Is it wrong to pick a dog due to color?

[Anubis_Star]

I know that color should be very low on the list when puppy shopping. First should be health, temperament, lines, etc...

I know what I feel a german shepherd should be, I've done my research, I've picked working lines, I've basically given the breeder free choice to place a puppy with me. My only requirement, I want a male. I told her otherwise, you give me the puppy you think will be best for my situation. (Spartanville, BTW).

I was second pick male on a breeding that sadly did not take, ok I'm willing to wait for the right pup. I've been put on hold for another breeding, but there's already 3 ahead of me so now I'm 4th pick male. Once again, I'm confident with what she's producing. I don't need top sport or working pick, I want a companion animal. A pet. 4th pick fine with me. But I was talking to a friend that breeds, and I was telling him that it's scaring me to be 4th pick because I REALLY REALLY want a sable, not a black or a bicolor.

Now he's giving me crap for buying a dog because of color, but in this situation is that really so bad? Why can't I have the whole package? Black dogs can be beautiful, but I'm not personally a huge fan of them. I've had my heart set on a great working line sable for years, is maybe passing up a pup for another litter wrong because of color?

When I got Zeke, I REALLY wanted a black and tan saddle. As he grew, obviously that didn't happen and now he's an extended saddle. Not what I wanted in color, but I love him and think he's gorgeous. So at the end of the day, no I would not HATE a black pup, I would love the pup and love how he looked regardless.

[GusGus]

You spend a lot of money on a puppy when you buy one, and I do not think it is wrong to pick because of color. If you've found a breeder you like and see fit for you to do business with, I do not see why wanting a certain color would matter. Bottom line: your friend, your money, your choice.

[onyx'girl]

I told Karlo's breeder early on that I didn't want a black pup. I wanted a sable. So if there were only black males in the litter I'd pass...and possibly lose the deposit.
I had a black dog previously and had my heart set on a sable.
I would have waited for another litter if there were no sable males.
Only two males were born~ all pups were sable! But I still didn't know for certain a pup would be for me until the temperament test at 7 weeks.
In hindsight, I know I'd kick myself for passing up a black male pup from that breeding.
I lucked out, getting a sable male, my dream dog!
If you have your heart set on a certain color, and know what the breeder is producing, waiting for just the right pup is not a bad thing at all! At the time I was researching getting a pup, Spartanville was the other breeder I was going to go with, but decided I didn't want all DDR lines.

[Anubis_Star]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I told Karlo's breeder early on that I didn't want a black pup. I wanted a sable. So if there were only black males in the litter I'd pass...and possibly lose the deposit.
I had a black dog previously and had my heart set on a sable.
I would have waited for another litter if there were no sable males.
Only two males were born~ all pups were sable! But I still didn't know for certain a pup would be for me until the temperament test at 7 weeks.
In hindsight, I know I'd kick myself for passing up a black male pup from that breeding.
I lucked out, getting a sable male, my dream dog!
If you have your heart set on a certain color, and know what the breeder is producing, waiting for just the right pup is not a bad thing at all! At the time I was researching getting a pup, Spartanville was the other breeder I was going to go with, but decided I didn't want all DDR lines.

I've been up in the air about pure DDR lines. The breeding I WAS in line for was pure DDR. However when the bitch didn't take, I moved to a breeding that was half DDR/half Czech. I am actually a little excited for that prospect.

[Cassidy's Mom]

Funny, I'm the opposite - I'd LOVE a solid black or bi-color! Of course it has to be a longcoat. Now that we have Halo, I wouldn't mind another sable, which was probably my least favorite color/pattern prior to that.

Color should not be the only criteria or even the most important criteria, but I agree with Jane. If you have a breeder you're considering, (or a few breeders) that are producing dogs with the kind of temperament that you're looking for I see nothing wrong with preferring a particular color, and hoping that there are pups in the litter that will meet your requirements as well as being the color you want.

[m1953]

While color shouldn't be the only thing you look for in a pup everyone has there own preferences when it comes to color so yes there is no reason for it not to be part of your selection process.

[doggiedad]

when you buy from a reputable breeder nerves, temperament,
health and being sound is a given. i always pick according to color
and sex. i don't have much faith in a breeder picking a puppy for me.
the pup they pick for you isn't the same pup days later, a week
later, a month later, etc. how does a breeder always have that
certain pup for that certain person?

[Dainerra]

my one criteria was "no solid black dogs" It was actually the one deal breaker when we were looking for a dog.
It was DH's only request when we considered another dog. He just doesn't like the look and I think that, since he was willing to put up with anything I wanted, that I should let him have his wish.
It didn't change who I was going to get a pup from. If the only pup that was a good match for us was a solid black, then we would have waited for another litter.

[Freestep]

I'm not sure what you mean by "4th pick", isn't the breeder going to pick which pup goes to which owner?

Is it wrong to pick by color? It depends. If you have two puppies that are equal in all respects, but one is your favorite color, it makes sense to pick that one. But if you had to pass up a pup whose temperament and personality fits your lifestyle perfectly, just to pick the one with your favorite color, I don't think that's in your best interest.

I wouldn't turn down a dog of any color, if it were my perfect dog. I do love dark sables and bicolors, and I love a dark face, but nothing cosmetic is a dealbreaker for me.

[Nigel]

All things being equal, get the color you want. I like them all, I'm easy that way.