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What is a reverse mask?

50K views 55 replies 21 participants last post by  Ash11205 
#1 ·
I read somewhere about a reverse mask, but have been unable to find pictures of exactly what that means.

Is this considered a fault?

Finally, would Hans's be considered a reverse mask?

 
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#4 ·
I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO also has a dog (Mikko) with a reverse mask.
 
#6 ·
Thank you!

So now I have a name for his tan face :wub:

I actually told the breeder I would prefer a lighter face.
I have absolutely no idea how she knew, when he looked like this, that he would end up like the picture above, but she told me that if I wanted a face like his mother's, he would have it:



Here is his mom Questa:
 
#18 ·
Thank you!

So now I have a name for his tan face :wub:

I actually told the breeder I would prefer a lighter face.
I have absolutely no idea how she knew, when he looked like this, that he would end up like the picture above, but she told me that if I wanted a face like his mother's, he would have it:

Wow, that's amazing. How on earth could anyone say this dog would have a reverse mask? He looks just like Gunner at that age. And Gunner had a very black mask and he had it for a few years before it lightened.

Oh and how stinkin cute was Hans as a puppy?? :wub::wub::wub::wub:
 
#8 ·
His mom is gorgeous, as is your dog!

Yes Lord vom G has a reverse mask. I read somewhere that it originated with his lines- something about his breeder preferring it or breeding him for it.
 
#9 ·
A reverse mask. A fault I often saw coming down from Lord.
 

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#12 ·
The above dog's sire, a Lord grandson.
 

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#13 ·
Not uncommon in dogs going back on Lord, but it didn't originate with him. It was not unusual in many of the dogs in the US back in the 50s and 60s, especially black/cream and black/silvers. Many, like the dog who played the Littlest Hobo on TV, looked almost like huskies in the face. There was someone who posted a faded sable puppy here on the board recently who also has a husky looking reverse mask.
 
#15 ·
No, didn't originate from him. Just common coming from him.

Still going through photos. :)
 
#20 ·
I think your breeder could probably tell because you can see the tan coming through just a little bit. This is a picture of my dog at 10 weeks and you can see some tan poking through the mask- definitely more pronounced than your dog, but he was a few weeks older too (at least it seems judging by your picture)



Thanks Lisa and Chris for the additional info on the reverse mask :)
 
#23 · (Edited)
I know... sorry about that.

Here he is at 7 weeks. Yep, now that I look reeeeallly closely, I can see brown and not black on that mask.

And looking at that very sweet face, I realize I need to do right by my dog and get outside with him instead of talking about him on the computer, LOL.

 
#25 ·
THAT'S a reverse mask puppy?? I would have never guessed!
 
#32 ·
I love a reverse mask. Here's my girl! View attachment 23589
What qualifies a reverse mask? A majority portion of the muzzle being brown, as well as the eyes? I wonder if this pup is actually a reverse mask or not given how dark her muzzle is. She looks awesome though! Her face is like "raccoon eyes" to a whole new level! She has a raccoon band. haha
 
#33 ·
To me it is a dark forehead and lack of black on the muzzle, so IMO faulty coloring. I'm not sure why it's called a "reverse" mask since it's really just lacking black on the muzzle, nothing is flipped around. Many dogs that have black muzzles already have a dark forehead as well. I know Coke is not a GSD or even a majority GSD (maybe a little?) but I've seen GSDs with the same face/coloring.
 
#36 ·
Even if it did I wouldn't describe a dog's color pattern based on fading with age. I tend to think of a color pattern as something the dog was born with. For example my dog with the brown nose and black forehead has always been that way, even if he may still lighten further.
 
#37 ·
Why not? Sables don't look anything like they do when they are young. Many GSDs have much more black on them when they are young, look more like blanket backs, but then will be considered saddle backs. The reverse mask is the same way, as puppies they have a black mask that fades with their puppyhood.
 
#38 ·
Sables are very distinctly sable from birth. I highly doubt that the dog in the photo is doing to loose all that black on the muzzle before 18 months or so. Mikko is what I think of when someone says "reverse mask" though I don't think the term itself is accurate.
 
#40 ·
Oh sorry, I misunderstood what you were referring to I think. I thought you when you said from birth, that like Mikko and Hans and other reverse mask dogs (or whatever you want to call it) shouldn't have a term that refers to their coloring because they aren't born that way. That's what I meant in referencing sables (probably a bad example) and the saddle coloration (better example).
I think you were actually referring to the other dog posted who is older and still has the black mask? I don't think that dog has a reverse mask, and agree further lightening would be due to age but not color pattern.
 
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