Silver coloring on Showline GSDs? - Page 1

Hi I'm new to West German Showline dogs and have a 6 month old female pup out of German VA and V parents. She looks like her mother, who had quite a lot of silver all over her neck and down her back and on her hind legs. My question is, while I know that silver is not considered a desirable trait in these show lines (they are supposed to be black and red like all the VA males pretty much are, right?), is it something that would cause my dog to get a lower ranking in the show ring? She has a lot of black and red but the silver is very pronounced. She's still a pretty dog (biased opinion, I know :) ), but since she's only 6 months I'm betting she'll continue to lighten in color? I can try to post a pic if necessary. Thanks!

the silver on her neck and back is normal.  alot of people call it a bitch stripe

And some call it a   "Skunk strip"  lol

Its normal and it will change and the red will come out stronger as new adult hair develops..I hope.

ok so silver streaks on females is normal. Would silver on males be abnormal then? Just curious. And do these silver markings play a role in judging and show ring placments? Thanks again!

I wouldn't say it would make any difference on show placement or judging as almost every bitch has some degree of this.  I have rarely seen it on an adult male except for some who have poor pigment.  I have been told, not sure how much truth there is in it, that a nuetered male will get this silver down the back too. 

You shouldn't find this on solid blacks though, but just about every other color in the breed has some type of this grizzling color.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/classifieds/58269.html

see link for example, beautiful female, though I would like a little more black on the saddle, but you can clearly see the silver on her withers and going down the spine

Why "should" showline dogs be Black and Red???????? This is the mentality that new people have that has greatly damaged the breed and is prevalent today and for past 25 years. A showline dog should be any color GS that has superb conformation and temperament......PERIOD!!!!!   This mentality sets me in fits!!!!

and another female : http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/classifieds/65444.html just scan the ads on here for females and you will see it on just about every one except for the blacks/darker dogs such as bi-colors  and young pups.

 Gustav,

I am just an interested pet owner, but I couldn't agree more. Assuming I know what a GSD is capable of, the absolute most important trait to me would have to be longevity, all the rest just seems to follow. So if the current breeding philosophies are centered on something that is secondary to the original ideal, that seems short-sighted to say the least.  The bits of silver you might see, but I don't on your dog... my dog, yes, are described as being "bright". Or so I've read. If any German's care to clarify or correct me, I won't mind.

"bright" markings are generally referred to as lighter areas on the inside of the legs and lower chest.

personally, give me a solid black, bi-color or black sable any day with good conformation.  I prefer a darker dog, but as long as judges continue to put up blk/reds and breeders continue to not show their dark dogs, we will not see any changes in the colors being shown.  I believe Adel haus kennel, and Silbersee? both have georgous solid black males  who hopefully will be shown in the conformation ring and give those blk/reds a run for their money :)