German Shepherd Colors: All 5 Shades Of Shepherds

What is the first color that comes to your mind when planning to adopt a German Shepherd? Black, tan or maybe a bi-colored one. But, did you know the world of these German goofballs is quite colorful. This popular American dog breed is available in a wide range of colors.

Would you mind being cuddled by a handsome ‘goob boi’? The German shepherds are particularly popular because of their flawless appearance, and unique colors- just the perfect blend. Their appearance and nature combined, make them perfect for a professional as well as domestic set-up. 

This article here will be your perfect guide to the German Shepherd color chart. Keep scrolling through this article to find out your perfect shade, of love. 

The 5 Popular Shades of German Shepherds

It is a popular thing among the dog fraternity, to have a wide range of coat colors. The German Shepherd is no different. However, the popularity of the colors, credits for which, goes to Major Kennel Clubs. 

Some of the popular German Shepherd colors, include black and tan, black and cream,  black and red and the divine, black and silver. German Shepherds are usually double-coated canines, with long to medium coat lengths.  

However, during the initial stages of development, the breeders focused on the physique and size of the German Shepherd. It is because their purpose was to serve as working dogs. It was much later when colors were considered.

Here’s presenting the 5 most popular German Shepherd colors: 

1. Black And Cream

The black & cream color is somewhat similar to the black & tan colored German Shepherds. It is just a lighter variation, that is developed from a recessive gene. The same logic as to why human representatives have blonde hair. 

It is because of their lighter color, that they do not get to participate in the dog shows, that are held in the dog parks. However, they do meet the breed standard for obedience competitions.

2. Black And Silver

The black & silver colored German Shepherds, are our dearest, Silver German Shepherds. The saddle and face of these dog breeds are black in color. While, the silver color compliments the underbelly, like most German Shepherds.  

The color, however, originates from the working bloodline, yet again. This color is one of the least popular colors,  among the other available colors of this particular dog breed. Yet, again the color stands as a barrier to them taking part in those fun dog shows.  

However, the mystery of this color is yet to be discovered. But breeders suspect it to be developed from some recessive gene.  

3. Blue

The blue-colored German Shepherd,  is considered to be another rare variation of this dog breed. Although, if you plan to get one make sure, that you have access to your ‘expensive items’ fund. I don’t mean to scare you but these pups can cost up to 5 times, more than a usual black & tan or black & cream.

The color coats usually come in a range of,  3 notable variations, namely, blue & sable, blue & black or blue & tan. The blue pigment is a product of the recessive gene, with both parent breeds having the same gene.  

No, they too are not welcome to the dog shows. You can console yours with some high calorie dog food.

4. Sable

The Sable colored German Shepherd dates back to being one of the oldest. It was developed from, the ‘Aagouti’ dominant gene and belongs to the working dogs line.

 The sable color is not entirely solid by appearance. A single strand could be a mixture of different colors, with each hair strand having a black tip. The rest of the hair can be either tan, golden, or gray. 

This makes no German Shepherds different from each other.

5. Panda 

The Panda-colored German Shepherd is another rare variation that needs all your love. The explanation to their appearance is right there in the name. Their coat resembles that of a panda, with 30- 40% white spots. 

It is a purebred dog and under no circumstance can be categorized as a mixed breed. These pups hail from the working line- a product of a unique genetic mutation. Their mothers have pure black fur, with the fathers being black & tan colored. 

Conclusion

Did you know, there are some foolish people who doubted the strength of the dogs on the basis of their light color. Those goofballs deserve your apology. Also, the German Shepherds are born with a different coat color, which transitions into their ideal one, in their 3rd year of existence. 

I hope the above facts are enough for you to choose your favorite color. However, if you’ve got some other colors to share with us, our comments section is at your service.