english bulldog puppies greensboro nc

english bulldog puppies greensboro nc - Posted in Uncategorized. We are very excited to present them to the world and look forward to seeing them grow, develop, and move on to their loving forever homes. Puppies need to stay with the dog breeder for a little while after birth. During this time, they learn skills and socialize so they will be well-adjusted when they move away from the litter. Socialization Puppies should stay with the litter for about 8 to 12 weeks. Probably the main reason for this is socialization. When a puppy is with its litter and especially its mother, it learns valuable behaviors. A reputable dog breeder will never let a puppy leave before 7 weeks at the minimum. During this time, the pup will learn how to deal and live with other living things. In a sense, the dogs learn how to dog. Mostly they spend their time playing with their littermates. These are all skills that if developed well, they can use throughout their lives. They also learn how to communicate and receive commands from both their parents and humans. A dog that is not properly socialized will not be confident and may have difficulties fitting into new environments. They could be easily confused and fearful. Neither of these traits is good for both house dogs and dogs that are meant to work or show animals. Unsocialized dogs also tend to have more behavioral problems. They act out in situations in which they are not comfortable. This can mean chewing, barking, or even viciousness. Other dogs are the best trainers for a new pup, so keeping them with their littermates and parents will help them grow and develop into confident, well-behaved dogs. They are bred to be experts at detection, which is great for policing, and agility. While these traits are inbred and instinctual, they also need to be developed. These puppies are spending time with their mother and littermates, with whom their skills are already becoming apparent. The parental dogs provide a good example and play with siblings will mimic and develop these skills. The same goes for agility. There is no better training ground for a pup than an open space with their siblings. German Shepherd Puppies and Humans The fact is, the puppy will most likely be going from a place with many other puppies to a home with either none or comparatively very few. Most of the interactions throughout their lives will be with humans. Dog breeders are dog experts who will calmly and confidently help your puppy get used to human interaction in a safe and respectful way. A newborn puppy sent into a home without that buffer will be extremely stressed and have incredible difficulty adjusting. When it comes to adopting German Shepherd puppies, it is natural to be impatient. However, waiting just a few short weeks to have this beautiful and intelligent pet in your home will pay off down the road. They cannot see or hear yet, or regulate their body temperature, and they require a lot of tender care from their mom. The new mom is usually very excited and concerned about each newborn, and sometimes overly enthusiastic about chewing off the umbilical cord, which may later result in an umbilical hernia that will take a little longer to close, but is no danger to the puppy. We record the ribbon color and weight of each puppy so that, when we weigh the pups throughout the next days and weeks, we can make sure that each one is gaining weight. Normal weight for a newborn German Shepherd puppy ranges from g to g 0. We take great care to ensure that our newborn German Shepherd puppies have the best chance for a healthy start. A German Shepherd female can be in active labor for 6 to 18 hours, sometimes even longer if she takes a break while having a large litter, and we of course do not leave her side during this time. I stay up making sure that the whelping box which is always in my office or bedroom is clean and dry after each puppy is born, and that the temperature stays constant 86 - 88 F in the room. We keep the temperature at this level for about 2 weeks, gradually reducing it down to normal F by the end of the third week. Someone is always present with the puppies during the first 5 days. I handle the puppies several times a day, as well as weigh them every other day during this period, to make sure that everyone looks and acts healthy, nurses well, and is gaining weight. I usually buy a dozen fluffy cotton towels, and use two at a time as bedding for the whelping box. I change these towels twice daily at this stage to make sure the puppies are always clean and dry. Starting from day 3, and until day 16, I follow The "Super Dog" Program for our puppies - an early neurological stimulation program described by Dr. Carmen Battaglia. It has numerous benefits later in life for puppies. Often, puppies that were born the smallest overtake the bigger ones. Even at this tender age strong individual differences can be noted among German Shepherd puppies. Also, there is difference in their color and markings, and long-hair German Shepherd puppies can often be identified at this age. The new mom is very attached to her puppies at this age and is very reluctant to leave them even for the shortest time. She spends a lot of time sleeping with the puppies nursing peacefully, and is also very happy to be busy cleaning each puppy several times a day and flipping them around gently with her nose. At about 2 weeks of age German Shepherd puppies actually start looking more like puppies, and not just fat black sausages with feet attached. We use undiluted evaporated goats milk from a can, warmed up to be pleasant to the touch. Most puppies readily accept the bottle, and we consider this to be very important bonding and social time as well. Three weeks of age is my favorite age of all. The puppies now can be recognized as German Shepherd puppies. They are alert, playful, and there is a lot of wrestling, tail-wagging, and even barking going on as they explore their surroundings and interact with each other and their mom, all of which is extremely cute. I will often just sit in the whelping box with them, letting them play with my clothes, climb up on my lap, and generally just enjoying their carefree company. We also provide them with various toys starting at this age, and make sure that they listen to loud music, banging on the door, vacuum cleaner, etc. They weigh around 1. At first, they may not have a lot of success with it, as some of them try to suckle on the meat, but in a few days they master this new type of eating very well. We also continue giving them goats milk, but in a shallow saucer pan now, and with some rice baby cereal added, so that they can practice lapping. At this age, the mom is no longer so keen on constantly staying with her puppies, and only visits them to feed them and for a clean up. We continue changing the bedding twice a day now, knowing very well that in about a week it will become times a day, as the mom will not be able to keep up with her cleaning duties any more. We wash soiled towels with a little bit of bleach and a little bit of perfume-free detergent. Four weeks of age is even more fun as the puppies keep developing, but the amount of cleaning starts to increase in geometrical progression, and it becomes a full time job to keep the puppies well fed and clean. The mom is only visiting now and then at this point, and enjoys spending her time in the office, so that she can hear and see the puppies, but not necessarily be with them. With mom visiting for a few brief feedings each day, we feed them three times a day with the following diet: 1. Cottage cheese 2 tbsp per puppy , mixed with plain yogurt 1 tsp per puppy , evaporated goats milk, rice baby cereal 1 tsp. Raw tripe, or beef liver cooked with all kinds of vegetables At about 5 weeks of age the duty of keeping the whelping box clean becomes nightmarish, and this is a good time to introduce German Shepherd puppies to the outdoors. This is a room that is a part of the house, but has free access to the outside world. This room is equipped with a wooden resting platform so that puppies do not lay on concrete, with a heating lamp above it, and the floor is completely covered with a layer of pine woodchips. The outside area is about 6 x 6 ft and the floor is made of paving stones. There is another wooden laying platform here. This is a very important period when we introduce our German Shepherd puppies to more noises, show them the way in and out of the house, introduce them to the other dogs, play tug-of-war, etc. Also, we introduce raw frozen sardines and "The Honest Kitchen" products to their diet, and will occasionally feed kibble, soaked well in warm water and mixed with green tripe from a can At 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age our German Shepherd puppies get dewormed with a high quality wormer, to be certain that they are free of intestinal parasites. At about 6 weeks of age the puppies get their first combination 5-way vaccine including Parvo and Distemper , and at 7 weeks of age we start welcoming visitors who are interested to come and look at the puppies. Often during weekends we have several groups of visitors of all ages coming to interact with the puppies, which is such a great socialization opportunity for them. Copyright .All rights reserved. She will do everything and anything to care, love, and protect her baby. Would you be surprised to see how a German Shepherd mom is in awe of her puppies, just like a human mom is of her baby? Humans are not the only members of the animal kingdom who are totally in love with their newborns. Dogs are completely in love with their babies too. She looks at her new puppies with absolute love. In this video, you will see just how much love this mama German Shepherd has for her babies. The video clip shows Pona staring with eyes of love at her newborn puppies. Pona recently gave birth to her litter, and now, the puppies are crawling all around the hay covered floor. Pona is the epitome of many new mommas. She is quite in awe of her puppies, and they are so cute. The newborn pups are making tiny sounds, and you can watch Pona turn her head with each sound. It seems as if she is making every effort to understand what her babies are trying to say. The mama dog also continues to watch her puppies and keeps her eye on everything that they do. Pona has three puppies. The video, later on, shows all three of them cuddling with each other. Pona then moves over to where the puppies are huddled and starts poking them with her nose. Mom then lies down near her puppies and gives them happy kisses. She also makes every effort to make sure that her puppies are all warm.

