Black male, tan or sable female...why?

[GSD84]

I've been looking at different breeders sites. We have a breeder and are NOT switching, but I want to learn as much as possible about the breed, and I've been noticing that many many breeders will breed a male that is all black and a female that is tan and black or sable. Why is that?

[Chris Wild]

I don't understand you're question.

Why wouldn't a breeder use dogs of different colors? Color comes way down at the bottom of the priority list, well below health, temperament, working ability and physical soundness.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by GSD84

I've been looking at different breeders sites. We have a breeder and are NOT switching, but I want to learn as much as possible about the breed, and I've been noticing that many many breeders will breed a male that is all black and a female that is tan and black or sable. Why is that?

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you thinking that blacks should only be bred to other blacks or something? As long as the color is accepted by the standard, it's not necessary to breed to the same color/pattern.

I take your breeder has showlines.

[GSD84]

No i don't think they should be bred a certain colour to a certain colour. But I have just noticed that many of the males are a dark rich colour and the females are lighter. I was just curious if they do this so they get a specific coat colour or specific look to the dog? And yes they were showline breeders sites

[Lucy Dog]

Anyone breeder making decisions on which dogs to breed based on color is not a reputable breeder.

Not to say this doesn't happen, but this is not something you will see as a top priority with any reputable breeder - show or working lines.

Chris pretty much summed it up with:

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

Color comes way down at the bottom of the priority list, well below health, temperament, working ability and physical soundness.

[paulag1955]

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

Color comes way down at the bottom of the priority list, well below health, temperament, working ability and physical soundness.

Where would you put size in that list?

[Lucy Dog]

I don't want to speak for Chris, but for me personally, size should probably be one notch above color, but still below everything Chris mentioned in the above priority list.

I'm not a fan of oversized breeding at all, but there are much more important things than size.

[paulag1955]

Originally Posted by Lucy Dog

I don't want to speak for Chris, but for me personally, size should probably be one notch above color, but still below everything Chris mentioned in the above priority list.

I'm not a fan of oversized breeding at all, but there are much more important things than size.

That's what I was thinking. My husband does want a big male, though.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by paulag1955

That's what I was thinking. My husband does want a big male, though.

Of course he does, he's a man.

[paulag1955]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Of course he does, he's a man.

Exactly! He really wants the male to be bigger than Shasta.