11 German Shepherd Colors (And Coat Care)

When you think of a German Shepherd you may picture the typical black and tan one from movies.

But these gorgeous canines actually come in a much larger variety of colors and patterns.

The color of their coat depends on their particular genetics. Genes that are dominant are the more common ones you see, while genes that are recessive are rare.

Some colors are considered faults and are not recognized by the AKC. But unless you’re planning to show your dog in competitions, this won’t cause any problems for you.

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Common Colors

1. Black and Tan

Black and Tan is the most common color pattern – which is usually black marking and black saddle, with tan chest and legs. They may also have their accent color extend from their neck to their tails and underneath their bellies.

There are many color variations of this pattern, most commonly: Black and Red, Black and Cream, and Black and Silver.

2. Black and Red

Quite similar to Black and Tan, but markings are a deeper, more vibrant red appearance. This particular dog is long coated with a large black saddle and red markings.

3. Black and Cream

Another common variation, this medium-length coat with a large black saddle and slightly diluted red to resemble a “cream” color.

4. Black and Silver

Finally, we have Black and Silver, an uncommon color combination (but no much that it’s considered rare). The markings are faded to resemble an almost white or platinum appearance.

5. Bicolor

Also considered a variation of the black and tan, bicolored dogs have smaller patches of accent color. They’re usually solid black with gold or brown on their feet, chest, and beneath their tail.

Markings are much less prevalent on a Bi-color.

Sometimes these accent colors extend to their face, jaw, inner ears, and eye brows.

6. Black German Shepherd

Black is uncommon (due to being a recessive gene) but still prevalent within the breed. Typically they are completely black with no other colors on their body. But sometimes, they have a few white patches on their chests.

7. Sable

Sable-colored shepherds tend to have bands of colors in their fur. Basically, their coat is made of strands of various colors like brown, black, silver, and red. These bands usually have a layer of black hair over them.

Individual hairs may have multiple colors as well, a phenomenon called Agouti hair.

The most common sable combination is black hair over cream bands. Some even have gray over silver or black over silver combinations, which actually makes them look a lot like wolves.

Rare Colors

8. White German Shepherd

As you might expect, these dogs are completely white throughout their body. Although majestic looking, white is still considered a faulty trait by most kennel standards.

White is actually a genetic defect that masks all the black parts of the dog. Since this is undesirable in dog shows they are rarely bred.

But some enthusiasts do still breed them, and are now called by a variety of names such as the White Swiss Shepherd and the American-Canadian White Shepherd. You can learn more about dog breeds that look like German Shepherds (or descended from).

9. Blue German Shepherd

Image Courtesy of: Ruskin House of Shepherds

“Blue” is often used for a dusty or somewhat light grey, and a grey leather nose. Sometimes these puppies are born with very light eyes as well. This too is a rare recessive gene, and considered a fault color by AKC.

10. Liver

Image Courtesy of: Ruskin House of Shepherds

Liver is another recessive gene leading to liver-colored offspring. In dogs like this, all the black parts are a brown or liver color, ranging from light to dark shades. They may also have light eyes, which typically changes into a darker color later in their lives.

11. Panda

Image Courtesy of: Ruskin House of Shepherds

They are highly debated on their origin, and considered a fault by the AKC. There is no shortage of controversy with the Panda Shepherd. However, new research confirms this was not the result of crossbreeding.

In any case, the very unique looking Panda pattern has white on at least 30% of their body, mixed with patches of black and brown features. Combined this gives them the distinctive “Panda” look.

Do Colors Change Their Temperament?

There’s a common myth that certain colors or hair lengths affect their personality or behavior. But there is absolutely no difference when it comes to purebreds. Whether your dog is red, blue, black, or white, you’re still getting a dog with similar personality traits.

German Shepherd Coat Length

1. Short Haired

Short Hair length = 1 inch long or less.

Shorter hair is ideal for working conditions as it won’t get caught or reduce their vision/movement in the line of duty.

So basically, any service dog, police dog, or military dog you see is usually short-haired.

2. Medium Length “Plush”

Medium Hair Length = 1 to 2 inches long.

Somewhere in between Short and Long coats lies the Medium Length. Sometimes referred to as “Plush”, this is the most desirable length by AKC standards.

3. Long Haired

Long Hair Length = Longer than 2 Inches

These dogs usually have thick, soft, and silky coat hair that is two inches or longer. The long hair grows around their faces, tails, ears, tummies, rear, and the back of their legs.

That also means there is a lot more grooming requirements. Their hair is prone to matting, and requires daily brushing. However, shaving them is dangerous as this is a double coated breed.

Long haired GS’s are considered a disqualifying fault by the AKC for showing purposes.

The AKC Standard Dilemma – Breed Standards

All the coat colors and lengths mentioned above are considered to be purebred, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) doesn’t recognize certain features.

This clearly shouldn’t matter, because these are just some beauty standards set by the AKC, right?

Well, this verdict has led people to only breed certain types of qualifying colors. If your dog is strictly a pet, then this has no bearing on your decision. However, if you plan to breed or show your dog, then you’ll want to consider their guidelines.