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english bulldog puppies greensboro nc - The most common reason why your Golden Retriever has short hair is age. Golden Retriever puppies start out with short hair and grow into their adult coats by the age of two. Other factors that affect your Golden Retrievers coat length include genetics, diet, health, spay and neuter, and breed variation. Short-haired Golden Retrievers do not exist, however, a field Golden Retriever is one type of Golden that typically has a shorter coat. It takes up to two years for your Golden Retriever to have his full adult coat. Golden Retrievers have feathering along their tail, legs, and belly. The speed at which your Golden Retriever grows his adult coat is determined by genetics. The length of hair on your Golden Retriever is a result of a recessive genetic mutation in the FGF5 gene. Well, chances are your pup could either have a longer coat or a shorter coat. Diet Affects Overall Coat Length And Condition The saying you are what you eat is true for us humans, and certainly for our canine companions as well. A Golden Retriever fed a poor diet that lacks essential nutrients will not only show its effects on his health, but you will notice it in his coat. The coat will be dull, and brittle, cause excess shedding, and will likely be thin and patchy, making it appear shorter in length. A proper nutritionally balanced diet will result in a healthy, shiny lustrous coat. Great sources include fish oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. Also, sardines, tuna and salmon. Eggs are great for skin and coat health as they contain zinc, lutein, and biotin. Oats support healthy skin and hair. Liver from grass-fed animals contains tons of nutrients essential for skin health. Sweet potatoes are considered a super-food for the skin. Sweet potatoes help to accelerate healing and support collagen production. A healthy coat that is shiny and strong starts from the inside. Allergies Allergies are pretty common in Golden Retrievers. Both environmental and food-related. All of that scratching, licking and chewing affects the hair on your Golden Retriever. Hormonal Imbalance A hormonal imbalance such as Hypothyroidism can cause your Golden Retriever to lose his hair. It is more common in dogs 6 years or older. One of the symptoms of this health condition is hair loss. Other signs to watch out for include increased eating, drinking, urinating, and panting. Also, a pot-bellied appearance. Parasites Parasites such as fleas and mites cause your Golden Retriever to itch and scratch, which in turn causes hair loss. Bacterial And Fungal Skin Infections Bacterial and fungal skin infections cause hair loss, redness, and irritation of the skin. Ringworm is a fungal infection, not an actual worm, that results in hair loss in dogs. Stress can cause excessive shedding, as well as result in poor coat condition. Spay Coat is a term often used by groomers and dog owners to describe the change in coat texture and appearance in altered dogs. It commonly occurs in Golden Retrievers but can affect other breeds as well, such as Rough Collies, and Irish Setters. The coat becomes thicker, softer and more woolly in texture. Many owners describe the coat as fuzzier, and hard to manage. Spay Coat is discussed in the Golden Retriever Forum. One such variation is the Field Golden Retriever. A Field Golden is bred for field work such as hunting and retrieving game. Field Goldens are intelligent, obedient, and very athletic. Two ways that you can tell if you have a Field Golden is by the colour of their coat, dark golden to almost red, and a shorter coat length. Field Golden Retrievers also tend to be slimmer and smaller than other types of Golden Retrievers. In terms of shedding, Field Goldens tend to have less volume of hair, so shedding is not as extreme, however, they still shed! Even though a Field Golden Retriever has a shorter coat, it will still have feathering along the belly, tail, and legs. A Labrador does not have any feathering. Can you turn your long-haired Golden Retriever into a short-haired one? The only areas that ever need trimming include the feet, tail, bum area, and ears. Bathe Regularly: Bathing removes dirt and debris as well as loose hair, keeping the coat clean and healthy to stimulate hair growth. Rule Out Medical Issues: If you notice any significant hair loss or lack of hair growth, be sure to visit your vet to rule out any medical issues. This short video lists the 5 foods that you should feed your dog for healthy hair, most of which we already talked about. Sorry, the video is a bit robotic, but it gets the point across Final Thoughts Purebred Golden Retrievers do not have short hair, but some may have shorter hair than the average Golden. A Field Golden Retriever is one variation within the breed that typically has a shorter-length coat. Genetics determines the length of hair that your Golden Retriever will have. A few other common reasons why your Golden Retriever has short hair is that he has not grown his adult coat yet, which can take up to the age of 2, underlying health issues that cause hair loss, and not feeding a high-quality diet. Chances are if you have spotted a Golden Retriever with short hair, they have likely been groomed short, or the dog is a mixed breed. Does your Golden Retriever have shorter hair than the average Golden Retriever? Share your thoughts and comments below. I would love to hear from you! Jenny I am the proud owner of a Golden Retriever named Ellie. She keeps me busy, and when she is resting, you can find me working on my blog. She is always close by though. I live in Stirling, ON Canada with my husband, and we both enjoy the never a dull moment life with our Ellie. Spread the love. Looking to get a short-haired golden retriever? Well, you might be looking for a long time… Technically, short-haired golden retrievers do not exist, however, some goldens do have shorter hair than others. Some types of goldens, like field golden retrievers, typically have shorter hair than other types, such as those bred for shows. And although you might be tempted to turn your regular golden retriever into a short-haired golden by giving them a haircut, that could actually put their health in jeopardy, as well as ruin their beautiful coats. There is only one breed of golden retriever, but there are several different variations within the breed. One of those variations is the field golden retriever, also known as the field bred golden retriever. These goldens are bred for hunting and working in the field. They also tend to be darker in color , even red. And, relevant to this article, their coats tend to be shorter. On the other hand, you have golden retrievers bred for show. Whereas field goldens are bred for their personality, athleticism, and drive, show golden retrievers are bred for their temperament and looks. But all that being said, companion goldens dogs not bred specifically for work in the field or shows can have shorter coats, too, if you know how to find them… How To Get A Golden Retriever With A Shorter Coat When my golden retriever, Oliver, was about six months old, I started to get a little worried. Was he a short-hair golden retriever? Check out the video below to see his adorable, short-haired lankiness. Now where did he get his shorter coat? From his parents, of course! Of course, when choosing a breeder you need to consider more than just coat length, but you can learn more about choosing a breeder here. Goldens grow very fast and reach their full height at about a year. So if you see someone walking down the street with a beautiful golden sporting a short coat, know that unless the golden was over a year and a half old, chances are their coat might grow a little longer. Most people are allergic to dander flakes of dead skin , and possibly the saliva and urine according to WebMD. Although I got lucky with Oliver, most goldens shed a lot. Of course, dogs with longer coats tend to shed more heavily , which often leads potential dog owners to consider alternatives. One such option that is often the subject of debate is the short haired Golden Retriever. Although many people will say they saw these dogs, others claim that it is simply not possible for the Golden Retriever to have short hair. This breed is one of the ten most popular dog breeds globally besides German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Bulldog, Boxer, etc. Their hair may be wavy or straight, depending on the genes. The thicker feathers remain mostly on the chest, thighs, belly, and tail. There are three common colours found in pure Golden Retrievers: light golden, golden, and dark golden. In general, their colors may be a little brighter or darker than the standard ones, but they are still on the list of pure dog breeds. You may see a strange Golden Retriever with a black coat sometimes. Usually, Golden Retrievers are preferred by those who love vigorous exercises. He enjoys swimming, too. Long coats are common in this breed, causing a moment of pause when someone comes across a Goldie with a shorter coat. While the existence of a short-haired Golden retriever is not impossible, it is often suggested that such characteristics reflect the fact that a Golden retriever is not purebred or that dog lovers do not recognize the characteristics of a different breed. Yet many Goldie lovers say with certainty that their fuzzy friend is indeed a Golden retriever with a short coat. The American Kennel Club has never recognized the possibility of a short-haired Golden retriever. This is not unusual, as it is worth noting that the club also does not recognize different coat colors or patterns of specific breed types, such as brindle variations. Since the AKC does not attribute short hair or shorter coat lengths to the overall breed of Golden Retrievers, it is impossible