Need help with color of puppy to pick:)

jhoop371 · 12-27-2011, 08:03 PM

Hi, we are planning on picking out a pup when they are ready. The mother is dark red/black from german lines, the father is tall and big and is kind of silver/tan and black. Really like the red and black. any ideas on what to look for when they are ready to go color wise. My first gsd I picked was black with tan coloring, by the time he was a year, he was tan with black. Right now of course they are all black with minimal brown since they are only 2 days old. just need any input/ideas. Thank you! (want black face and darker body)

I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO · 12-27-2011, 08:11 PM

Have the breeder pick one that matches what you are looking for i.e. temperament and drive wise. If there are two that are the same, then color should be last in deciding.

**Castlemaid** · 12-27-2011, 08:54 PM

It's hard to tell when they are very young. If colour is the only thing that will need to be taken into consideration, look for an adult dog of at least a year old of the exact coloring that you want.

Freestep · 12-27-2011, 08:59 PM

The breeder should be picking out the puppy for you, based on temperament suitability, not color. If it comes down to deciding between 2 or 3 pups that are equally suitable, you could choose the color you like best, but it's really hard to tell how much black the pup will end up with at maturity. Black and tans start out very dark, and the black recedes as they get older, but you never know exactly how much. Do you have photos of the parents?

doggiedad · 12-27-2011, 09:07 PM

i never agree with people when they say
don't pick a color or color is the last thing to pick.
GSD's come in several colors. within those colors
you can find a dog with a sound temperament,
strong nerves, low drive or high drive in the color
you want. when i decided i wanted a GSD the first
things i decided on was gender and color. i believed
any reputable breeder would have what i wanted.

i'm assuming you're usuing a reputable breeder. have you
owned a GSD? good luck with the new pup.

Gracie's My Girl · 12-27-2011, 09:16 PM

As others have said, color is definitely not the breaking point on finding the perfect puppy.

Black and reds are by far my favorite color. When we picked out our puppy, I had no idea what color she would end up as. (Definitely uneducated in that area at that time!

) Her mother was black and tan and the dad was black and red. I was happy that she turned out to be more red than tan.

Here is a photo of her at eight weeks...

...and now. She is actually a bit more red than the photo shows.

Have fun with the puppy picking process!

jhoop371 · 12-27-2011, 09:27 PM

Gracie is beautiful! Lover her color. I know it's hard to tell what they will look like at an early stage, was just curious if anyone had an idea what the two color parents would/might produce. Both parents are there and have great personalities which is what I wanted to see. Castlemaid..We want a puppy not a one year old with the "color" we want. Color is second, but we do have a preference. If color wasn't important in this breed, there would only be one color and not many that are bred for a certain color. Thanks everyone for their humble replies, I appreciate them!

Freestep · 12-27-2011, 09:51 PM

If red and black is your preference, why are you going with a breeder that is breeding a black and silver to a black and red? Why not find a breeder that only breeds black and red?

Rahrah · 12-27-2011, 09:52 PM

If you'd like a darker dog, pick a pup with darker parents. 2yrs is a fairly good indication of colour containment (though not always!) in a mature dog.

Also, the darker they are as puppies the more likely the darker they will be as adults...so choose the darkest one.

NewbieShepherdGirl · 12-27-2011, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doggiedad

i never agree with people when they say
don't pick a color or color is the last thing to pick.
GSD's come in several colors. within those colors
you can find a dog with a sound temperament,
strong nerves, low drive or high drive in the color
you want. when i decided i wanted a GSD the first
things i decided on was gender and color. i believed
any reputable breeder would have what i wanted.

i'm assuming you're usuing a reputable breeder. have you
owned a GSD? good luck with the new pup.

I agree with this.

