Signs of Pigment - Page 1

Hey everyone,

I just had a nice litter of 7 puppies. They are the result of a solid black male and a black tan/red female. The female is 100% Show lines so I know she doesn't carry the black recessive. All of her pups are black and tan?? But they seem to be getting darker as the weeks go by. Some of them have pin stripped toes and all of them have black going down their hocks. I was just wondering what are these characteristics indications of? Is it only that they carry the black recessive gene or that they will eventually have strong pigment? Also one of them has the black mark on the tongue.

Thanks so much

A black mark on the tongue is generally an indication of strong pigment, so congratulations there. Your female could carry the black recessive, as genetic dispersion is seldom perfect. But to determine that would require much research and what you now think could be 100% correct.

The puppies will change colour a lot over the next few months, and perhaps by the age of six (6) months you will have a better indication (but not an absolute one) of what will be the final outcome.

Pigment can be a funny thing with young GSD's. I have a German show-line female who had the light-coloured diamond on her brisket and a couple of light/striped nails until she passed two (2) years of age. Her pigment is obviously very strong now. I have had puppies that were very dark brown and dark grey shortly after birth who grew to be nice black/tan examples of the breed.

From all of it I have learned to not attempt to predict the final colour, and just be happy there are no white toes, white bellies, white inner thighs, or large white patches on the puppies.

Congratulations,

Bob-O