to recognize short-haired counterparts because these dogs are not purebred according to the standards of the kennel club. This is not to say that short-haired Goldies do not exist at all, but rather, they are simply not recognized as a type of Golden retriever by purebred criteria. A lot of bad guys out there are willing to cheat on you for money. The dogs you get can be a mixture of a Golden Retriever and a different breed. Features that allow us to distinguish them are just the length and color of the coat. You may be asked to take a test kit to identify the breed of your dogs. Until then, everything will be clear. In general, there are four main breeds of dogs used to cross the Golden Retriever. Chesapeake Bay Retriever: The mixture of this breed and Golden Retriever may have half-curly and half-straight or wavy hair with abnormal colors. Curly Coated Retriever: The mixture of this breed and Golden Retriever may have half-curly and half-straight or wavy hair of a black or liver color. Labrador Retriever: The mixture of this breed and Golden Retriever may have short black, chocolate, or yellow hair. Flat-coated Retriever: the mixture of this breed and Golden Retriever may have long black or liver hair. As has been said, Golden Retrievers belong to the long hair breed because they have a very long and dense coat. However, there is nothing to ask all the Golden Retrievers to have this feature. Some Golden Retrievers can be found with short hair, but they are confirmed to be the standard one when they are tested. In these cases, they have the key in their genes. They may have some genetic variation that makes them a short-haired coat compared to the same dog breed. However, you must know that this is a very rare case. They Could Be Another Breed. So you can be cheated, or you can get the wrong dog breed. Labrador Retriever First and foremost, despite being part of the same Retriever, the Labrador has very short hair. They have three official colors: yellow, chocolate, and black. There are also fox red and polar white colors, but they are not recognized as pure. The Labrador is heavier than the Golden 65 to 80 pounds 55 to 75 pounds. The Labrador has a life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years, almost the same as the Golden 10 to 13 years. One more thing you can see is that despite having short hair, the Labrador has shed a lot of hair all year round, while the Golden has just shed a small amount of hair in a season. Flat-coated retrievers This breed is similar to the Golden in that it has a dense, thick coat, but its fur is always flat, not waved like the Golden. Besides, their coat is not water-repellent. This breed has three main colors of coat: black, liver, and blonde. The blonde color makes them look more like the Golden One. Flat-Coated Retriever is a little less active than the Golden Retriever. Rarely do they make such a noise. However, like the Golden Retriever, they need to exercise every day at least an hour a day. The life expectancy of this breed is quite short, only about 8 to 10 years. This breed is similar to the Golden in that it has a dense, thick coat, but its fur is always flat, not waved like the Golden. Short Haired Golden Retriever: Misidentified? Having admitted that there are instances where one might misidentify their dog like a Golden Retriever or potentially invest in what they thought was a purebred Goldie, you may be wondering if your pupa was misidentified. Veterinarians have undergone many years of rigorous study to understand and care for your dog. Suppose you are skeptical as to whether your short-haired Golden retriever is a Goldie at all. In that case, you can certainly reach out to the veterinarian for an examination and a second opinion. Most veterinarians are great at identifying dog breeds and can usually clear all suspicions about whether crossbreeding has occurred. Another potential option that is increasing in popularity is dog DNA testing. Some vets offer these tests in their offices and may even recommend them after the test if you are still uncertain. These tests are often used to check whether or not Goldie is a purebred pupa. Golden retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs due to their loving, playful, and friendly nature. Their strikingly beautiful golden coat is flowing along with them. The coats are fluffy when they are puppies, but the hair grows long and shiny over time. So when are the golden retrievers growing long hair? If the parents of the puppy have taken a long time to grow the coat, the chances of the puppy taking a long time are increased. It starts from the tail and travels to the head of the body in a gradual process. Most breeds shed the fur of the puppy, but the golden retrievers do not. With time, the undercoat begins to grow thicker as the longer outer coat grows. This whole process takes about 18 months to develop until you have a gorgeous golden retriever with long hair. This will give you and the dog two main benefits. First, the puppy will be used to grooming to make it easier to do as they grow. Second, golden retrievers with long hair are heavy sheds. Brushing The first step in the grooming process is to brush the dog with an appropriate dog brush. Make sure there is no matted fur on the body at the end of the brushing. Start by focusing on the mats in the fur. Work your way up to the skin, gently brushing your mats loose. If the mats are too tangled to be combed or brushed, you can use a pair of sharp scissors to cut them out. Final Words No short-haired Golden Retriever is officially recognized. If you are interested in finding the most accurate answer to this problem, we recommend that you come to a vet. Whether due to genetics, crossbreeding, or misidentification, shorter hair combined with traditional Golden retriever features presents a unique appearance that garners widespread curiosity among dog lovers. If you have a true Goldie with this characteristic, your canine companion is considered rare! Golden Retrievers are an impressive breed, as any Golden lover knows. On the other hand, dog lovers give a beautiful haircut to their golden Retrievers to turn them into short-haired dogs. However, it is dangerous for their health. Also, hair cut may ruin their gorgeous coats. One must know about the other types of Golden dogs to understand better their short-haired story. Short-haired field golden retriever has different variations. This particular variation is also called field-bred golden retriever. Mainly, this was bred for hunting and working tasks in the field. Also, these are athletic and loyal dogs. In colors, they look dark with a red tone. The short coat makes them distinguished from a short-haired dog breed. The golden retriever is a show dog, whereas, the field golden is bred for athleticism and strong drive. On the other hand, show golden retrievers came into existence because of their great temperament and physical appearance. In terms of appearance and body looks, they are flowy with a golden coat. Particularly, a golden retriever with a short coat, show lines, or related categories is not for you. Companion Golden has a shorter coat. Genetic involvement determines that next-generation personality traits. It is confirmed that the coat length is inherited. Henceforth, one must find a retriever breeder who bred golden short coats. It is often seen that if the parent dogs have their short body coat, definitely, their newborn puppies will inherit the same. It is a game of quality dog breeders. If you find one intellectual golden retriever breeder, you can get your desired Short Haired Golden Retriever from them. Hair growth tendency is different among dog breeds. Some grow very fast and the others take some time to attain the full-grown length of their coat. Particularly, the Golden Retrievers coat grows fast and attains its full height within a year. Gradually, the expansion process goes well. Within the age of 1. When you see a golden retriever short-haired dog, there may be its parents who were also with short body coats. Golden Retrievers and Allergies Many people of this age are allergic to hair and dust. Golden retrievers are heavy shedding dogs. Similarly, if you are looking for a Short Haired Golden Retriever to avoid allergies, you are on the wrong path. It is not the only fur of dogs that creates allergies. There are many other factors behind this myth. It may be a food allergy or some genetic defect that is revealed with the growing age. According to the WebMD report, people get allergic to dander, saliva, and urine. Henceforth, getting a golden retriever with shorter fur will not help you. These dogs are full of love and energy and they start licking to their master in affection. Therefore, still, the dander is there. Golden Retriever Shedding People who are worried about the heavy hair fall of their dogs can deal with this problem with 19 tips to Stop Golden Retriever Hair Shedding. A golden retriever with minimum hair may be a bad choice for you. They have higher chances of different medical illnesses and diseases. Hence, all dog lovers need to be ready for the hair shedding of their dogs. Tips to manage Dog Hair Shedding Daily coat brushing Occasional dog bathe after every months Feeding high-quality dog food Never Shave Your Golden Retriever Some people think that shaving a golden retriever will help to reduce hair fall. It is totally wrong. By shaving a golden retriever you cannot turn it into a short-haired golden. Dogs with double body coats get protection from extreme weather conditions. When we shave a dog, they expose more in front of sunlight that may be dangerous. On the other hand, some people consider shaving Golden retrievers during the summer season is a favor to their dogs. Their undercoat controls the body temperature. Moreover, when you cut their long coat, it will never grow back. Short Haired Golden Retriever other options If you cannot deal with the long hair of dogs, you can consider the following options Goldendoodles. Read the full disclosure here. Golden retrievers are magnificent dogs. They are known for their intelligence, loyalty, and of course, their iconic long, wavy hair. Now, you might have heard of a short-haired golden retriever and are probably wondering whether this is