Sable Showline question - Page 1

Are the multi-colors on individual hairs always an indicator of sable, or are they present in saddle GSDs? My female used to have a solid black saddle, which shew blew out and replaced with tri- and even quad- colored guard hairs with alternating bands of dark and light pigment. Her undercoat is black in some areas, tan in others. Her saddle has developed a "salt and pepper" centerline of these multi-hued hairs. She did not look like a sable puppy; typical black'n'red pup, mostly black that lightened as she aged. After reading the other thread about sable showlines, I'm not sure whether I'm more or less confused than I was beforehand. Almost every showline I've seen has had multi-hued hairs... does that mean sable showlines are much more common than I realized?

No they are not that common. Since she was black/tan as  puppy then most probably she is black/tan but color is washing out or lightening. Silbersee has actual experience with show line sables and may have a thorough answer for you.

Ibrahim

you have what so many showlines have, is called a bitch stripe, very common.

This is normal, most females, no matter what line tend to discolor more than males, this is why most of them have poor pigment and look like breeding females (rough around the edges).

Good Luck.

common as a black and tan dog.
I have 4 bitches from 1-6 years old with it.
All have different bloodlines. Go figure