12-27-2011, 08:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
jhoop371 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 43	Need help with color of puppy to pick:) Hi, we are planning on picking out a pup when they are ready. The mother is dark red/black from german lines, the father is tall and big and is kind of silver/tan and black. Really like the red and black. any ideas on what to look for when they are ready to go color wise. My first gsd I picked was black with tan coloring, by the time he was a year, he was tan with black. Right now of course they are all black with minimal brown since they are only 2 days old. just need any input/ideas. Thank you! (want black face and darker body)

12-27-2011, 08:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
I_LOVE_MY_MIKKO Knighted Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 2,246	Have the breeder pick one that matches what you are looking for i.e. temperament and drive wise. If there are two that are the same, then color should be last in deciding. __________________ Mikko GM, RM, AAD, ASA, SJ, SS, EAC, EJC, TN-E, TG-E, WV-O, OCC, HP-O, VerO, NAJ, CGC - 6 year old GSD

12-27-2011, 08:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Castlemaid Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Northern British Columbia Posts: 9,088	It's hard to tell when they are very young. If colour is the only thing that will need to be taken into consideration, look for an adult dog of at least a year old of the exact coloring that you want. __________________ Lucia Keeta BH, OB1, TR1, AD (HOT) Rottweiler/Hairy Dog mix?? Shelter rescue Gryffon Vom Wildhaus BH, OFA Good (HOT) "Bites Through the Sleeve" Cuddlebug, b: Mar 2009

12-27-2011, 08:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Freestep Knighted Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,087	The breeder should be picking out the puppy for you, based on temperament suitability, not color. If it comes down to deciding between 2 or 3 pups that are equally suitable, you could choose the color you like best, but it's really hard to tell how much black the pup will end up with at maturity. Black and tans start out very dark, and the black recedes as they get older, but you never know exactly how much. Do you have photos of the parents? __________________ Luka von Sontausen, CD Vinca von Sontausen, CGC Freestep's Beluga Whale, BWD

12-27-2011, 09:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
doggiedad Crowned Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Jenkintown,Pa. Posts: 9,846	i never agree with people when they say don't pick a color or color is the last thing to pick. GSD's come in several colors. within those colors you can find a dog with a sound temperament, strong nerves, low drive or high drive in the color you want. when i decided i wanted a GSD the first things i decided on was gender and color. i believed any reputable breeder would have what i wanted. i'm assuming you're usuing a reputable breeder. have you owned a GSD? good luck with the new pup. __________________ "Life Without A Dog Is A Life Unfulfilled"

12-27-2011, 09:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gracie's My Girl Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 330	As others have said, color is definitely not the breaking point on finding the perfect puppy. Black and reds are by far my favorite color. When we picked out our puppy, I had no idea what color she would end up as. (Definitely uneducated in that area at that time! ) Her mother was black and tan and the dad was black and red. I was happy that she turned out to be more red than tan. Here is a photo of her at eight weeks... ...and now. She is actually a bit more red than the photo shows. Have fun with the puppy picking process! __________________ Gracie - GSD - May 3, 2011

12-27-2011, 09:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
jhoop371 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 43	color is not everything of course. Gracie is beautiful! Lover her color. I know it's hard to tell what they will look like at an early stage, was just curious if anyone had an idea what the two color parents would/might produce. Both parents are there and have great personalities which is what I wanted to see. Castlemaid..We want a puppy not a one year old with the "color" we want. Color is second, but we do have a preference. If color wasn't important in this breed, there would only be one color and not many that are bred for a certain color. Thanks everyone for their humble replies, I appreciate them!

12-27-2011, 09:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Freestep Knighted Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,087	If red and black is your preference, why are you going with a breeder that is breeding a black and silver to a black and red? Why not find a breeder that only breeds black and red? __________________ Luka von Sontausen, CD Vinca von Sontausen, CGC Freestep's Beluga Whale, BWD

12-27-2011, 09:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rahrah Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: It's bloody hot....Australia Posts: 150	If you'd like a darker dog, pick a pup with darker parents. 2yrs is a fairly good indication of colour containment (though not always!) in a mature dog. Also, the darker they are as puppies the more likely the darker they will be as adults...so choose the darkest one. __________________ Wolfonyx Extreme Grace 08/08/2011 "Fenrir"

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