a sub-breed or its own separate breed. They are, in fact, golden retrievers—just a unique variation of them. It is actually fairly easy to confuse a short-haired mixed breed for a golden retriever. Not to worry, though, as this article has all the latest facts on the supposedly short-haired goldies, from their coats and profile to hair length, and frequently asked questions about it. Golden Retriever Coats Golden retrievers are unique among dog breeds since they have a double coat. As the name suggests, their coats are made up of two parts. The first part is the undercoat, which is a layer of short, dense hair. This helps keep the dog warm and dry. But our interest lies in the topcoat, which is made up of medium-to-long hair. On average, it takes three months for the topcoat to appear on a golden retriever puppy. However, it takes more than a year before the topcoat fully grows out. So, how is this different from the short-haired golden retriever and its coat? Finally, the part we have been waiting to dissect. It all depends on what a particular golden retriever was bred for. Field golden retrievers , for example, are bred for field work in general, especially hunting, or more specifically, retrieving game. As a result, they are intelligent, obedient, and athletic. They also have shorter topcoats when compared to goldens bred for show. On the other hand, show retrievers are bred for looks. As a result, they tend to have long, flowy coats. If you are in doubt about the ancestry of your retriever, a DNA test at your vet will set matters to rest. On that note, purebred goldens inherit short coats from their parents. Since hair length is hereditary, tracing the ancestry of your golden is another sure way to find out if your short-haired golden retriever puppy is purebred. Common retriever breeds to watch out for include. Curly-Coated Retriever: A curly-coated retriever stands out thanks to its mane of tight, flowing curls. Curly-retrievers are also taller than other retrievers and can have coats ranging from black to silver. Flat-Coated Retriever: This breed can be easily identified by its signature long, flat hair. Chesapeake Bay Retriever: This breed also has a short and wavy coat. Crossing with this breed produces offspring with longer, wavy coats. This mutation occurs in the FGF5 gene, which controls the hair cycle and length on your golden. The topcoat will only grow to lengths that this gene allows. Make sure to feed your retriever with foods rich in fatty acids such as Omega.Such acids strengthen hair follicles, in turn allowing the growth of long, healthy coats. On average, retrievers take about a year and a half to grow fully mature coats. Starting from the tail, long hair grows gradually over their bodies, moving up to the head. This feathery fur grows primarily on the legs, tail, chest, and stomach. Note that the longer coat grows through the baby fur over a period that can last 18 months. Not only does the coat lose its healthy sheen, but your retriever might also start shedding its hair at an alarming rate. To add to this, diseases such as alopecia cause hair loss in dogs. The effects of such a disease might initially convince you that your golden is a short-hair breed. You can avoid this through regular checkups at the vet Grooming Blunders Not knowing how to properly groom your retriever can severely damage its coat. What many newcomers overlook is regular brushing and de-shedding. With regular brushing, you remove tangles and loose hair, allowing proper hair growth. De-shedding is done with a special de-shedding tool. Using it, you can safely remove loose hair and mats from lower levels of fur. This leeches essential oils from their hair and skin. The result? A dull long coat lacking luster. Finally, only use high-quality moisturizing dog shampoo when you do have to wash your retriever. As you know, hot and dry air dries out the skin and hair follicles. This causes excessive shedding as the dry hair falls out at a faster rate. As you can guess, fewer hairs as a result of the shedding might lead you to believe your golden has a short coat. There are steps you can take to prevent excessive shedding in hot areas. They include: Regular grooming and baths. For this reason, a lot of people are completely shocked at the thought of a short-haired Golden Retriever. Most Golden Retrievers have long coats. There are a couple of factors that could influence the length of that coat, so you could find Golden Retrievers with shorter hair than your regular Golden Retriever. These are six factors that can influence the length of a Golden Retrievers coat. If any of these factors are present in a Golden Retriever, then this dog could have a shorter coat than a regular Golden Retriever. Presence of the FGF5 gene which stop the hairs on a dog from growing Golden Retrievers aged under 2 years. Their coat length is not fully matured. Excessively hot or dry weather can dry out dog hair causing hair to fall off your Golden Retriever. Certain health conditions can cause hair loss in Golden Retrievers. Poor grooming can also lead to shorter coats than normal. It will influence how long it is possible for the hair to keep growing before the gene sends a signal to make it stop. Long hair is a recessive trait in dogs. This means the genetic coding for the long silky coat in a Golden Retriever needs to be inherited from both parents. The longer adult coats tend to start coming in when your dog gets to three months of age. At first, your Golden will begin to grow feathered hair around the tail, and then the fur starts to grow over the rest of the body. The tail is usually the starting point though. Eventually, the fur will start growing longer towards the head too. A Golden can sometimes begin to grow the feathers on the tail when they reach 3 months old. Sometimes though the feathers will grow much later in life. Not only that, but gender can also come into play since males and females can grow their fur at different speeds. This is because the hair follicles will be much stronger meaning that the hairs can grow longer. Hair falling out can lead to a perception that the hair is shorter, though in reality they just have less hair in a certain area. This will help to keep their coat in better condition and will be good for their wellbeing. In some bad situations, health conditions can result in hair loss for your dog. Sometimes dogs may even lose their hair in clumps. Poor grooming As a new dog owner, you will likely have been told how important it is to groom your dog, especially when it comes to Goldens that traditionally have long hair. Shaving is the worst mistake that you can possibly make with your Golden Retriever. If you shave your Golden Retriever then it can result in some nasty, long-lasting damage to the coat. As a result, the coat may end up never growing back as it did before. If it does grow back then it may result in the fur being much rougher and shorter than it was previously. If your dog does need to be shaved, then you should not do it yourself — you should instead make sure that it is done by a medical professional. Just as there are different colors of Golden Retrievers , there are also different types of goldens, that is, those bred for working and hunting vs. The type of Golden is another factor that influences the length of their coat. Field Golden Retrievers You will usually find that the goldens with the shortest fur are the field Golden Retrievers. These are the ones that come from a long history of working and hunting dogs. Compared to show dogs, working dogs have been bred for practicality, not just for how they look. This is mainly thanks to the fact that breeders will usually mate two long-haired Goldens to create even more long-haired goldens. Show dogs have been bred purely for the sake of appearance, and this is mainly why their coats look a lot longer than the coats of field dogs. There are some ways that you can do this. If the above action is not an option then you can also conduct a DNA test on your dog. It can be very helpful to do both of these things just to double-check.

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english bulldog puppies greensboro nc - Fawn, is what this pattern is called in other breeds such as the Great Dane. She had eight puppies; four aw sables traditional sables and three ay sables Fawns. I kept an ay fawn female, and named her Mya. Mya went on to produce puppies for us with varoius males, with the majority of the puppies having no black hairs bleed through on the back. Over the years, we have produced blue face fawn, liver face fawn and the classic black faced fawn. How did Fawn get into the GSD gene pool? The color has been apart of the original gene pool from the start. The pattern is listed on the registration certificate as sable. Fawns can be very light shade of creme all the way to a rich red. The base color is not affected by Ay Fawn. Meaning one can be black fawn, blue fawn, liver fawn, they can also have other patterns incorporated at the same time as well, such as Fawn with Panda pattern. Do you have a fawn? Since Fawn can appear like that of a sable, especially when they are born, it can be difficult to know if what you are seeing is a fawn or a sable. Feel free to send me a picture of the puppy or puppies you have and I may be able to help identify what you have. Also I am in the market for an unrelated nice long coat fawn male to add to my own breeding program. Photo credit The photo of the Fawn male above is "Kumpy". Kumpy was born here, his mom is Mya. His awesome owner Tim, has given us permission to use photos of him to show off his black fawn pattern. His owner Tim loves taking Kumpy exploring, his many forest hikes and explorations has been a great way to capture pictures of Kumpy having a good time. Thank you Tim for taking such good care of Kumpy! Added note on Fawn pattern The fawn pattern can be the base of brindle. The fawn pattern as well as the sable pattern can hide under the brindle. There are other instances of patterns 'hiding' under other patterns, its all quite interesting. Scroll through the albums and if you do not find what you are looking for please send me a message. Keep in mind you do not have to have a facebook page to see this page. German