Black German Shepherd: training, origin, content

Among German shepherds there are representatives of black color. This color is quite rare in this breed and looks very attractive. It is known to occur in only three percent of puppies.

In this article we will talk about what qualities solid-black shepherd dogs have, what parents they can be born from, and how to properly care for them.

History of the Black Shepherd

Until recently, individuals with a charcoal-colored coat were not particularly valued at exhibitions. They were considered defective. Most breeders simply did not want to breed them and allow them to reproduce. Mostly dogs were bred with saddle-back, zone-red, or zone-gray colors.

But the exhibition that took place in 1906 changed everything.
It featured a male named Roland von Stankerburg, who has absolutely dark fur without any other shades. Everyone who was at the show thought that a completely new breed had appeared. But that was not the case. After all, black shepherds are the same as German shepherds, only with a special and very rare coat color.

History and description

We now associate the shepherd dog with guarding and protective qualities. And at the beginning of its history, the main task of the breed was to help the shepherd herd sheep. With the decline of sheep farming and a decrease in demand for herding dogs, breeders began modifying their qualities. Modern society required an obedient, devoted dog, a good watchman and companion. This description of the German Shepherd, as intended by the first breeders of the breed, also applies to modern individuals.

An important date in the history of the German Shepherd is 1899, when Max von Stephanitz bought the puppy Hector Linkrsheim. The name of this male is the first entry in the Stud Book of the breed; all purebred individuals descended from him. Later, the first German Shepherd Club was formed and standards for dogs of this breed were prescribed.

The photo of the black German Shepherd that won the exhibition in 1906 surprised the public, because before that only individuals of the traditional color had risen to the pedestal. This was the thoughtful work of breeders who selected only two-colored males and females for breeding. This explains the rarity of black color among German Shepherds. Recently, the demand for solid black dogs has been growing, and dog breeders are trying to increase the number of black puppies.

Interestingly, even if the father and mother of the puppies are bi-colored, completely black puppies may appear in the litter. This is explained by a special gene, which is called recessive and is present in every German Shepherd.

When crossing two solid dark dogs or a solid and a traditional color, only 3% of the puppies will be black. Moreover, you can make sure that the puppy will remain coal-colored when it becomes an adult only when it reaches two months of age.

Distinctive external features of black shepherds

It is worth noting that black dogs are not only distinguished by their dark shade of hair, but also by other external features.

Let's see what the difference is:

First of all, they are noticeably larger than their brothers in build. The height of males starts from 60 centimeters and ends at 68 centimeters, weight is limited from 45 to 50 kilograms. The height of female dogs is limited to 55-60 centimeters, and their weight reaches 40 kilograms.
The fur of these animals is glossy, silky and longer. Black Shepherds have noticeable shaggy hair on their chest and head. It can be compared to the mane of a lion.

Which parents give black puppies?

Amazingly, black German Shepherd puppies can be born to either all-black parents or mixed ones.

The thing is that the dark shade of the coat is recessive and not dominant in individuals of this breed. Therefore, a bitch and a dog can have both zoned-red, black-and-white, and completely charcoal puppies in their litter at the same time.

If the pet's parents were black-haired, and he himself was born completely black, we can assume that his grandparents had the genes for black hair.

To obtain solid black puppies, breeders use a mixture of the blood of the following parents:

Black male + black female (or vice versa),
Zonar female + black male (or vice versa),
Black male + female (provided that the ancestors had a black color),
Zonar male + female of the same coloring.

These parents may have coal children with different probabilities. Are black puppies always born black?

Description and characteristics

The black German Shepherd is not much different from its traditionally colored counterparts: it has the same expressive appearance, a sculpted body that provides excellent working features. Representatives of the black breed are slightly larger than the usual shepherd dogs. An adult reaches a maximum height of 65 cm and weighs 40 kg.

Uniform black color with a glossy sheen is considered a distinctive feature of the breed description. Grounds for disqualification from exhibitions may include: the presence of light undercoat, small spots, dull coat color. It is possible to evaluate a dog’s color only in adulthood, since the coat develops as the dog grows.

The black German Shepherd differs from its counterparts in its aggressiveness and agility. Thanks to these characteristics, this breed has become in demand in police units. They are excellent at finding weapons, drugs, explosives, and are indispensable as guards, but due to their constant mobility they will never be able to become guides.

