German Shepherd Colors
German Shepherds only have one color, which is the most common that is black and tan. There are several other colors also along with many different types of coats. Many people believe that German Shepherds and Alsatians are two completely different breeds. This is a myth. Shortly after World War II, the German Shepherd dog started becoming the Alsatian and was registered as such. This was mainly due to the war with the Germans. This continued until the early 1970’s then the Alsatian name was dropped and became German Shepherd.
The most common and the most popular color is the black and tan. The black covers the back and hindquarters of the dog with the tan cover the lower part. The black is usually in the shape of a “saddle” meaning it covers just the back and the sides of the dog. The black can also cover the dog like a blanket meaning only the upper half of the body. There is also another combination of the black being intermingled with a tan or yellowish hair, however, this is usually on German Shepherds that have shorter coats. The short coat German Shepherd has that coat because of its ancestry and how the dog developed through the years.
Another color is the jet black German Shepherd which is not common. There are some breeders, however that are currently breeding two blacks to produce black German Shepherds. The results are not true blacks and the puppies have more black on them than normal.
One of the most uncommon colors is liver. This is a very rare color indeed and are considered to be a genetic aberration and not because of cross breeding.
There are also German Shepherds that are pure white and are as rare as lived colored German Shepherds. There are many kennel clubs that assume white German Shepherds are as the result of a mix of colors in the dog’s ancestry. This is simply not the case. German Shepherds came from other breeds of sheepdogs, which have no white colors in the ancestry. So to assume that white is from the German Shepherd’s ancestry is not the case. White German Shepherds have the exact same intelligence and temperament as all other colors of German Shepherds.
If you prefer a certain color of German Shepherd, for example, solid black or black and tan your best bet is to contact an AKC registered breeder or look for them in German Shepherd magazines. You can also consult your local vet to see if any German Shepherd breeders have the colors you are looking for. Your local vet may also have a list of breeders in your local area that you can contact to schedule an appointment to see their puppies. You can also go online and Google German Shepherd breeders for listings of reputable breeders in your area.
Always remember that color does not indicate that a German Shepherd is a purebred. The only way to prove that is with the proper documentation that proves the dog’s lineage.