Shepherd Colors Colors Dominant Fawn True Sable : The dominant Ay gene typically creates a sandy coat colour, most likely in combination with a black mask, which you can find in Malinois dogs for example. On the dorsal line a fawn dog usually shows black hair tips. Banded hairs black and red create the camouflage effect many wild animals have aw. You can find agouti in other breeds too, like for example the Alaskan Malamute. The shades of agouti can vary widely and may change over years. Dark types of sable shepherds are called often Melanistic Sable or Dark Sable or in contrary to the dark version there is light sable too or faded sable. Tanpoint: The third option contains black and red pigment in a specific pattern at. The typical tan pattern shows red spots and patches on the muzzle, above the eyes and on feet, tail, ears and chest. In combination with the tan allele at the dog will be bicolor. Phenotypically a recessive black dog shows no difference to a dominant black coated dog. Recessive black is a rare trait, but common in GSDs. Image source, Steve Hopper Image caption, Milly explores the field where she now lives with Mr Hopper, his dogs and other rescued animals A fawn "mistakenly" rescued from the wild has made an unlikely friendship with two German Shepherd dogs. Milly was thought to be a day old when she was brought in to a vets in Moretonhampstead, Devon, by someone who believed the deer had been abandoned. As the vets believed Milly's mother would not take her back after contact with humans, the fawn was put in the care of animal rescuer Steve Hopper. She has set up home with Mr Hopper and his dogs and is now "thriving". Image source, Steve Hopper Milly has made herself at home with Mr Hopper and his family Mr Hopper said he usually rehabilitated injured birds of prey including kestrels and owls. He has three deer of his own and was asked by Moorgate vets if he could try to save the baby deer. Media caption, Steve Hopper and his dogs with Milly the fawn The former police sergeant has been bottle feeding Milly four times a day in a bid to build her strength. Everyday I go up with a four-pint milk thing and come back with milk fresh out of the goat and she is absolutely thriving on it. It's been put there by its mother," he said. Keeping Milly alive has been a full time job for Mr Hopper. I'm up at five most mornings to feed her and her last feed is 9. Ashley Rubens, from Moorgate Vets, said: "Sadly it was mistakenly believed the fawn was abandoned and it was taken from where it had been hidden and brought to us. Send your story ideas to spotlight bbc. Related Topics. Some owners refer to them as black and champagne or fawn. Also, when a white German Shepherd has red in its background, it shows up as a cream color. It is possible for particular black and cream German Shepherd puppies to grow into a black and tan look as they get older. Still, you cannot guarantee how the colors will shift or if they will change in the first place. Dog shows aside, black and cream dogs do not have the same intimidating look as darker dogs and can make for great gateway pets for those looking to adopt their first dog but find the alternative looks more intimidating. Ideal for: Households with young children can adopt black and cream puppies as these GSDs are easier to accept for little kids. Black All Black German Shepherds have no shot at dog shows but are much better at something else: guarding. This perception comes with the added assumption that your black German Shepherd is well-trained to deal with intruders. Even though these dogs are great at discouraging intruders, they have excellent temperaments and empathy to be family dogs. Black GSDs are not more aggressive than other varieties. Unlike solid black, most puppies only show their actual color weeks after birth. They also make shedding less annoying as the black hairs are less visible. A recessive gene causes the black color. Some black dogs have gold eyes, as shown in the image. Large houses are also perfect spacious places where such dogs must exhaust their excess energy. A bi-color features two colors, one of which is often black. Most will appear all black with brown feet or legs, as shown in the image. The AKC pioneered this categorization and is most relevant to dog shows where solid colors and bi-color dogs are judged differently. Depending on the specifics of the color, the dog-and-owner fit can vary. Sable Sable is a pattern often seen as color because of its visual impact. The sable color is named after the mammal sable, which also has a similar color. This type of German Shepherd has black peppered across its fur, giving a deeply crimson color that looks nearly indistinguishable from black and liver. The sable coat pattern appears visibly black as each hair has a black tip. Sable colors include black sable, gray sable, tan sable, red sable, and silver sable. If you like the look of this color pattern, head over to this article to learn loads more about this gorgeous variety; Sable German Shepherd. Ideal for: This shepherd dog is best for those living in sun-kissed suburbs where the true color of sable German Shepherds shines. White Featuring the look of a bleached wolf, the all-white German Shepherd is entirely white and represents quite the irony. It is often purchased because of its exotic looks but is also seen as flawed enough to disqualify from the show ring. In other words, it represents the positive and the negative results of judging dogs by their looks, where they are simultaneously loved and discriminated against because of their color. Given that the first German Shepherd was black, this dog is visually the farthest from its ancestors. There is often a misconception that this type is a mixed breed. However, the white German Shepherd is definitely purebred. Ideal for: Families with young toddlers can benefit from getting a non-intimidating dog. This leaves behind bi-color German Shepherds featuring black and a specific hue of tan that gives an overall deep gray look. Ruskin House of Shepherds They are often gray sable. However, many gray dogs have no black pigmentation, differentiating them from the sable. They have an aesthetic appearance and can tip top between work and show, though they are best kept as multifunctional pets. They look intimidating enough for strangers but acceptable even for younger children who have never had a big dog as a family pet. Nonetheless, they are pretty rare, so you may have to find a specialized breeder to adopt one. The color is rare because it is improbable to guarantee when breeding a single blue stud and rare to occur spontaneously. And the ones who breed rare GSDs only charge a lot per puppy. Since blue is a manifestation of black, it can appear in all German Shepherd looks that feature the black color. Therefore, these dogs are bred mainly in the working line, where black and tan are the most common colors. That makes blue and tan the most common bi-color look of blue German Shepherds. Ideal for: Individuals looking for an exotic, rare dog with a story would love to have a blue German Shepherd. Liver Liver as a color term is used almost exclusively to describe dark brown dogs. The shades of dark brown can vary, but the term stands. It is no different for German Shepherds, who are also categorized as a liver for being dark brown. With black not really being seen as color — white as a complete lack of color, brown has the best shot of getting the highest points for color richness — except in the show world. This is because the American Kennel Club sees livers as faults, and they cannot enter the show ring. However, liver German Shepherds are highly sought-after, making them some of the priciest German Shepherds to acquire. Still, their price is artificially inflated because of demand. Ideal for: Those who love the deep brown aesthetic will love a liver German Shepherd. Liver and Tan As mentioned earlier, German Shepherds with liver parents are pretty often liver-colored. While mutations did occur to manifest this look into the otherwise black line of GSDs, the genes of these dogs are relatively stable, making them great studs. Ideal for: Owners with prominently brown wardrobes can get a kick by extending their color preference to their dogs. Isabella Isabella German Shepherds face the same ironic fate as white GSDs, where they are simultaneously admired and acquired for their beauty yet disqualified or marked down from shows for their looks. Similar to liver dogs, the AKC views them as a fault. Isabella GSDs look lavender-flavored cappuccino in that they are a light lilac color. They have a distinctly feminine appearance regardless of gender and can make a beautiful addition to the family. Because of their non-threatening looks, they are readily accepted in suburban communities, whereas new pets can often get scrutinized unfairly. Isabella GSDs are rare because they come from a combination of recessive traits that might not even manifest in studs. Studs often have desirable dominant features, including rich colors. The Isabella color comes from the combination of liver and blue, one of which is rarely used for breeding. This leaves room only for blue genes to pass through non-blue studs, which is not entirely likely. Ideal for: Those who want to make a statement with one of the rarest German Shepherds will be satisfied with an Isabella dog. However, they better be willing to pay the premium. You cannot have a Sable Shepherd without having reddish fur. But the distribution of red and black or silver and a lot of black is what matters: the lighter coat makes up the backdrop over which the darker fur is peppered. Ruskin House of Shepherds Sable shepherds are rarely sable all over, and portions of their body feature only one of the two colors that make up their sable pattern. In other words, given black and red as primary sable-makers, these dogs are more likely to be black and sable or red and sable. Sometimes you can get a rarer color sable, such as the liver sable in the image. Brindle German Shepherds are the closest to sable in that they also consist of one color peppered across another in tiger stripes or a marbled pattern. Instagram: alastian. Black is far more prominent, and these dogs are the closest to the second generation