The Genetics of German Shepherd Coat Colors

Ask just about anybody to describe a German Shepherd Dog and they will almost always mention the classic "saddle back" markings. It is also just as possible for the GSD to be one solid color such as black (solid white is considered a conformation disqualification for showing by the AKC) or sable. Sable German Shepherd coat colors are easily identified by multi-colored individual hairs all over the body. Each individual hair is two colors with the tip usually being black (called Guard Hairs).

German Shepherd coat colors and patterns may include any of the following: sable (also called agouti or wolf gray, in various colorations), bi-color, black & tan, black & red, black & cream, solid black, solid white, (considered a conformation disqualification), black & silver, liver (rare - conformation fault) and blue (rare - considered a conformation fault).

Concerning German Shepherd coat colors and various coat patterns the breed standard from the SV specifically states that:
"The color of the GSD is in itself not important and has no effect on the character of the dog or on its fitness for work and should be a secondary consideration for that reason. The final color of a young dog can only be ascertained when the outer coat has developed. The normal (stock) coated GSD should carry a thick undercoat and the outer coat should be as dense as possible, made up of straight hard close lying hairs.

The hair on the head and ears, front of the legs, paws and toes is short. On the neck it is longer and thicker, on some males forming a slight ruff. The hair grows longer on the back of the legs as far down as the pastern and the stifle, and forms fairly thick trousers on the hindquarters. There is no hard or fast rule for the length of the hair, but short mole-type coats are faulty."