Not all solid black is actually solid black - Page 3

If the vent (undertail) area is black, like the pups Mirasmom showed, then it's a black dog. However, if the vent is tan or some other non-black color, then the dog is not black.

I don't use faint hairs of color as indicators as to whether a dog is considered black or not. I used to work with field line labradors, and occasionally a black pup would have a few off-color hairs. Same with the chocolate labs as well, except the contrast was more striking, and easier to notice, on the blacks.


I haven't met a lot of truly black GSDs, but the ones I have seen sometimes do have a few non-black hairs here and there.

I don't see a lot of variation in the black, like "grey black" versus "true black."

The only times I see changes in black hue is when the dilution gene is at play, and the dog is actually a very dark dilute black, rather than a non-dilute black. I've seen some dogs that were considered "blue" but ranging from a near-black charcoal or steel-blue, to a very faded powder blue. Dilution works in degrees.

Ibrahim,
The first photo is of a pup, coats change through to maturity.
I have had solid blacks for some time, one was actually bi-color.    Look up the standards.
Off looking grey could be Blue.  Pictures can be decieving.
White spots are not uncommon as I have seen them on several blacks.

One of my blacks,


one other that turned out to be bi-color,

Two moons and all friends on this thread,

The dog in the first picture two moons posted above  is so beautiful, and this is the black color I know and have in mind and it is so reagal (elegant, magnificent), this is what I think  is indeed a true black color if I may say so, some other called black dogs look somehow of lighter black or as one said above dilute. Actually I was wondering whether all degrees of  black colored dogs are really truely black colored. 
Now I have learned that some black dogs have a sun bleach and coat color turns somewhat reddish.
Some black dogs have dull black coat due to dead hairs at the time or prior to shedding.
But stll I see some dogs look charcoal (not black) at their best coat time and no sun bleaching (in true eye sight not in pictures) and this is what I would like to know what you think, notice, experience.
Is part of the dogs we call solid black colored are actually charcoal color?
I am not talking about genes and what they might produce, just the color itself.

Ibrahim

     Every Black dog I have had, has stayed totally black. I have had a few that had a few white hairs on the chest at birth, but usually that disappears after a couple months at the latest.
    First pic is show/working cross, last two are total showlines.
    I have 2 long coat blacks that do get a reddish tint in summer, i'm sure due to the sun, but once they blow their coat, new hair returns them to solid black until the sun-bathing returns.

Kitkat3478

Though it is off the OP, if you don't mind

You said: last two are total showlines.

Will you please share their pedigree ! I would love to know more on these show solid blacks, I didn't know there is a black show GSD available, new info to me.

Thanks
Ibrahim

There are a lot of things that can affect the coloration of a solid black dog. The recessive black pattern gene (self color gene) in the GSD is not a masking gene by the way, but the White recessive gene is often referred to as such although many argue this cannot be the case. Modifiers such as paling genes can affect how rich a solid black is. Sun bleaching, diet\nutrition, etc. can also play a part. As another poster pointed out, the way our eyes perceive light has a large bearing on what color a dog appears to us, and yes, photographs can be deceiving.

The only dilution is the recessive blue gene which dilutes any and all black pigment on the dog. Unlike the liver gene which blocks the formation of any and all black pigment from forming on the dog. The interesting thing about solid patterned blue German Shepherds is that MOST end up exceptionally dark as adults. I have only seen one or two self colored blues that were light in color as adults and both were long coats. And trust me, as "The BlueDog Lady" I have seen a LOT of blues since I earned that nickname over a decade ago.

I have not updated my website since 2007 and my hard drive and approximately 4 CD's are stuffed with photographs of Blue, Liver, and Isabella colored German Shepherds from all over the world sent to me by people who would like their dogs included on my website. Someday I shall find the time to sort through them all and start adding pages again. LOL

FYI The majority of photos I have waiting to go up on my site are of blues, however I do have quite a number of liver photos, and only a few Isabella's as those are the most genetically rare color to find. It takes two copies of the blue gene and two copies of the liver gene for a GSD to be an Isabella although I know of several breeders who are breeding towards this goal and I know of an Isabella pup who was whelped no more than 4 miles from me who I gleefully took photos with a couple of weeks ago.

~Darlene~

Ibrahim 
    I do not keep my dogs pedigrees on the database any longer. Last year there was WAY TOOOO Many with to much time on their hands that went in there changing and writing nonsense on several dogs peds, mine included.
     Not to mention the few that want to get registration numbers to get CKC and other bogus papers on dogs they are not entitled to have.
    Anyway,when I first started with the Shepherds, my dogs were out of Eros v Malvenburg, Ulli v Fleischerheim, Cito Fleischerheim, Grando Stevenhaus, Quando von der Wienerau. This was almost 20 years ago. I am still only into the third and 4th generation from these dogs with MY OWN DOGS, that I have kept.
      I found this gorgeous Solid black male on the database here yesterday. He is in Russia, and is showline that has many of the same kennel names back several generations, as mine.

www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/pedigree/6/522436.html

BlueDogs77 - I have to say I disagree about the blue dogs mostly turning dark as they get older. I have found in my own dogs, that is not the case.


In person, Blue was "slightly" darker than him and his pups at birth.

 

If I missed it somewhere, sorry, but what is an "Isabella" color? Do you have a picture to share? That is a new term for me. Thanks.

I was wondering that myself bee. I was asked if I wanted to trade one of my blues,(which I know longer have)for a new lilac colored shepherd. This from a woman who KNOWS her blues have Alopecia. My answer, HELL NO!!!!Even if I still had blues!