no good dog is a bad color

"No good dog is a bad color"

-Max von Stephanitz

Here is just a bit of information I have put together about the different colors of German shepherds, we do offer most of these colors here at Wolfgang Haus but not all, although temperament and health is first and foremost in our breeding program, and we strive to put together the ultimate package in Health, temperament, brains, and last but not least beauty. This page is a working progress so please bare with me, there is much more I can add and hopefully will get it all on here eventually.

At the bottom of this page there is a chart of the colors of a German Shepherd however it does not show all the variations within each color and or marking. There are different patterns along with the different color variations within that pattern.

I have used as many of my own pictures as possible, there are some pictures that belong to other breeders and or owners and I have tried to add all their websites, but I have also borrowed some off of the internet for informational purposes only, If you see your picture and are not happy with me using it please let me know, I will be happy to take it off, and if you hava any pictures or information you would like me to use feel free to email me at becsgsd@hotmail.com This page is for everyone to enjoy and maybe learn something from

Saddle back and blanket back German Shepherd and variations, black and red, black and tan, black and cream and black and silver

This is the best known color or pattern of the German shepherd, the saddle pattern comes in variations of black and red, black and cream, black and silver. All are variations of this well known marking. See the difference in the colors in the slideshow

Wolf mask German Shepherd

Also known as reverse mask

The wolf mask (reverse mask) German shepherd is not a mix or hybrid german shepherd, but a somewhat rare marking that comes up on occasion when both parents carry this gene. In our first breeding of our Ziva and Duke they produced 3 wolf mask puppies in there first litter. Kitara stayed with us for future breeding. Then we got our Chanel from Kitara's brother Klondike. We also kept our Parisia from Roma who is Kitara's daughter. This masking goes back to some of the very first German Shepherds and has been carried down in the lines for centuries. The littlest Hobo was a great example

The reverse mask can come with or without the wolf stripe down the nose, there are many shepherds like this. Rin Tin Tin was a great example of a maskless (without the stripe). Sometimes they can be born with the wolf like strip but then it fades as they get older

White German Shepherd

The white German Shepherd is another color that has been around since the beginning of the breed. The are considered a fault by the AKC and cannot be shown, but fanciers have now made their own shows for them and they can still be shown in AKC sporting events.
The white is a masking gene, it masks the true color of a GSD so if bred to a black and tan the true color may show up in the puppies, but to get a white both parents must carry the gene, as it is recessive.

The white is also a color that has been in the breed since the very beginning, there is a photo below of one of the first white shepherds to help start the breed.

When a white has red in it's background it shows up as a cream or champagne color, which is another absolutly stunning versian of the color

Champagne German Shepherd (a version of the white)

Solid black german shepherds

Also referred to as Lacquer black in Germany, the solid black has been around for a long time, but is a lot less known then the black and tan saddle. Solid black is usually a recessive gene in the German shepherd therefore to get a black both parents must carry the gene. There are, on some occasions a dominant black, which only one parent has to be solid black. It is uncommon, but we have fortunately have 2 our Abraham and Storm

Blue German Shepherd

The blue German Shepherd is a dilute to the black, it shows as a steel grey color, sometimes it can be a lighter powder grey, but I have never seen it myself. It is also a recessive gene so both parents must carry the gene to produce it. Some people may say that blue is a bad color, but there is no bad color in the German Shepherd, the color does not change there personalities or health in any way

The Sable German Shepherd

Sable is not actually a color, but a pattern in the German Shepherd like a saddle back and one of the most popular in the German working lines. Sable is caused by black tipped hairs usually covering the back of the dog, but sometimes the whole shepherd, it comes in many variation, from the dark red undercoat to the very light silver. Sable GSD usually have a very dark face, some with tan or red eye circles.

to your right are some pictures of the different variations.

Some sable shepherds grow to look like saddle backs but are still genetically sable.