my puppy's coat color

totono7 · 01-21-2009, 11:07 PM

Hi, my 8 week old german shepherd's coat is not an intense black like his siblings but more of a dark grey. Can anyone with expertise in the area guess what the color will be like when he grows up? Is this considered a fault? Here are some pics. Thanks in advance!

VectorSketcher · 01-21-2009, 11:48 PM

Adorable pup! I am no expert with coat colorings, but I do know that their coats change considerably as they get older, my 3yr old GSD is a bi-color and when he was younger he had alot of little grey hairs in his coat, now that he has grown he is very dark, just his undercoat has the little greyish/white hairs. I think it is hard to tell what coat they will grow up to have though.

emjworks05 · 01-22-2009, 12:11 AM

Im no expert either but he does look black to me.

**Amaruq** · 01-22-2009, 01:15 AM

I cant really tell from the pictures but is his nose and toes a true black or more of a gray/blue? The lighting is not the best in the pictures but it is possible that your pup is a blue dilute or he will have very weak pigment.

pupresq · 01-22-2009, 01:20 AM

My guess would be predominately tan as an adult.

Elaine · 01-22-2009, 01:48 AM

My best guess is he's going to be a very light black and tan with a lot of grey/silver.

DHau · 01-22-2009, 07:18 AM

Have you seen the parents? What do they look like?

totono7 · 01-22-2009, 09:49 AM

Hi all, thanks for your comments. I don't think he is a blue since his eyes are dark and his nose looks black to me. Here are some pics of the parents, i guess they are both predominantly tan. Dad top, mom bottom.

**Chris Wild** · 01-22-2009, 10:28 AM

Looks like a black and tan to me.

As is normal for black and tan pups, as he matures the black will receed and his markings will become smaller. When an adult, he'll be a lighter black and tan. Probably very similar to his parents, or perhaps a bit lighter (more tan, less black than they have).

totono7 · 01-22-2009, 10:44 AM

Thanks again,
Chris, so would you consider him a "light" black and tan? Does light refer to the intensity of his coat or to the proportion of coat/ground he will have as an adult?

01-21-2009, 11:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
totono7 New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 16	my puppy's coat color Hi, my 8 week old german shepherd's coat is not an intense black like his siblings but more of a dark grey. Can anyone with expertise in the area guess what the color will be like when he grows up? Is this considered a fault? Here are some pics. Thanks in advance!

01-21-2009, 11:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
VectorSketcher Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,270	Re: my puppy's coat color Adorable pup! I am no expert with coat colorings, but I do know that their coats change considerably as they get older, my 3yr old GSD is a bi-color and when he was younger he had alot of little grey hairs in his coat, now that he has grown he is very dark, just his undercoat has the little greyish/white hairs. I think it is hard to tell what coat they will grow up to have though. __________________ -michelle- Riddick-4yr GSD Rogue-1yr GSD Bishop-10yr Cat

01-22-2009, 12:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
emjworks05 Elite Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: OR, Sweethome Posts: 1,430	Re: my puppy's coat color Im no expert either but he does look black to me. __________________ Jessica Annie- 3 yo GSD Beowulf- 1 yo GSD Highplains Christmas Shimmer- Noel

01-22-2009, 01:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Amaruq Moderator who has gone to the dogs Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Where I don't wanna be-NW PA Posts: 14,645	Re: my puppy's coat color I cant really tell from the pictures but is his nose and toes a true black or more of a gray/blue? The lighting is not the best in the pictures but it is possible that your pup is a blue dilute or he will have very weak pigment. __________________ Ruq Paq Lakota, Chimo, Tika, Rayne, Kanuck, Jethro and Keyzah My Angels forever in my heart and watching over us: Phoenix 9/07 Kaylee Cheyenne 5/09

01-22-2009, 01:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
pupresq Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,485	Re: my puppy's coat color My guess would be predominately tan as an adult. __________________ http://www.brighterdaysforshelters.com Grace GSD Leo GSD

01-22-2009, 01:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Elaine Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,784	Re: my puppy's coat color My best guess is he's going to be a very light black and tan with a lot of grey/silver. __________________ Elaine and the herd

01-22-2009, 07:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
DHau Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GA Posts: 2,801	Re: my puppy's coat color Have you seen the parents? What do they look like? __________________ Please bear with my stupid questions. This old dog is learning new tricks. lol.

01-22-2009, 09:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
totono7 New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 16	Re: my puppy's coat color Hi all, thanks for your comments. I don't think he is a blue since his eyes are dark and his nose looks black to me. Here are some pics of the parents, i guess they are both predominantly tan. Dad top, mom bottom.

01-22-2009, 10:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
Chris Wild Administrator & Alpha Bitch of the Wild Bunch Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 12,604	Re: my puppy's coat color Looks like a black and tan to me. As is normal for black and tan pups, as he matures the black will receed and his markings will become smaller. When an adult, he'll be a lighter black and tan. Probably very similar to his parents, or perhaps a bit lighter (more tan, less black than they have). __________________ *Wildhaus Kennels* Kaiser ~ SchH3 CGC TDI (HOT) Raven ~ SchH3 AWD2 PD1 P1 PA T1 UCD URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Della ~ SchHA TR1 PD1 P1 PA T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Wulf ~ SchH1 PD1 P1 T1 URO2 CGC TT (B/HOT) Heidi ~ BH CD UCD RN URO1 (B/HOT) Jazz ~ Superpup In Training

01-22-2009, 10:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
totono7 New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 16	Re: my puppy's coat color Thanks again, Chris, so would you consider him a "light" black and tan? Does light refer to the intensity of his coat or to the proportion of coat/ground he will have as an adult?

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