no color genes does not affect temperament. What affects temperament is breeding only for color.

 

Corrected my post: meant to say part of one of the CHROMOSOMES is missing.

The panda shepherd was the result of a pure bred shepherd being born with part of one of its chromosomes missing. Genetic tests have pinpointed the exact location of the deletion. Unfortunately, the missing part of the chromosome contains genes that also control other important body functions, so if you breed a panda to another panda, you will not get any pups. The gene combination panda x panda is lethal.

Chromosomes occur in pairs, so when you cross a panda with a normal GSD, the normal chromosome from that dog covers for the missing genes, and the dog can live a normal life.

For that reason, I don't feel it's ethical to breed pandas. However, the panda colouring does not affect their temperament in any way. If you really want to do this, make sure you pick a breeder that selects for dogs with good temperament, though, and not just the panda colour!

 

The panda shepherd was the result of a pure bred shepherd being born with part of one of its genes missing. Genetic tests have pinpointed the exact location of the deletion. Unfortunately, the missing part of the gene also controls other important body functions, so if you breed a panda to another panda, you will not get any pups. The gene combination panda x panda is lethal.

That is super interesting.

Panda White Spotting in German Shepherd Dogs | Veterinary Genetics Laboratory

A mutation in the KIT gene has been found to be the source of the dominant white spotting pattern known as Panda that occurs in a line of German Shepherd Dogs.

vgl.ucdavis.edu

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Even nature doesn't want them to be bred.

 

Wow, I really (clearly) have not kept up with all this so called "Panda" GSD silliness, nonsense . . . not sure what to call it . . . judging from reading here where others have followed whatever "it" is.

Maybe because I surround myself with very hard core serious GSD people in my offline personal life, years ago when the spectre of these dogs first came up in discussion in those circles (and we were first hearing about them), most seriously doubted their purebred status and purebred lineage, registrations/papers or not. Then we all lost interest in the topic and moved on. (One breeder I know puts "No fad colors" on her website, just so random members of the public don't bother her looking for that in puppies.)

I don't mess with people who do not breed to the GSD standard. It's that simple.

If breeders do not breed to the standard on one thing, then what else are they doing? I don't trust them. Do they just pick and choose, and make it up as they go along? All on their own? Bad news. (Red flag. Red flag.)

We already have gorgeous variety in standard GSD coat colors and patterns, all richly and strongly pigmented. Good breeders don't breed for color. It takes so much to make a really great GSD. Breeding to accomplish the ideal of the GSD standard -- all parts of it -- is HARD.

Honestly, the GSD may be the most challenging breed to breed and get right.

 

Lauren Kelly,

I was taught by good GSD breeders that you never, never select a GSD based on color.

You don't go looking for a color in a GSD, as that should be near last on your list of qualities to look for in a GSD puppy. Instead, look for a great breeder who follows the standard, has a hard fought for solid breeding program and lines, and produces dogs you like.

Study the standard. Then look for dogs you admire because they closely match what you read in the GSD standard. Good long time breeders (current and former) and judges can help you to learn about the standard. Just read it and ask questions. Meet and observe GSDs bred to the standard.

 

As if any two German Shepherds had the same personality. I've had athletes and couch potatoes; kid's dog, mommy's little helper and Daddy's little princess. Toy destroyers and toy cuddlers. Good watchdogs and 'rub my belly?' shepherds. no two are alike.

 

I think this site needs a sarcasm alert button so people down the line don't take every comment as gospel.

 

I think so..............Bear'sHandler just floored me..............I had to wonder for a second! LOL LOL

 

A highly experienced & knowledgeable GSD breeder I know suggested many years ago, when the whole topic of these dogs came up that

1)Breeders could have taken their litters of B/Ts GSDs with a lot of white showing up (fault) and, then instead of correcting the problem, white blazes and markings (undesirable) appearing and increasing in some lines, breeding away from it, bred back into this to produce more of it.

2)Marketing -- of the name "Panda Shepherd/German Shepherd", the "rareness" factor, $$$ in a commercial market to pet people, selling something different or "unique"and striking --->(=Piebald in horses)

 

Treasures, the white markings in B/T GSDs are genetic yes, but are not caused by the same genes as the panda. And of course, breeding these dogs will increase the amount and frequency of white markings. But I wonder if they could ever become as large and extensive as the panda markings.

 

Interesting…. My B&T has white markings, she’s a Slovakian import with papers who I’ve never thought of as panda… she’s just a great Czech bitch 👍🏼

 

No offense to the OP and im just flapping my jaw, but I don’t find that to be a good looking dog.

 

I don't know if I am interested anymore but panda shepherds are cute in a quirky way.

 

Panda, as already stated, is a lethal gene. So those pedigrees are completely false. K9 Pines bred Franka. The incomplete information on parentage easily show that they are hiding stuff.... Anyone who is breeding, wants pictures of both parents for their litters...

The UC Davis DNA testing was done to prove Father and Mother, and the KIT gene mutation. There was no testing to prove the breed genetics on Mom, and as we already know, by three generations, if something was mixed in, it will show as a purebred. Back then, AKC DNA wasn't required yet, on breeding dogs.

 

There was no testing to prove the breed genetics on Mom, and as we already know, by three generations, if something was mixed in, it will show as a purebred.

nmn, the problem with bringing up Mom's genetics is that the panda gene is DOMINANT. If Mom carried the gene, SHE would have had panda markings. I studied genetics in university, and taught it in High School biology. It is very obvious to me that the Panda gene originated with Franka, as a result of a deletion in the KIT gene. As you state, it has also been proved that her parents were the dogs recorded by the breeder on her pedigree.

Case closed!

 

Yes, that's possible. I've worked a lot with pedigrees on the PDB, and since anyone can enter a pedigree, there are a lot of mistakes. They don't have enough moderators to catch them all.

 

I just don't get spending good money for an out of standard dog that people are going to assume is a mutt....

 

The crazy thing is many spend MORE for these dogs than they would for a well bred dog!

 

Interesting…. My B&T has white markings, she’s a Slovakian import with papers who I’ve never thought of as panda… she’s just a great Czech bitch 👍🏼

Lots of dogs have white on chest and toes - even more common in slowlines than working lines......it is fairly common....I imported a bitch with a bit of white on one toe, and a teeny tiny white chest spot....3-5 generations down, white toes and chest sports are still showing up.....dog wasKKL1 in Europe, so not a problem.....she was a super nice dog, from a great family in all ways, including a littermate and son being alternates for the WUSV with handlers who were not normally top competitors.......

Jogi Zonk competed and was on the podium with a dog with a large blaze on chest, dog was V rated and KKL1 as well.......then like so many - moved to China....

Some white is not a major fault, and is common - but the Panda is a Back Yard Breeder phenonomen and an abhorrance to responsible passionate breeders (apologies for typos - eyes and fingers are being problematical...surgery soon)

Lee

 

even more common in slowlines

Lee, had a good laugh at this particular typo!

 

Just noticed that one of the rescues in this area has 2 young panda pups. Never expected to see that. And they came from NC. What a coincidence.

 

If you look at the dog like any old dog and don’t expect to see a GSD, I think it’s cute. But I agree I would not pay money for a panda. Seems unethical to me.