Question regarding BLACK Shepherds..... - Page 1

Purely curious, but why does it seem that there are not many all Black GSD's (even if they have a 'spash' of white)? 

Is the reason because Black is not a very popular colour choice, or are they for some reason more difficult to breed?

Thanks for any replies,

Vixen

black as a color in GSDs is recessive to all other colors.  So the dog must inherit one black gene from each parent to be a black dog.  If he inherits only one black gene and one other color that is dominant (all other colors are dominant to black) then he will be the other color, not black.  So it is a recessive color and not as "common" as the other colors.

molly

I would think the fact that it's a recessive gene would have a lot more to do with the fewer number of all black GSD's than any popularity contests or such.

You can't get a black in any breeding unless you have two dogs that both black or both carry the recessive gene.

Yvette

Many thanks Molly and Yvette,

I am not a 'Breeder' (which of course was obvious)    And I appreciated the explanation of the Black GSD.  Odd to think that a black gene would not be the stronger (just imagine trying to paint a black wall yellow)!

I have been told of a litter of black puppies (with just a dab of white), whereby both parents are indeed black.  Understand better now why this is.  Thank you both.

Vixen

The dab of white shows up on a black dog.  On a dog with a red chest, that same dab might blend in and go unseen or at least be hard to notice.  The small bit of white doesnt effect the other colors, so most breeders do not try to erase that minor fault, if buying an adult may not even realize the dog ever had a white patch.  The white on a pup at birth will dramatically decrease as they mature.  It is possible to breed blacks without the white, you just have to look harder for them. 

two black parents = all puppies would be black, no other option.  One parent another color = some puppies may be black IF that parent carried black recessive, if the parent did not carry black, then NO puppies would be black even with one black parent, but all would carry black recessive.

molly

Hi Molly and Reggae,

Thank you both for explaining a little more.  Really interesting how the colour genes work - and just a small part of why breeding should be considered very seriously.

Also, surprised to hear that a certain degree of white can or does disappear.   (Two puppies in this particular litter have a small dab of white (chest and toe) which the Breeder said would disappear, but I thought that sounded odd.

Grateful thanks,

Vixen

usually the toe white will dissappear, but chest white will not.  However the adult coat being very thick, small chest-white may be covered and hard to see.

molly

Molly, thank you for this very helpful information.  (I think that is actually what the Breeeders' did mean).  Your knowledge and experience of this is much appreciated, and I may well ask for further advice if there is something that I would like to know or clarify (unbiasedly) - if I may?

Kind regards, Vixen

The basic body color of the German Shepherd is controlled by the genes. The order of German Shepherd coat colors dominance is as follows: golden sable, grey sable, saddle marked black and tan, bicolor* black and tan (bicolor is where the dog only has tan on the legs and face, not on the body), and black.

Additionally, know that the black gene is recessive to all the other colors in GSD's. Solid black German Shepherds bred to solid blacks German Shepherds will only produce blacks. The sable colors are dominant over the other colors and patterns in the German Shepherd breed.

THE WHITE SERIES

White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog is recessive to all other colors. In order to get a white coat color in the German Shepherd, both parents must carry the white gene (either be white themselves or be carriers.) The order of dominance is as follows: Melanin is produced. (Standard GSD's colors have this); Partial albinism (not seen); White coat with dark eyes and nose (not albino); Yellowish coat collar (proposed).

THE COLOR SERIES

This controls the intensity of the non-black coloration. The order of dominance is as follows: Lightest tan (cream); Intermediate tan (tan); Darkest tan (red).

The intensity of the color series determines whether GSD's with color (i.e. not all- black or all-white recessives) will be black & cream,black & tan or black & red.

If you want to read more follow this link.

http://ezinearticles.com/?German-Shepherd-Coat-Colors-And-Patterns-Vary-Greatly&id=161274