The black German Shepherd is still considered a pure German Shepherd and is not seen as its own separate breed.
These dogs are actually very rare, as the recessive gene that produces the all black coat that characterizes black german shepherds rarely takes precedence.
These beautiful dogs are a lot harder to find, and as a result are significantly more expensive than a normal colored German Shepherd.
Some people who run into this type of dog mistake it for a wolf, as the all black coat with typical german shepherd features is not something they have seen before!
Today we will be providing an in-depth buying guide that includes all of the most important information regarding black german shepherds.
This will include everything from the price of black german shepherd puppies, to origin, breed temperament, grooming tips, lifespan and more.
We will also answer some of the most frequently asked questions concerning black german shepherds and their characteristics.
Black German Shepherd – Important Information
Puppy Price
There are numerous german shepherd breeders as they are very popular dogs in many parts of the world.
However, it is often hard to find breeders producing black german shepherds. Most of the time you will need to find someone who specializes in the breeding of black german shepherd puppies.
The fact that these all black german shepherd puppies are quite rare, and are simply not available in numbers that can meet demand, makes them a lot more expensive than your classic colored german shepherd.
Average cost comparisons indicate a price range of $800 to upwards of $2000 for a high-quality all black german shepherd puppy. It is important to look into the pedigree of the parents, as well as inquire with the breeder about health testing and registration of the dogs and the facility.
Rescue Price
When it comes to rescuing a black german shepherd, it is hard to provide an accurate price range as the cost will depend on a number of factors.
Things like age, gender, medical history, size, temperament and other aspects will have an effect on the cost of rescuing/adopting a black german shepherd.
Temperament
German Shepherds as a breed are often considered by people to be naturally aggressive, perhaps because they are used by most police departments as criminal trackers and chase dogs.
The truth however, is that they are genuinely kind-hearted animals, but have been bred to be incredibly protective to the point of being potentially dangerous to anyone threatening their people.
German Shepherds are known for their unwavering devotion, as well as the fact that they are incredibly intelligent and as a result are one of the easiest breeds to train.
When trained properly, they are one of the most responsive and obedient canine breeds on the planet, which is made evident in their high-quality police work and other occupations.
It is important to ensure that as an owner you are actively socializing your german shepherd from a very young age so that they are accustomed to people, both strangers and familiar presences.
This is crucial because if they have not been properly socialized, strangers will make them uncomfortable and cautious, which can in some cases lead to bad situations.
Origin
The German Shepherd comes from a generalized group of European herding dogs that were used frequently in the early to mid 1800s.
Throughout the 1850s, people were making attempts to standardize dog breeds in order to target specific characteristics and preferred genetic traits.
The first German Shepherd isn’t actually recorded to have appeared until the year 1899. At some point that year, a dog named Horand von Grafrath sparked the creation of the Society for German Shepherd Dogs.
This organization was founded by believers that the German Shepherd dog breed, postered by Horand Von Grafrath, was a breed that could provide incredible working ability and intelligence.
From here, the German Shepherd breed standard was developed and became known as one of the highest quality all around breeds. In a few short generations, the German Shepherd became one of the most common and highly populated dog breeds in the world.
Honrand fathered many litters of puppies in his time, to the point where a large part of German Shepherds today would be descended from him.
Dimensions
The relative dimensions for Black German Shepherds will vary slightly between males and females. They will end up having the same build and grow to be around the same sizes as the more commonly colored version.
Males will usually grow to weigh between 70 and 90 pounds, whereas females will end up at a full grown weight of 50 to 75 pounds. This weight range classifies these dogs as a medium to large breed. Take this into consideration when deciding whether or not you have the space and capacity to properly provide for your German Shepherd.
In terms of height, Black German Shepherds will typically grow to be about 22 – 26 inches. This is true for both males and females, however the males will inherently be much bulkier than the females.
Their body length will usually fall within the range of 36 to 42 inches, which will also remain true for both genders.
Grooming
Grooming recommendations and the relative extent of which you as an owner will need to groom your Black German Shepherd will depend significantly on the type or length of coat that you would like to maintain.
German Shepherds with medium-length coats will only need to be brushed on average two or three times a week, unless they get extra matted for some reason.
Dogs with a longer coat will typically need to be combed at least once a day to prevent mats and maintain a nice comfortable, good looking coat. If not, your dog’s coat will quickly become a tangled mess and will likely need the attention of a professional groomer, which can be very expensive.
German Shepherds have a double coat, and are known to shed excessively. Do not purchase or adopt one of these dogs unless you and the others living in your household can deal with the extra hair.
People with allergies may be significantly affected by a high volume shedding dog breed living with them. They are known to “blow” their coat twice a year, which will cause their shedding levels to increase substantially for those periods.
You can employ anti-shedding shampoos and try high-quality diets in order to try to regulate the amount of shedding that your dog will experience.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Black German Shepherd is expected to be somewhere between 9 and 13 years of age. This is around the running standard for dogs of this size, although there are other breeds that have longer life expectancies.
These dogs have a variety of commonly known health issues that will play a part in their relative lifespan.Things like hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and CDRM (spinal cord degeneration) are often found in this breed of dog.
The best way to avoid these complications is to buy from a reputable breeder who can provide health clearances and clean screening of the puppy’s parents.
What Is The Difference Between A Black German Shepherd And A Regular German Shepherd?
Black German Shepherds will in some cases be one or two inches larger in height and/or length than the standard variety of German Shepherd with normal colours.
In general however, they will be the same dimensions and proportions as a run of the mill German Shepherd dog.
The main difference, as the name itself makes quite clear, is the fact that these dogs have a coat that is completely black, as opposed to the common black and tan color combination that we see in a standard German Shepherd.
This feature is quite rare, and is the reason that this type of German Shepherd is significantly more expensive than the standard style.
How Rare Are Black German Shepherds?
The Black German Shepherd is actually incredibly rare, as opposed to other breed alternatives that appear when recessive genes show through.
It has been estimated through data analytics that as little as 6.8 percent of German Shepherds are born with the all-black coat phenotypic characteristic.
If you are after one of these rare and incredibly striking dogs, it is best to find a breeder who specializes in this color of German Shepherd.
Odds Of Having A Black German Shepherd Puppy With One Black German Shepherd Parent?
One of the most important things for breeders and hopeful owners to remember is that just because you have a parent that is a black German Shepherd, does not mean that you will end up with all black puppies.
The truth is that you are much more likely to end up with the standard black and tan color in your litter of puppies. The black coat gene is a recessive gene, which means that in the presence of the dominant gene (black/tan coat), this recessive gene will be suppressed and taken over by the dominant gene.
As a result, having a black German Shepherd parent will NOT guarantee black German Shepherd puppies. This is the main reason that these dogs are so rare and hard to find, and as a result are a lot more expensive.
Grooming Tips For Black German Shepherds
One of the most common tips provided for Black German Shepherd owners is the fact that grooming will be accompanied by lots of hair!
These dogs are known for shedding excessively, as they will typically have longer coats than the standard colored German Shepherds.
It is important to invest in a high quality comb that can easily comb through longer pet hair without causing pain or discomfort. Make sure that you are properly grooming both the thick top coat, as well as the undercoat.
Pay attention to the state and length of your dog’s coat, and be sure to groom them more often than not. More grooming will not only make these sessions easier and more pleasant for both parties, but will also leave them feeling more comfortable and allow them to show off a beautiful coat!
Dan is a well respected content researcher who has vast experience working projects in the pets niche. He is a frequent contributor to dogtemperament.com and loves delivering numerous helpful dog articles like this one that are read by thousands of our readers monthly.
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