Are black puppies always born black?

It happens that when a German Shepherd puppy is born, it has a charcoal-colored coat. It would seem that he will be like this throughout his life. But this is a wrong assumption.

What color the pet will finally be can be judged only after 8-9 months of the dog’s life. At this time, the top layer of the “fur coat”, called the adult, will form. Until this time, it is very difficult to predict what the animal will be like in the future.

Long-haired black shepherds

Among dark-colored German shepherds, there are a lot of long-haired representatives of this breed. They have numerous featherings on the sides, limbs, hips, auditory organs, and under the tail. They are also distinguished by lush, tousled hair on the back of the head and on the chest. Such animals shed more often than their relatives.

Until recently, dogs with long hair were not allowed for exhibitions and breeding. But now adjustments have been made to the breed standards, and puppies with long fur are also highly valued at various exhibitions.

The coat of individuals of this subspecies has two layers: a dense, impenetrable undercoat and a long, characteristic hairy part on top.

Black and standard shepherd: similarities and differences

Black and Standard German Shepherds have some physical similarities and differences:

In what ways are they the same?

They have a large, muscular build;
The fur on the tail is very lush;
Their ears are erect;
Their coat is two-layered;
They shed a lot.

What are their differences?

The coat color is completely black;
They may be larger;
In most cases, their back is straight;
Their coat may be longer and may occasionally have a full mane (on the back of the head), frills (on the sides of the body, between the front and hind legs) and feathering (long hair on the ears, back of the legs and under the tail).

Shepherd dog maintenance

The black shepherd, like any other representative of this breed, and indeed any pet, needs good maintenance and care. Let's look at how to properly care for a shepherd with charcoal coat in detail:

It is better to keep the animal in a country house on the street, or in an enclosure. This dog loves freedom and space.
It is important to provide your pet with a separate sleeping place. This can be a comfortable warm booth or a comfortable bed if the dog lives in the house.
The shepherd needs to be fed 2 times a day. Nutrition should be balanced and have the right amount of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. The latter are very important for the subspecies of this breed, since these dogs have large muscle mass and build.
The diet must include raw meat (approximately 60-70 percent per serving), dairy products (not fatty), various vegetables and herbs. As for walks, they should be frequent, up to 3 times a day, and have a fast pace, combined with active games, running over obstacles and jumping.
It is important not to forget about training and raising your pet.

Since the dog has thick hair, it needs to be brushed 2 times a week with special brushes and combs. During shedding, this should be done every day.
It is important to remember the need to disinfect the sleeping area, enclosure and the dog itself.
It is recommended to bathe your shepherd once every three months with special hypoallergenic care products.
You must also remember to trim your pet’s nails, if they are not sharpened, and clean the ear canal.

Nature of the German Shepherd

The distinctive features of this breed are high intelligence, intelligence, loyalty, perseverance, courage, etc.

Do not limit the activity of a shepherd dog under any circumstances and be sure to persistently train different commands with it, since this is a dog that is ready to work hard and obediently does everything that its owner tells it.

With people around her, if they are not familiar to her, she behaves a little distrustfully, but does not attack them. With loved ones she is playful, obedient, willingly follows commands and instructions.

She remains devoted to her owner until the end of her life. Treats children's pranks with patience and is affectionate with them. He behaves friendly and sweet with other animals.

Vigorously protects loved ones and their property. Perfectly fulfills the duties of your sleep guard.

There is one important advantage that elevates the shepherd dog above other dog breeds - the ability to obey many people, that is, to have several owners.

For this reason, the shepherd is often chosen as a partner by border guards, police officers, and the military, since when the guard changes, it will listen to the next one, when other dogs will serve only one owner.

Health of Black Shepherds

Particular attention should be paid to the health of the dark German Shepherd.

An animal of this breed is susceptible to diseases such as:

Colds,
Tendency to allergies and dermatological diseases,
joint dysplasia,
Digestive disorders.

The dog must be taken to the veterinarian for examinations. When the animal has not yet grown to adulthood, it is important to give it the necessary vaccinations and give it additional vitamins, if required.