AKC Guidelines with Coats:

• Strong, Rich Colors Preferred.
• Pale, washed-out colors are disqualifying.
• Blue, Liver, White, and Panda are all instant disqualifying faults.
• Long hair may also be disqualified.
• Blue eyes are a fault.

See the full AKC Breed Standard here [PDF].

The Truth About Single and Double Coated

Double Coated breeds have two layers of fur:

A top layer called the Guard coat (sometimes called top coat) that is slightly more “wiry” and abrasive.

Underneath you’ll find a softer and light colored under-layer called the Undercoat.

Combined these layers are used to regulate body temperature, protect from harmful UV rays, repel water, and protect their skin.

What About Single Coats?

Although it’s quiet rare – some are considered Single-Coated.

In the dog show ring we refer to them as “Smoothies”, or Smooth-Coated Shepherds.

Technically, they still have both layers, but the undercoat is so sparse they’re considered as single coated.

Note: Single coats are considered a breed fault, and not recognized by the AKC. Therefore, many years of selective breeding have made single coated litters a rare occurrence.

Can You Shave a German Shepherd?

The undercoat is a fantastic insulator, and you’ve probably guessed that it keeps them warm in the colder months. But those layers of fur also keep them cool in the summer, and insulate them from warm air.

This is why it’s very bad practice to shave a doubled coated breed.

You won’t be doing them any favors by getting rid of the very thing that regulates their body temperature, and protects their skin from abrasions and harmful UV rays.

Shedding

Many owners refer to them as “German Shedders” – so you probably know already that these dogs will shed like crazy.

Due to primarily being a working dog, they had to work in all sorts of weather conditions. The result: daily excessive shedding that helped keep their coats in the best condition.

Unfortunately for you that means a lot more brushing and bathing.

Learn how to deal with German shepherd shedding

Shedding Season

Although these canines shed throughout the whole year, they shed most heavily in spring and autumn. This is known as their “shedding season,” or when their coat is “blown.”

In summer, the thick undercoat is shed and replaced with a thinner undercoat. This helps them regulate their body temperate and stay cool in the heat.

Again, during autumn, the thin summer undercoat is shed away and replaced by a thicker coat. This is their winter insulation to keep them warm in the cold months ahead.

Grooming & Care

Daily brushing and occasional bathing are still the best deshedding methods. Not to mention it keeps their hair healthy and beautiful.

Here’s a quick overview:

Brushing

Double coated breeds need to be brushed at least once per week (and multiple times per week during shedding season).

While regular brushing removes loose hair, it also gets rid of mats and tangles, which are a common sight in long and medium length coats.

Although they don’t seem like a big deal, mats can be pretty painful, with hair tugging from all sides.

In most cases we recommend an undercoat rake for brushing and to reduce shedding. Longer hair lengths would also benefit from a grey hound comb (a long pinned steel comb).

Bathing

The occasional bath can help get rid of that last 20% of shedding hair that never seems to go away.

The trick is to use a deshedding shampoo and conditioner to help slick down hairs and make them easier to remove.

How Often Should You Bathe Them?

The short answer: As little as possible.

The long answer: It depends. Speaking with groomers on the topic, they recommend a healthy double coated dog be bathed once they start to get stinky. This is typically once every 8 to 12 weeks (depending on their activity level).

Bathing too often can strip away their natural oils, leading to dry and irritated skin.

Nutritional Requirements for a Healthy Coat

Since these are large breed dogs with active lifestyles, they need a protein-based diet. The main ingredients should be sourced from high-quality meat such as poultry, beef, and fish.

Their food should also contain 5 to 8% fat, according to AAFCO recommendations. This is an extremely important part of their diet because fat strengthens skin and hair follicles.

Skin and Coat Friendly Ingredients

To make sure your dog has a healthy coat, here are some of the things you should look out for in its food:

Vitamins A and E

Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins your dog should be getting in its diet. This vitamin helps the skin cells to divide and hair follicles to function normally.

Vitamin E is also in the essentials list. It acts as an antioxidant and protects the skin cells. Both of these vitamins ensure that their coat keeps growing and shedding as usual on a micro level.

Vitamin B Complex

Biotin, or the B- complex vitamin, is also incredibly important for skin and hair strength. Some young dogs and puppies can actually suffer from a biotin deficiency.

When this happens, your dog will have crusty and flaky skin. Its hair will become more brittle and lose its natural color. If you see these symptoms, contact your vet about adding some biotin to their diet.

Copper and Zinc

Your dog’s food should also contain copper and zinc. Copper is essential in keeping their fur soft and shiny. It also maintains the unique hair color that it was born with.

Zinc, on the other hand, works with developing skin health. It helps to prevent inflammation and itchiness. It also works well at tackling and stopping both bacterial and fungal infections.

Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids are the ultimate ingredients for your dog’s skin and fur. They keep your dog’s hair looking glossy and help the skin to stay elastic.

Contact Your Vet

Before supplementing, always contact your vet before hand. A good, balanced dog food will have all these vitamins present, so in most cases you won’t have to add additional vitamins.