Picture a German Shepherd in your head. You are probably imagining the classic, black and tan German Shepherd that you would see with a police officer. As wonderful as these standard German Shepherds are, they aren’t the only ones available.
Did you know that German Shepherds can actually have different colors? Some are solid white, some are solid black, some are even blue! Colored German Shepherds don’t differ much from standard German Shepherds, but they definitely are unique. Also, hybrid dogs are on the rise. When you combine a German Shepherd with another breed, such as a Golden Retriever, you can make for some great companions.
Keep on reading for all the information you’ll need about the different types of German Shepherds.
1. White German Shepherds
White German Shepherds are a very intriguing, beautiful breed of dog. Many wonder what breed of dog White German Shepherds actually are. Technically, they are the same breed of dog as the standard German Shepherd, but they are recognized as a separate breed. This is because they have a recessive gene that causes them to be white that is present in the original German Shepherd genetic structure. Since 1930, the White German Shepherd has been considered a “fault” and is not accepted as a type of German Shepherd. In 1999, the United Kennel Club officially recognized the White German Shepherd as it’s own breed.
White German Shepherds are actually pretty similar to standard German Shepherds. Both have a strong, muscular build, erect ears, shed a lot, and are extremely loyal and protective dogs. You can expect similar personalities. Most of the differences are cosmetic. White German Shepherds have the signature white hair. Their fur is often longer and is stiff to the touch. Some White German Shepherds do not have a double coat.
Did you Know?
White German Shepherds aren’t actually white. Their fur color is the process of a recessive coat color gene. The recessive white gene acts as a mask, which blocks out the dog’s true fur color and causes it to appear white.
2. Black German Shepherds
Black German Shepherds – Black Shepherds, if you will – are a particularly majestic type of German Shepherd. In case you couldn’t guess it, they are German Shepherds which are completely black in color. Unlike White German Shepherds, Black German Shepherds are absolutely considered the same breed of dog as the standard German Shepherd.
Black German Shepherds have a lot of similarities to the standard German Shepherd, but they’re also very different. They both have a muscular build, a fluffy tail, erect ears, double coats, and lots of fur to shed. Black German Shepherds can be a solid black color, larger with a straighter back and flowing mane. Physically, they are beautifully unique dogs.
If you are looking to purchase a Black German Shepherd, you want to be careful while doing so. A lot of people buy Black German Shepherds before they are at least 8 weeks old. They believe that because they already have a certain fur color, it will stay that way. However, all German Shepherds are born black, grey, or white but this can change anytime during the first eight weeks.
Black German Shepherds are different, they are born black and they stay black. If you buy a dog before the eight weeks because they appear black, their color could change. Black German Shepherds are very expensive compared to standard German Shepherds, so this would be a pricey mistake to make.
3. Blue German Shepherds
Blue German Shepherds? Are they really a thing? Yes, they’re real but rare. If you can’t picture what a Blue German Shepherd would look like, imagine a standard German Shepherd, but instead of black fur, you would see a very dusty grey color. This grey color should appear to be really washed out, with a bluish tint.
Blue German Shepherds are considered to be a fault, and reputable breeders do not breed Blue German Shepherds, which is why they’re so rare. It’s rare, but it can happen. Aside from physical attributes, Blue German Shepherds are not any different than standard German Shepherds. They are prone to the exact same hereditary German Shepherd issues, so there is no more extra care needed for a Blue German Shepherd.
Blue German Shepherds are born into a litter of standard German Shepherds. This happens because of genes. For a Blue German Shepherd to be born, both of its parents must carry the recessive “blue” gene. Even when both parents carry the blue gene, it is still highly unlikely for a German Shepherd to be born blue. When Blue German Shepherds are born, they have very lightly colored blue eyes.
Most of the time, a Blue German Shepherd puppy will keep its blue eye color for much longer than standard German Shepherd pups. After some time, this blue color will fade into a light, golden color.
German Shepherd Mixes
4. German Shepherd Husky Mix
Almost like a wolf, the German Shepherd Husky mix is one of the most beautiful breed of dog out there. This hybrid is commonly known as a “Gerberian Shepsky” and is believed to be originally bred during the 1980s. These hybrids are huge, standing up to 65 cm in height and weighing over 40 kgs. Their muzzles are strong, and their heads are pretty long.