If the shepherd lives outdoors, you should inspect the animal’s paws every evening for any splinters and thorns. If there are any, they are immediately treated with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green or iodine. Otherwise, it may lead to inflammation.

Character and psyche

Some dog breeders have suggested that charcoal German Shepherds are quite aggressive and unfriendly. But this is clearly not the case. They are very fearless and brave, at the same time calm, and have a balanced and stable psycho-emotional system.

These shepherds are very good with small children. In an extreme situation, the “dark” representatives of the breed are able to protect the child and save him. They are very devoted to their owner and are loyal to him until death.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other dog breed, “Germans” have positive qualities for which breeders value them, as well as their disadvantages.

Advantages	Flaws
Working qualities	Shedding, large amounts of fur
High level of intelligence	Presence of odor
Good learning ability	The need to channel dogs' energy in the right direction
Security qualities	Excessive curiosity in juveniles
Ability to get along with children and animals
Easy to care for

Owners of black German shepherds note that representatives of the breed are very devoted to their owner, and, if necessary, protect him with all their might.

Attention! Without training, puppies often grow up with complex personalities.

They need frequent and active walks and are easy to train.

Training

In addition to proper care and maintenance, a shepherd with dark hair must be trained and educated. It is necessary that it be exposed not only to physical, but also mental stress. After all, the breed was created for work. These are not ornamental animals. Such dogs serve their master well, guarding the house and yard.

Animals of this subspecies are easy to train. It is important to carry out regular training to keep your pet's brain constantly working. You can send your shepherd dog to guard duty courses and a general training course so that the dog can be taught by professionals.

It is also necessary to remember that the pet must not only be obedient in front of the owner, but also behave with dignity in front of strangers. He must be socialized, that is, he must treat other animals and people normally.

Dog character

If necessary, in non-standard situations, can make an independent decision. If family members, and especially the owner, are in danger, the dog will not hesitate for long. He will definitely make the right decision on defense and it doesn’t matter how stronger the enemy is.

Important! The shepherd will not bark for no reason or just run around the yard. Her reserved behavior is well known.

There are many legends about the sacrifice of these dogs in the name of the owner. In addition to courage, loyalty to its owner is not questioned. When separated for a long time, the shepherd can get sick from melancholy. Only her hard work saves her. If you keep your dog busy, he won't worry about the separation so much.

How much do puppies cost?

Due to the fact that Coal Shepherds are born quite rarely, they can be quite expensive, unlike dogs of this breed with a different coat color. Their price starts from 55 thousand rubles and reaches 100 thousand rubles.

In the end, we will add that if a person wants to purchase a completely dark German Shepherd puppy, he needs to wait until the dog is 9 months old. Only then can he be completely sure that the puppy is purebred and the color of its coat will not change with age. In addition, any animal is a big responsibility, so you need to think carefully before getting a pet.

Character traits

If a German Shepherd puppy appears in your house, then your quiet life is over. By nature, the breed is very playful and curious, so the puppy will climb everywhere, and his favorite toy will be slippers or shoes. The dog will always get along with other pets, start flirting and nibble lightly. If there is a small kitten in the house, then after a couple of days they will become best friends.

Similar article: Features of keeping a German Shepherd in an apartment

The Black German Shepherd becomes quite attached to its owner, so long-term separation can have a great impact on the dog’s mental state, even depression is possible. If separation is inevitable, then try to distract the dog - for example, you can give the task of guarding the territory or keeping an eye on the child. Anything that will benefit the shepherd’s activities will serve as a distraction from melancholy and will preserve its health as much as possible.

In moments of a real threat to any of the family members, the black German shepherd reacts independently and with lightning speed. The dog is able to adequately assess the situation, but at the same time he will never think about his opponent, who can be many times stronger, larger and more dangerous. The legendary fearlessness for which the black German Shepherd is prized admires people all over the world.

Dog breeders call this breed the most restrained: the dog will never bark or chase around the yard without doing anything without a good reason. Such dog pranks occur exclusively on command or if there is a special reason for this.

Puppies deserve special attention: small black balls of fur will not leave anyone indifferent, but like any German shepherd, they need timely training. An intelligent animal will master any course very easily and quickly. The main thing in the upbringing process is not to show aggression towards the baby, otherwise it will not be possible to raise a devoted friend.