Bicolor or Black & Tan?

cassadee7 · 07-23-2010, 04:06 PM

Is there a definitive way to tell a bicolor from a black & tan who has a blacket back?

I see some breeders calling the same coloration either name. I thought bicolors had tan ONLY on their legs.

Is it a bicolor with a bit more tan, or is it a black & tan with a lot more black?

example: Bicolor: SchraderhausK9.com - +1.253.843.1123 PST - German Shepherd Working Dogs

elisabeth_00117 · 07-23-2010, 04:07 PM

I would call Xeana a black and tan blanket back.

elisabeth_00117 · 07-23-2010, 04:07 PM

Stark has a similar coat and colouring and he is definitely a black and tan blanket back.

Jax08 · 07-23-2010, 04:09 PM

Black and Tan - Blanket Back

Bi-colors have tar heals and, I think, penciled toes.

ruger · 07-23-2010, 04:11 PM

Here is a good resource

Illustrated Standard of the German Shepherd Dog, COLOR & PIGMENT

**JakodaCD OA** · 07-23-2010, 04:11 PM

This was my bicolor Dodge,,

Jax08 · 07-23-2010, 04:12 PM

oh WOW Diane!! Stunning!

cassadee7 · 07-23-2010, 04:16 PM

Yeah, see, Dodge is what I would call a bicolor. I have come across a lot of breeders calling the more tan dogs "bicolors" though.

Looking at that link, the melanistic black & tan looks very similar to the rich bicolor, and it says that bicolors have tan points similar to a Doberman.

edit: in fact I always thought that if you looked at a bicolor from the belly up, it would look solid black, but maybe this is not the case.

**Samba** · 07-23-2010, 04:17 PM

People within the breed do not all agree on the definition. I myself, always went with the idea that the bi-color had the black down the front legs, pencil marked toes, tar heels and a tan circle around the vent. I am not an expert at all on how the gene always expresses though.

elisabeth_00117 · 07-23-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakodaCD OA

This was my bicolor Dodge,,

This is what I consider a bi-colour.

07-23-2010, 04:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Bicolor or Black & Tan? Is there a definitive way to tell a bicolor from a black & tan who has a blacket back? I see some breeders calling the same coloration either name. I thought bicolors had tan ONLY on their legs. Is it a bicolor with a bit more tan, or is it a black & tan with a lot more black? example: Bicolor: SchraderhausK9.com - +1.253.843.1123 PST - German Shepherd Working Dogs __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

07-23-2010, 04:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,250	I would call Xeana a black and tan blanket back. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

07-23-2010, 04:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,250	Stark has a similar coat and colouring and he is definitely a black and tan blanket back. __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

07-23-2010, 04:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	This was my bicolor Dodge,, __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

07-23-2010, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
cassadee7 Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Posts: 1,254	Yeah, see, Dodge is what I would call a bicolor. I have come across a lot of breeders calling the more tan dogs "bicolors" though. Looking at that link, the melanistic black & tan looks very similar to the rich bicolor, and it says that bicolors have tan points similar to a Doberman. edit: in fact I always thought that if you looked at a bicolor from the belly up, it would look solid black, but maybe this is not the case. __________________ Shawn Mom to five kids and Speedy the Wonderdog, (toy poodle/pom mix), 13 years old "Saber" Jette vom Wildhaus CGC 11/09/10

07-23-2010, 04:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,321	Black and Tan - Blanket Back Bi-colors have tar heals and, I think, penciled toes.

07-23-2010, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
ruger Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Aurora, Colorado Posts: 140	Here is a good resource Illustrated Standard of the German Shepherd Dog, COLOR & PIGMENT

07-23-2010, 04:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,321	oh WOW Diane!! Stunning!

07-23-2010, 04:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
Samba Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,447	People within the breed do not all agree on the definition. I myself, always went with the idea that the bi-color had the black down the front legs, pencil marked toes, tar heels and a tan circle around the vent. I am not an expert at all on how the gene always expresses though.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement