Question about pigment - Page 1

So I saw a dog the other week (german shepherd) who was black and red but her saddle had red across the back. Is this poor pigment or what? Her puppies had pink/black pads and some pink on the lower end of their nostrils. Top and tip of noses were black. Any thoughts??

It is more unusual than not to see a show line female with a solid black saddle all around (top of back). Sounds normal from your description of the saddle part of her. Young pups often have pink that turns black. Depends on the breeding and age etc.

Ok thanks for the response! :)

Pink pads are lack of pigmentation.Pups from day one should have black pads and nose.

 As far as female is it looking like this? 

That is "salt and pepper" which almost all females have . Show or work lines. You can even see it on sables where it is hidden but it is there. Males do not have it. It is part of sexual dimorphism. 

 Prager Hans 

I disagree about the pink paw pads in newborn pups indicating lack of pigment -- assuming the pink goes away within a week or so. I think it can happen when a pup is born just a little bit early.

As far as the "bitch stripe" -- I've seen it occur several times to a male dog who was neutered. My first GSD was neutered at 3 yrs old -- before, no stripe. After, he had a speckling of sable hairs in his saddle.

Christine

Interesting, Christine. Maybe due to a lack of testosterone since it happens in females and neutered males?

Also, the wording of your sentence had me confused for a moment. I thought you were saying you saw it happen several times to one male, but I think you meant several times to different neutered males?

Right--I've seen several instances where a male dog was neutered as an adult and lost the solid black saddle afterwards.

Christine