of German Shepherds. Panda A Panda German Shepherd looks like a white or bi-color dog who tried to apply eye shadow for the first time. The area around their eyes is black, reminiscent of a panda. They have white color featured across their chest, limbs, feet, and tail tip, similar to a Border Collie. Panda Shepherds do not have any other similarities with the panda; the dog has an active temperament compared to the lazy panda. The gene is dominant, meaning it only takes one parent to replicate the pattern. It is also seen as a fault for conformation. My German Shepherd Pup Willow Still, getting a German Shepherd puppy with many white spots is a risk if you plan to enter him in a dog show as an adult. But if you do not care about dog shows, the white markings can be charming. It is rarer to find white spotting in black GSDs. These spots are more common in black and red, black and cream, black and tan, and liver variations. However, they blended in with her adult coat in time. A German Shepherd can have a black, blue, silver, or brown saddle though other colors are not definitively excluded. Saddle-back German Shepherds have to be bi-color by definition because the saddle is visible only in contrast with another, often lighter, color. Blanket The blanket is yet another pattern independent of color. Just like with saddle GSDs, being bicolor is a prerequisite just to spot the blanket. The saddle pattern has a better shot at dog shows between saddle German Shepherds and blanket ones. Since the blanket is dark, dogs with this pattern have an intimidating presence and are often used by the police and protective patrols. This makes them excellent guard dogs as they carry the same connotations. Mask Mask refers to the face of a German Shepherd with visible contrast in the face compared to the surrounding region. On the one side, they can have black fur over their faces, which gives the appearance of a mask, but the rest of their body can feature stripes brindle or the sable pattern. This study of dogs with colored masks found that the mask is caused by a specific allele referred to as a melanistic mask. Mask German Shepherds have a unique appeal, which makes people go to great lengths to acquire them. The mask is almost always black. In case the mask is a lighter color, it is categorized differently. The area around the mouth can be lighter, making the German Shepherd look more like a wolf. Some reverse masks also have a dark stripe down the muzzle, as in the image shown. Needless to say, these German Shepherds can be pricey simply because of their resemblance with wolves. They also are intimidating again because of this similarity. All the connotations they have with wolves, and their wildness come in handy when scaring away intruders. However, this is a myth, as they are as easy or difficult to raise as regular dogs. To breed them, you must have both the mother and the father, who carry the same reverse mask look. Like the masked variety, German Shepherds with a reverse mask can have other patterns as the mask or the reverse has to do with their faces. Speaking of wolves, the closest a GSD can come to having a wolf-like appearance is to have a reverse mask look and be a blanketed silver sable. The rarest color of German Shepherd is Isabella, which is also known as lilac. Not only is this color visually appealing, but it is also difficult to predict when breeding. The recessive blue and liver getting combined are not very likely, which makes almost all Isabella shepherds pleasant surprises. Getting a lilac shepherd from a reputable breeder is advisable because unscrupulous breeders may repeatedly breed puppies and neglect the non-isabella dogs hoping to profit from the lilac pups. Black is prominent across most variations of GSDs. From black and tan, often working lines, to black and red for showing, most German Shepherds have a hint of black. If you are looking for the most common overall color of a German Shepherd, the two that come out on top are black and red and black and tan. The show line dog of this bicolor look will be the cheapest yet will command a price significantly higher than a working dog of the same pair of colors. Some German Shepherd colors, such as blue and white, are controversial because they have been linked to genetic health issues, such as skin problems and deafness. Breeders who prioritize these colors over health can perpetuate these issues. Yes, the color of a German Shepherd puppy can be predicted based on the colors of the parents and the genetic inheritance of the color genes. By understanding the basics of color genetics, breeders can make educated guesses about the colors of their puppies. Do German Shepherds Change Color? German Shepherds do change color, especially if they are bicolor. This happens when they mature and shed certain colored fur but never grow it back. The color change is most prominent in brindle GSDs and sable shepherds, as the decrease in one shade of fur leads to a change in the overall look of the dog. No, the color of a German Shepherd does not affect its temperament. Temperament is determined by genetics and upbringing, not color. Final Thoughts German Shepherds are descendants of dark dogs but have come a long way since they were first shown as the perfect cross between beautiful and work-ready. GSD colors can vary from lighter ones like the rare Isabella all the way to solid black. The pattern variations include mask, sable, brindle stripes, and saddle, whereas colors can be solid or pair from the pool of black, red, tan, blue, silver, cream, liver, white, and gray. With over 30 years of experience working with dogs, this former Police Officer has seen it all. Find her on Linkedin! It lacks the physical deformities bred into western show lines of German Shepherds and has become one of Russia's most popular dog types. It was developed in the s and s to correct behavioural and conformational issues that have been bred into modern German Shepherds, and was bred for its large size, length of back, temperament and soundness of hips. White-coated German Shepherds were once banned from registration in their native Germany, but in the United States and Canada the coloration gained a following and a breed club was formed specifically for white German Shepherds, calling their variety the White Shepherd. The variety is recognised as a separate breed by the United Kennel Club. It descends from the American White Shepherds; the first stud dog of what was to become the breed was an American dog born in and imported to Switzerland. They are especially well known for their police work, being used for tracking criminals, patrolling troubled areas and detection and holding of suspects. Additionally, thousands of German Shepherds have been used by the military. These military working dogs MWD are usually trained for scout duty, and they are used to warn soldiers to the presence of enemies or of booby traps or other hazards. They were used in World War II as messenger dogs, rescue dogs and personal guard dogs. These include search and rescue, cadaver searching , narcotics detection, explosives detection , accelerant detection and mine detection dog, among others. They are suited for these lines of work because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions. When formal guide dog training began in Switzerland in the s under the leadership of Dorothy Eustis , all of the dogs trained were German Shepherd females. These results suggested that Labrador Retrievers were more suited to guide dog work while German Shepherds were more suited to police work. They are expected to patrol the boundaries to keep sheep from trespassing and damaging the crops. In Germany and other places these skills are tested in utility dog trials also known as Herdengebrauchshund HGH herding utility dog trials. He is regarded to be the dog who has captured the most drugs in Mexican police and military history. You may improve this section , discuss the issue on the talk page , or create a new section, as appropriate. By this number had grown to over .Returning soldiers spoke highly of the breed and animal actors Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart popularised the breed further. Her offspring had defects as the result of poor breeding, which caused the breed to decline in popularity during the late s. As of [update] , the German Shepherd is the second most popular breed in the US. Degenerative myelopathy , a neurological disease, occurs with enough regularity specifically in the breed to suggest that the breed is predisposed to it. A very inexpensive DNA saliva test is now available to screen for degenerative myelopathy. The test screens for the mutated gene that has been seen in dogs with degenerative myelopathy. The test is only recommended for predisposed breeds, but can be performed on DNA samples from any dog, collected through swabbing the inside of the animal's cheek with a sterile cotton swab. Prospective German Shepherd buyers can now request the test from the breeder or buy from a breeder who is known to test their dogs. Skeletal health and supplementation[ edit ] Musculoskeletal disorders are debilitating conditions that are often associated with genetic makeup, malnutrition, and stress-related events. Canine hip dysplasia CHD is an orthopaedic condition resulting from abnormal development of the hip joint and surrounding tissue causing the instability and partial dislocation of the hip joint, resulting in pain, inflammation , lameness, and potentially osteoarthritis of the joint. Both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A German Shepherd named Inspector Rex is the star of an Austrian Police procedural drama program of the same name, which won many awards, where German Shepherd Rex assists the Vienna Kriminalpolizei homicide unit. It became one of the staple productions of Hungarian television history, making German Shepherds the most popular dog breed in the country ever since. The picture of puppies in the bathtub is a past litter of German Shepherd puppies from Robin Blue. They are all adults now and all have happy loving homes and awesome families they live with. I have been a German Shepherd breeder since .I have all colors black and tan, black and silver, black and