German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in America—known for their intelligence, looks, and personality traits.
These dogs are usually friendly in nature and very active and playful.
Most German Shepherds have a brown and a black coat—a trademark for the breed.
However, what most people don’t know is that there, in fact, is a variety that known as the black German Shepherd.
Most people think that black German Shepherds are mixed breeds and not 100% pure—which, by the way, is a myth.
In this post, I’d like to share a few things about the Black German Shepherd.
So, are you ready?
Let’s begin!
Why Are Black German Shepherds All Black?
To answer this question, we will have to talk about the genetics.
Two genes play a dominant role in this German Shepherd’s coloring:
Now, in German Shepherds, a black (or blue) pattern gene is actually a recessive one—and it is apparent because all black German Shepherds are a rare sight.
Both the male and the female parents of the pup need to have this gene in order for the puppy to be fully black.
So, this means that instead of having a tan or cream pattern, your dog has one that matches the rest of her coat.
Obviously, this means that the pattern is there but you just can’t see it.
However…
When it comes to the color gene, black is actually the dominant one—after all, all the German Shepherds have a black coat, right?
Are There Any Other Physical Differences Between A Black German Shepherd and A Regular One?
So, like I mentioned before, contrary to popular belief, the black German Shepherd is, in fact, a 100% purebred GSD.
However, there are a few subtle differences between the two.
Let’s take a look, shall we?
The point to note is that the Black German Shepherd has features that are characteristic of the traditional breed.
So, this means that they look more like a German Shepherd as compared to the Standard GSD—it is not the other way round!
Final Words: The Black German Shepherd
The Black German Shepherd is a rare sight—so rare that people mistake it to be another breed altogether.
People usually feel that the Black GSDs are mixed breeds that have some German Shepherd in it but, the truth is that their features are closer to that of the traditional GSDs.
The recessive black pattern gene is the reason why these beauties are rare to find and, more expensive to buy.
I hope that I was able to provide you with all the information that you needed about the black German shepherd dog.