A German Shepherd Husky mix will have a lean, muscular body with a long and dense coat. Their colors vary, some look more Husky with the black and tan color, others show more signs of being a Husky with a white, blue, cream, or grey color. Overall, they’re interesting looking dogs that will be sure to grab some attention when you’re out with them.
While German Shepherd Husky mixes may look scary like a wolf, they’re actually great dogs with a great temperament! When you need a loyal, friendly companion, a Gerberian Shepsky will be there for you. They have the perfect mixture of a German Shepherd and Siberian Husky temperament. Siberian
Huskies were originally bred as a working dog over 3,000 years ago, it is literally in their genes to want to be busy. They have a calm, docile nature, making them a great pet for homes with kids. You just have to allow them to stay occupied and get plenty of exercise. If you don’t, he may become anxious or bored. German Shepherd Husky mixes also pick up the intelligence of their German Shepherd parent, making them the absolute perfect dog.
5. Pitbull Mix
The German Pit! The German Shepherd Pitbull mix is a powerful, hybrid dog. Over the recent years, there has been a huge spike in popularity in hybrid dogs. Originally, breeders wanted to combine the intelligence and loyalty of a German Shepherd with the agility and power of the Pitbull – thus the German Pit was created. Of course, you can never be sure that every German Pit will turn out exactly like that, but with proper training and socialization, they can make for great family pets.
German Shepherd Pitbull mixes are big dogs. They can weigh anywhere from thirty to forty kgs and can stand anywhere from forty-six to sixty centimeters tall. This would probably not be a good fit for apartment living.
The German Pit’s looks can come from either parent, but they tend to take more after the Pitbull parent. Half-bent ears and short muzzles are common on German Shepherd Pitbull mixes. Their coat will be thick and dense and could be short or medium in length.
Before deciding to adopt a German Shepherd Pitbull mix, understand that their training needs will be intense. First-time dog owners might not have the patience that is needed for these dogs to be as great as they can be. They need lots of physical and mental exercise, otherwise, they will become bored which can lead to behavioral problems.
Multiple walks or jogs per day along with trips to the dog park every now and then is recommended. If you take your German Pit out for a walk, keep the pace slow during his first year of life since his legs will be shorter. After that, you can pick it up.
6. Golden Retriever Mix
German Shepherds are some of the most loyal and intelligent dogs available, and they are the second most popular dog breed in the U.S. Golden Retrievers are gentle and loving, and they are the third most popular dog breed in the U.S. When you hybrid them, you get the wonderful Golden Shepherd, aka the German Shepherd Golden Retriever mix.
Trust us, these dogs are absolutely magnificent. They stand tall and carry themselves with a certain level of pride that you won’t see in many dog breeds. Most of the time, they have long, broad, heads with a straight, medium muzzle.
You’ll often see Golden Shepherds with deep, alert brown eyes full of expression. Their ears can vary, sometimes they will be upright, other times semi-flopped down, and sometimes they will even be completely flopped.
Golden Shepherds have a “pawsome” personality – seriously, they’re some of the most loyal family pets around. His German Shepherd side brings confidence and protection to his family members. While this could sound intimidating, he also has that Golden Retriever side.
His Golden Retriever side will bring a certain amount of eagerness to love his family, and all he will want to do is be best friends with his owner. These characteristics combined make for a loving dog the whole family can cherish.
7. Long haired
Long haired German Shepherds are a rare sight to see, since their recessive genes technically make them a genetic fault. Long haired German Shepherds are significantly different from standard German Shepherds. Some ways that long haired German Shepherds are different than standard German Shepherds are as follows;
- Long haired German Shepherds do not have an undercoat. This actually makes their coat to appear shinier. It also offers less protection from the weather, which makes long haired German Shepherds less desirable for working.
- Long haired German Shepherds have a much better temperament than standard German Shepherds. They are incredibly eager and obedient. Basically, they’re complete family dogs and they will just want to be close to you. For this reason, they are not outside dogs at all.
8. Short haired
Short haired German Shepherd refers to German Shepherds with about one-inch of fur. They are not genetically different from standard German Shepherds, they simply have a shorter coat length. Due to this, their health, temperament, and traits are all the same, except for the coat length.