red, bi-color, black, white, black and tan brindle, sable brindle, silver sable, tan sable, fawn, blue, liver, and red sable of German Shepherd puppies. I have German Shepherd puppies for sale as pets that are wonderful, loving, family protectors. I also have full working line German Shepherd puppies for sale that would do well in a working job, SCH, agility, therapy dog, search and rescue, or as a very energetic family member. They are all sweethearts. Feel free to call or email. I always enjoy meeting and talking to people that are interested in German Shepherd dogs, as I am. Thanks for your interest in my puppies. If you are interested in having one of my puppies be one of your new family members you will have to call me on the telephone and talk to me about the puppy. I love all my puppies and just try to match them up to the right homes. If you are interested in one of my puppies please call me at home or my cell is .I will return your call. If you have any questions about any of my puppies you are welcome to email me too. My email address is whitefamily semo. I only have one email address. So if you are interested in any of my puppies I look forward to talking to you on the phone. I am proud of all my puppies and their parents and always enjoy talking about them all. Sep 27, Jul 8, This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Are you looking for a dog with all the amazing characteristics of a German shepherd, but you also want something a bit different and special? If so, then why not consider a sable German shepherd? The sable German shepherd is not a crossbreed dog but rather a recognized variation within the breed, so the dog retains all the benefits of a purebred pup. German shepherds are one of the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States, in part thanks to their intelligence, trainability, and intense loyalty. They are also well-loved for their sleek, noble appearance. Interestingly, sable is actually the original color of the German shepherd breed. It is the only variation of the German shepherd that has the same color as the founding member of the breed. Read on to learn everything you need to know about these attractive, intelligent, and hard-working dogs. Sable German Shepherd Appearance Sable German shepherds look just like most other German shepherd dogs, with the exception of their distinctively colored coat. The German shepherd is a large breed. You can expect the males to reach up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. The females are a bit smaller. Their heads are domed in shape with a long, square muzzle. They have alert, erect ears and long necks that make them seem even larger than they are. It is considered ideal for the dog to be longer than it is tall with a proportion of 10 to 8. Their bushy tail should extend out in a hook-like shape. German shepherds tend to dip their head low like a wolf when they are running or prowling, which contributes to the consensus that they look very much like the wolf ancestors of dogs. These dogs have double coats with a soft undercoat and a denser guard layer. The guard layer can be either medium or long, though the medium length is significantly more common. Most German shepherds are either tan and black or red and black. The lighter brown shade is usually their principal color, with a black face mask and black markings on their back which often look like a saddle. A variety of other color variations exist, including pure black, pure white, liver, silver, blue, panda, and, of course, sable. Sable basically means the dog has mostly lighter colored hair with a black tips, which can make the dog appear grey or mottled. In reality, the actual color combinations are more varied, and the sable pattern could be any mixture of tan, black, brown, or red. The term is mostly used in the United States. In other countries, such as Germany, these dogs are often just called grey. It has since become a popular working dog for roles such as search and rescue, police, and military due to its strength, trainability, and intelligence. The breed emerged from the s trend to try to standardize dog breeds to assist in certain jobs, such as herding sheep. Max von Stephanitz was a leading thinker in this area and was specifically looking for canine specimens that matched his ideal vision of a working dog. He found that ideal dog at a dog show in .He purchased the dog and named it Horand von Grafrath and founded the Society for German Shepherd Dogs to promote the breed and others like it. Horand, who was in fact a sable-colored German Shepherd, became the center point of a breeding program. Horand himself had 84 puppies, and extensive inbreeding was required to secure the characteristics of the breed. When the German Shepherd was imported to the United States in the early 20th century, it became popular with gangsters and bootleggers for its strength, intelligence, and intimidating appearance. It was also popular in Nazi Germany, and even Adolf Hitler loved the breed. As a result, it has gained a reputation for being a fierce, intimidating, and even dangerous breed. However, this says much more about how the dogs were used than the natural temperament of the dogs themselves. German Shepherd Temperament The color of a German shepherd makes no difference to its temperament, so you can expect a sable German shepherd to conform to the general temperament of the breed. German shepherd dogs are often described as active and self-assured. This, combined with their intelligence and eagerness to learn and please, makes them excellent working dogs. They are also highly obedient and loyal. Their extreme loyalty also extends to family situations. They will raise the alarm with their loud, deep bark if they sense danger. However, German shepherds are not naturally aggressive. This is a reputation that stems from the way that the dog has been used in the past. That said, German shepherds are often associated with severe dog bites. This is largely due to the popularity of the breed and the strength of their bite rather than any innate aggression; there are simply more of them around than many other dog breeds. Tests suggest that German Shepherds have a bite force of over 1, newtons, which is less than a Rottweiler but more than a pit bull. They tend to have a natural suspicion of strangers and like to chase smaller animals. Their intelligence and compliance means they can be trained not to display this behavior, but as an owner, you need to put in the work of training them properly and consistently. German shepherds are a very curious breed in addition to being highly intelligent, which is why they are well suited for search and rescue missions. German Shepherd Energy Level German shepherds are very playful and active dogs, so they need lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation in order to thrive. This is another reason why they often do well as working animals. Working gives them both the physical and mental stimulation to complete these challenging tasks. Pleasing their handlers is also attractive to these highly reward-oriented dogs. Ideally, German shepherds need at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day, preferably spread over at least two different sessions. However, this should be slightly less when they are puppies. There is always a risk of over-exercising puppies, especially when it comes to large dog breeds. As a general rule, you should exercise a puppy daily for five minutes for every month of their age until they are an adult. German shepherds reach adulthood at around 18 months. So, for example, a six month old pup should be getting 30 minutes of exercise a day if we follow this rule, as six months times five minutes comes out to 30 minutes per day. What to know more about exercising your puppy? Read our article: How far can I walk my puppy? German shepherds will love to accompany you on adventures, such as hikes and walks, and they also love swimming. They will do well at the lake, on the beach, or even accompanying you on a boat. However, even though they are excellent swimmers, they should have a doggy life vest if you are out at sea. They will struggle in an apartment, and their large size can make navigating small apartments challenging even for these nimble dogs. Ideally, they should have a backyard where they can move around freely, especially when left at home alone. The intelligence of these dogs means they can get bored quickly. While puzzle toys, such as a Kong , can help on the occasions when you do need to leave them alone, they are likely to become stressed if they are left alone regularly. German Shepherd Health Risks German shepherds have a life expectancy of a little over 10 years. This is normal for dogs of their size, and larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller breeds. You should not expect a sable German shepherd to be immune from these, especially since further inbreeding is often required to produce the sable color. It is common for these dogs to develop hip and elbow dysplasia , which is a developmental abnormality of the joints that can restrict movement and cause pain. This is often the result of different elements of the body growing at different speeds. The best way to prevent this is to ensure good nutrition and the right level of exercise during their crucial growing period. Even if the development of hip and elbow dysplasia does not affect the dog at a younger age, it can make them more susceptible to arthritis and other forms of joint pain when they are older. Older German shepherds often benefit from an orthopedic bed to take pressure off their joints. The breed also appears to be predisposed to degenerative myelopathy. This is a degenerative spinal cord disease that generally shows up in older dogs after about the age of seven years. If you are looking for one of these puppies specifically, you may need to go to a breeder. The sable color is relatively rare, and breeders have to control specifically for this kind of coat. As a result, you can expect to pay a bit more for a sable puppy than you would a German shepherd of any other more common colors. Are you thinking of adopting a sable German shepherd, or any German shepherd, into your family? