Kerstone Shepherds - GSD Colors, page 1

COLORS, pg 1

White

Regalwise Noble Denver Alpha ~ Photo courtesy of Alicia Lips, Kerstone Shepherds
White is a recessive gene in German Shepherds. Both parents must carry the gene to produce it.
Two whites bred together will produce ONLY white puppies, no other colors.
White is a masking gene, virtually hiding the dog's true genetic color
(example, this dog is "masking" a traditional black & tan, but also carries a gene for the solid black recessive.)
Most whites have black pigment. Some have what is called a "snow nose" where it is dark in summer and lighter in winter.

Kerstone's American Honey ~ Photo courtesy of Alicia Lips, Kerstone Shepherds
Many people think that a White GSD must be PURE white to be called white.
If the dog is not pure white they make up other names for them such as "buff", "biscuit", "blonde", or some version of sable etc. Dogs that
are any of these off "colors" on them are still genetically WHITE (not some "rare color") and they are COMPLETELY acceptable at WS/WGSD shows,
but not preffered. However, correct temperament, movement, and structure are far more important than being pure white.
White is a 'masking' gene and covers up the dog's true color. That is why 'white' dogs often have cream, or blonde tint to their coats.
Any white dog "masking" a rich black & red, or rich red sable, is more likely to have cream showing through the white.
Whereas, a white masking a light silver sable, or black & silver, will have a more pure white coat.

Liver

Hershey ~ Photo courtesy of L. Gonzalez
The liver gene dilutes the coat & pigment color from black to a brown, chocolate, or cinnamon color called 'liver'.
Hershey is a long-coated solid liver out of solid black parents.

Merlin ~ Photo by Dirk Hogerwerf, Netherlands
Merlin is a long-coated liver and tan.

Black

Patchworks Black Sabbath of Kerstone ~ Photo courtesy of Alicia Lips, Kerstone Shepherds
Solid is a recessive gene - both parents have to carry it to produce it. True solids come in black, blue, liver, and isabella.
If BOTH parents of a litter are solids then all resulting puppies will also be solid patterned - NO saddles, bi-colors, sables, etc.

Blue

Zeke (black & tan), Bella (powder blue & tan), Zeph (solid steel blue) ~ Photo courtesy of Judith Schaad
The blue gene dilutes the coat and pigment color from black to 'blue' or 'grey'.

Orlagh (left), Yahto (right), and their pups ~ Photos courtesy of Lineke Wegman, Shepherds of Yentl's Yard
(1) Orlagh, a solid black, with her solid black & solid blue pups. (2) Solid blue next to solid black. (3) Sire of the litter, Yahto, solid blue.
All of the above are long-coats.

Steel Blue
Tan w/ Steel Blue saddle and a Solid Steel Blue
Pinewoods True Blue Destiny & Trailwinds True Blue von Ace ~ Photo courtesy of Kathy Stone, Trailwinds Shepherds
Blue & Tan and Solid Blue.
Some steel blues are so dark that you would have to stand them right next to a black to see any difference.

Powder Blue

Bella Blue Star (adult) & Trailwinds Heavy Metal (pup) ~ Photo courtesy of Judith Schaad
The adult GSD is a powder blue & tan and the young pup is a solid steel blue.

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