Technical question! Collor and Pigmentation - Page 1

I would like to know about what is called collor and what is called pigmentation! Since the GSD is well pigmented when got nails, nose, eyes and mucoses dark, can a dog be considered well pigmented with a clear sadle? Does the fact of the brown part, afected by the faeomelanin, be clear makes the dog not well pigmented? Thanks!

The dog is strongly pigmented when the pigment (black!) is strong on nose, nails, paws, and lips. The lightness of the saddle and mask is propably caused by another gene which defines the amount of eumelanine on coat. Also the allegation that sable color improves pigment (and saddle) in saddled dogs is nonesense. Ok, many of the working line dogs have much richer black pigment on coats and skin, but it isn't involved with the sable color. Example: you can have a black dog which has poor pigment and can have pale skin and can leave pale skinned and poorly masked/saddled offsrping with colored partner. I have a feeling (not fact) that the darkness of the eyes is caused by another gene. Of course if the dog is blue or liver, the eyes are also lighter, because the genes d and b have an affect to all black pigment.

I agree with Miu. For some reason GSD breeders have got themselves into the habit of referring to dogs with strongly colored hair coats as "well pigmented".

Rich pigment refers to the proportion of dark (black areas) on the coat (saddle, blanket, mask, tail, lips, nose, eye rims, and toenails. Color pertains to the degree or range of coloration expressed in the non-black areas of the dog. For example, a red, brown, or mahogany color is richer than gold, tan, or silver on the legs, head, etc. For example, both Bodo Lierberg and Timo Berrekasten have dark pigment but pale color. OTH, Karly Arminius has poor pigment (receeding saddle, limited amounts of black on his head) but rich color. Personally, I prefer dogs with the rare combination. both good pigment and color.

The intensity (amount of feomelanin) of red/yellow color is defined in another gene. It hasn't been found yet, but they call this Intensity-series. The INTENSITY series. INT Lightest tan (cream). intm Medium tan tan. int Darkest tan red.