Angela... wouldn't you say the first one is a blk-tan also??? It has some brown on the face and as far as I understand, a true bi-color only has brown on their legs/feet, nowhere else?
Bi-Color puppies usually have just the slightest bit of tan on their toes when they are born. The black usually extends down their legs and gives them tar-heels.
Black and Tans show more tan than bi-colors, but how much usually depends on the extent of their saddle and mask. (Are they going to be a blanket back Black and Tan? Or a small saddle?)
Sable puppies are the easiest to identify because they don't look really black on their backs...they look kind of gray or tan. The black on a sable starts to really come in when they get their adult coats.
I only have pictures of my sable puppy. You can really see, that while he has the black mask, the sides and back don't really look black.
At 5 weeks
I think the line between a dark black and tan and a bi-color can very thin and the 2 are easy to mistake. This site does a good job of explaining the differences and giving illustrations.
"Very dark B&Ts are often advertised as bicolours, and can have heads, necks and bodies that are nearly solid black. However, they usually show some tan shading about the base of the ears, and have few or no black hairs down the pasterns, or on the toes or hocks.
Typically, the bicolour is a black dog with tan points much the same as a doberman. It is in fact the same gene. A very dark one with a strong black mask and much extension of the black may appear to be solid black, with a black undercoat and only some tan shading on the feet."
Here is a puppy picture of Ivy's sister Izzie. She is a bi-color:
Then here is a picture of another one of Ivy's sisters. Her name is Ivanna and she is a sable. It is hard to tell in this picture but she is. She looks like her mom-Zada:
Momma Zada:
This is a bi-color pup as well (this one isn't related to Ivy):
Originally Posted By: SuperpupAngela... wouldn't you say the first one is a blk-tan also??? It has some brown on the face and as far as I understand, a true bi-color only has brown on their legs/feet, nowhere else?
From same site:
3. Rich Bicolour, Melanistic Bicolour, faded bicolour.
Typically, the bicolour is a black dog with tan points much the same as a doberman. It is in fact the same gene. A very dark one with a strong black mask and much extension of the black may appear to be solid black, with a black undercoat and only some tan shading on the feet. Theoretically, bicolours always show tan around the vent, but I have seen a virtually black dog with just enough tan around the vent (and between the toes) to suspect that it was a bicolour, but not enough to be sure. However, a pale bicolour can look strikingly like a black sable, showing much black over a light grey undercoat, with tan or grey over the nape of the neck and along the harness lines, and black markings on the legs and feet. These dogs have the genetics for fading of the black mantle, and while they can still appear dark to the eye, will produce colour fading.
the "rich" bicolor shown is what most people consider a bicolor and not a bl/tan.
Pups with saddles will get them as the get older as the color will fade into a saddle if thats what they genetically were born with. You would need to know the parents and what was behind them.
I think you can pretty much guess the patterning on your dog based on the parents and genetics, (obviously a puppy already showing a lot of tan and saddle won't grow up to be a blanket back) but yes, I don't think you can tell the full extent of the change in a puppy's coat until it's done growing.
And yes, traditionally sables darken up as they get older. I have seen some who fade on the face, but the body does seem to darken up, I think most noticeably from puppy to young adult.
She looks like a blanket to me. Usually bicolors have the tarheels on them and she seems to have alot of tan on the face like the blanket I posted above.
After a lot of debate, meeting breeders, meeting dogs, I have put a deposit on a pup. The breeder will be selecting the dog she feels is best for what I am seeking: a low drive family orientated dog. She understands my major concern of my 5yr old daughter being the most important consideration...
Just wondering if y'all gsd has weird of funny things they do. For Perseus, he loves loves marbles. At first, he would find the kids marbles and put them in his mouth. My first response was, "oh no, he is going to choke or swallow it" I tried to find them all, but with no luck. UN tell one day...
Hi guys,
It might be a daft question, but at what sort of temperatures should you consider putting a coat on your furry friend?
It's around 5C or 41F here at the moment and our little girl is 6 months old.
I know I'll be putting a coat on, but does she need a coat on as well or should she be...
So our girl is 13 weeks, is settling in great (the big fella is still a bit unsure but he's remained the centre of attention so loving life) Do you guys think she's likely to keep her eye colour at this age? how do you think her coat colour will turn out?
Hello!
We have a 15 week pup who is doing great with commands and bonding so far, house trained, crate trained, just the cutest little guy!
he is currently getting a training walk in the morning, short OB when we return, CRATE, play time at lunch and another short OB session, CRATE, then a...
A forum community dedicated to all German Shepherd owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bloodlines, training, breeding, service dogs, and more!
Diesel7602 · updated 
TheJimReaper · updated 