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine if you and your home are a good fit for this breed. German shepherds are highly trainable and obedient, which means even first-time owners should be able to take on the challenge of training them. German shepherds need a commanding presence to keep them in check. The sad reality is that many people are also afraid of big dogs like these, and their behavior and response to them can cause serious problems. You need to feel confident to take control of your dog in charged situations. These dogs are also very active, so they will do best if they have a bit of outdoors to call their own that lets them run around a little, dig, and play. Just be sure your yard is properly and securely fenced in! German shepherds are very energetic dogs that need to be active a lot, which means you will need to be active frequently as well. As well as daily exercise, they will want to join you on weekend adventures rather than weekends on the couch catching up on Netflix. German shepherds need to spend a lot of time with their owners, as they need both companionship and intellectual stimulation. Thinking about getting a new puppy? Check out our new puppy checklist. Sable German shepherds have a coat with lighter roots and darker tips covering most of their body. The tips are usually black, which means the dog looks as though it has a greyish color. It is a natural color variation within the breed. How common are sable German shepherds? Sable German shepherds are significantly rare in comparison to the popular tan and black or red and black colors that dominate the breed. This is why a sable puppy will probably cost you more than other color variations. However, pure black German shepherds are a bit more rare. Are sable German shepherds bigger? No, sable German shepherds are not bigger than other German shepherds. The females should weigh between 55 and 75 pounds and the males 75 to 95 pounds. Look at the size of the parents to get a better feel for how big your pup is likely to get. Are German shepherds good family dogs? With the right training and socialization, German shepherds are excellent dogs for an active household. They will be loving, obedient, and protective. They are good around children, though small children should always be supervised around dogs, regardless of the breed and their level of familiarity. Accidents happen, even when children are around dogs they have grown up with and know well. What is bad about German shepherds? German shepherds tend to be suspicious of everyone, which can contribute to overly protective and territorial behavior. Proper socialization can help minimize this personality trait, but they will probably carry an element of this with them for their entire lives. The Verdict Sable German shepherds are not exotic crossbreeds but rather a rare color of the purebred German shepherd dog. They are actually the original color of the breed, matching its famous founding member. Sable-colored German shepherds are actually relatively rare, so they can be expensive to procure. However, aside from their unique color, they are just like other German shepherds, one of the most popular breeds in the United States. They are large and strong dogs with a lot of energy, which makes them well suited to hard work. They are also highly intelligent and eager to please, which makes them ideal to train to complete complex tasks such as the roles of military and police dogs despite being originally bred as herders. Overall, sable German shepherds are: Rarer than just about any other color of German shepherd No different than other German shepherds as far as personality, temperament, etc. With the right training and socialization, they are very safe dogs. German shepherds are great dogs for active people who have a lot of time to spend with their pup and want a companion to join them on various active adventures. Do you have experience with sable German shepherd dogs? Share your thoughts with the community in the comments section below. Related Article:. But German Shepherd lovers knows there are 3 different accepted colours in German Shepherd dog genetic. Before we speak about the genetic colour transmission of German Shepherd dog , we must write a little introduction about genetic, for better understand the rest of the article. Dogs has 78 39 couples of chromosomes and each chromosome contains a certain number of genes, each gene, or set of more than one genes, describe a characteristic about the subject, and this comprehends also character, behaviour, growth rhythm and so on. We know there are dominance rules between alleles. Dominant alleles are generally written with a capital letter, for example B. Recessive alleles are written with a lower case letter, for example b, if we have more than two possible alleles for a series, we have a sort of chart, from more dominant to less dominant values. Agouti is the main series we have to look at, to understand transmission of colour in our breed. When we have a total black german sheperd caused from K locus, and not from A locus, we may have surprise in the litter, expecially if is out of 2 total blak. I wrote an article explaining what hapend in this case. The aouti serie is the most important for german shepherds as is the one really determitating coat colour. By the way, a recessive allele can be hidden for generations and generations so we can get recessive colours on pups after a lot of generations when, for a case, two alleles of this type combine together. So, now we can understand why, usually mix-breed dogs born total black or fawn, because those are the two most dominant colours. Solid black from K series, or fawn in Agouti series in case K series has kk alleles couple. Aw-Sable the second allele in order of dominance after Ay is Aw, where w stands from wild. We will back to this allele after, to better explain it. K-k dog can generate all possible colours, if we breed two K-k black dogs, k-k a-a dogs can only generate k-k a-a black dogs if we breed two k-k a-a black dogs. As agouti serie was sequenced, we discovered there os only one black and tan allele in the Agouti series, tha At allele, and other modifier genes, not all sequenced yet, deciding how much tan expands from when the dog born. But as in some breeds we have black and tan on fixed zones even if we found the RALY wild version in one or double copy, there must be something more still undiscovered. But in german shepherds, like in other breeds such as beagle, we can test RALY serie as it works in the way we just descrived before. It seems Ay is not influenced too by this gene. Even fawn colour are always genetically the same fawn, even if it seems it can be so different between subjects, fawn is varying from almost white or white looking because of the too few pigment in the hair to a strong red. I has been sequenced too on thew last years. By the way, even in total fawn dogs like Belgian Shepherds or sable dogs, I allele affects fawn intensity. The K loci. We do not have a dominant black allele in Agouti series! Or better we had not to have, but now we can find. But in case at least one of the parents has got at least a K allele in the K serie, the litter as said before could be a surprise. Aw-At — Sable Grey carrying black and tan. If crossed with a same Agouti allele combination dog, we can have sable or black and tan pups Aw-a — Sable Grey carrying recessive black. It can pass both sable or recessive black alleles to the offspring. If crossed with a same Agouti allele combination dog we can have sable or black and tan. If we cross it with a black and tan dog we can obtain sable, black and tan or a total black if the black and tan carries recessive black too. Black and tan Pups from this combinations will be surely black and tan carrying recessive black. At-At — back and tan. It can only pass black and tan allele to offspring. Crossing it with a recessive solid black, we will obtain only black and tan dogs carrying recessive solid black. At-a — Black and tan carrying recessive black. If crossed with black and tan or sable both carrying recessive solid black, we will have black and tan sable or recessive solid black. Crossing two solid recessive solid black dog we will have only total recessive black offspring. We only explained some combinations and offspring but, we have a lot more, and we soon will write all. As much as we increase event number, as much as scores will reach values similar to theoretical scores. And, this is another reason why it is not easy to understand what we have in genotype looking parents and offspring. Crossing two Homozygous sable dogs. Crossing sable carrying black and tan with black and tan carrying recessive solid black. We have two other series affecting dog colours, D for dilution and B for black-brown. The D series in D series the dominant allele is D, if we have D-D or D-d alleles couple in the dilution series, fawn of black are not affected by this gene, but if we have an Homozygous d, Black will turn in blu, all the black pigment upon dog, wherever we may find it, even skin and nose, will turn from black to blue, and fawn will look a little clearer. The dominant allele is B, if we have B-B or B-b alleles couple in the Brown series, black is not affected by this gene, but if we have an Homozygous b, Black will turn in brown, also called liver, all the black pigment of the dog wherever we may find it, even skin and nose, will turn from black to Brown. If we both find b-b and d-d liver will turn in to Lilac, also nose and skin, eyes are always amber. The black muzzle can cover muzzle from a little black stripe around lips to an all black face, covering sometimes also chest and legs like in some Belgian Malinois. E is the second allele in dominance chart, and it let the Agouti series come out but without black muzzle ex collies. When two e meets, in an e homozygous dog, we will not have black pigment on the hair of the dog. This combinations inhibits production of black Colour in the hairs and only hairs, not in skin nose or eyes. All Hairs will turn in fawn. Well, both d, b and e, even if are not appreciated, are still in the German Shepherd dog genome and sometimes liver, blue, Lilac or recessive fawn white dogs can born. Diluted dogs are healthy dogs, only not appreciated. For ex.