.

However some showlines are also solid black or sable (not common) and there is always a mix of the two. 

So depending on what lines that solid black is from will have more to do with temperament than what color he is.

In general there shouldn't be substanial differences other than the differences that go back to type from the beginning dogs like Swabian, Thurigan,etc. But over 100 years of breeding these differences have been minimized so by 1960 certain temperament could be found CONSISTENTLY in any color and also conformation. After the influence of the Martin brothers and all the blind followers, there is TODAY a significant difference in general with certain colors and these aspects. The key component is this is not the natural evolution of breeding working dogs but a manipulation by Man to achieve the condition we have today. This posts is not negative to any camp just a summary of what IS today and how it got there.

Although I have limited experience, I'd say there is no difference.  I've never even heard of a difference.

Don't know about whites.  Because they've been shunned and then herded into practically their own breed, there may be some difference to any given white.

color shouldn't make a difference in temperament, drive, structure or soundness.  Color is just color.  A Palomino Quarter Horse is still a Quarter Horse, with all of the traits a QH has - depending on the bloodlines and upbringing, same as a dog of any breed/color.

molly

My point was... when you say solid black, the first thing that comes to my mind is working line because solid blacks are alot more common in workinglines so I would assume the dog is more likely to have the temperament and drive of a workingline vs a showline.  JMO

Sure, GSD, I understood your point.  Glad you pointed it out, because people should be aware that sometimes color just comes with the territory - in this case, certain "types" or bloodlines which may have certain temperament/health characteristics more than others.

Hello Vixen,

What would you want this dog for?

Pet, working, or show?  I love the blacks and know of several in each category.

Most breeders dont breed for color except for blacks.

What do you really want?