Silver black German shepherd features a coat changing the black to include a silver sheen. However, you will not find a wholly silver German shepherd.
At the first glance, this dog may look grey. But the recessive gene will express from birth & does not result to aging.
Generally, this working breed prefers strong, rich colors. So, people always consider washed out colors a serious fault.
Besides that, the white color of German shepherd’s coat is undesirable. Moreover, it can disqualify from the show ring.
Where Do Silver Black German Shepherd Dogs Come from?
Essentially, a silver black German shepherd puppy is same with other colors of Black German shepherd. It means, it has no different history from the other breeds.
Of course, you can trace back the German shepherd history to Germany. Max von Stephanitz wanted to breed the herding dog. That is why he spent 35 years of his life to improve the breed.
In addition, German shepherd also shows its versatility as a dog breed. Furthermore, people also use it in police & military as well as a service dog.
Even though German shepherds may look similar, there is no German shepherd that has 2 copies.
The Genetics of Silver Black German Shepherd
What you have to know about German shepherd is that the genetics of coat color are very complex. Then, the exact genes are responsible for silver black coloration.
In this breed, the sable gene is dominant over other colors & patterns. For your information, sable is the first registered German shepherd color.
However, many breeders usually prefer black and tan coonhound German shepherd coonhound mix.
Since black & tan German shepherds have no the sable gene, breeding 2 black & tan German shepherds will never result sable puppies.
In this case, the silver is likely a recessive gene. That is why we cannot find it as often as other colors.
In addition to silver black German shepherd, there are still many other color variations, especially in working dogs rather than show ring breeds.
Although you can find a silver sable German shepherd, it will be an unusual and rare enough.
The Appearance of Silver Black German Shepherd
The silver black German shepherd looks similar to other common German shepherds. They belong to large dogs where they weight 50 to 90 pounds and stand 22” to 26” tall.
Besides that, they have a strong body that looks muscular. In addition, they feature pointed ears as well as a thick double coat.
What about black saddle silver dog? It refers to the dark colored fur covering the majority of the German shepherd’s back.
Commonly, German shepherds with silver coloration have a silver black pattern. It looks like they have a dark patch across the back.
Does Silver Black Color Affect Behavior?
Max von Stephanitz as the German shepherd founder said that there is no good dog with a bad color. Furthermore, the coat color does not affect the behavior.
In fact, the silver black color is a variation that does not play any part determine the dog’s temperament.
So, silver black German shepherd has the same behavior and temperament as other common German shepherd dogs.
Does the Silver Black Color Affect the Dog’s Health?
In some breeds, coat color does affect the health. However, this case does not happen on silver sable German shepherd.
Then, this glorious color does not affect on the health. But they are prone to some health issues that do not relate to their coloration.
The health relates to the type of German shepherd. One of the most common complications related to health is elbow & hip dysplasia.
Anyway, you should not look for the relationship between coat color and health. Instead, you must look at the parents’ health condition.
Parent dogs with higher scores for elbows and hips will reduce the chances of their puppies developing those health issues.
But this complication may arise past the breeding age of a stud. Then, German shepherd puppies that have dysplasia risk are bred & sold.
Usually, silver black German shepherds are a healthy breed. But like other breeds, they are rather prone to certain health conditions.
Those health conditions include a clothing disorder, a progressive neurologic disorder, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bloat, and abnormal cartilage growth.
You do not need to worry because you can manage those conditions. A dog with the spine arthritis is still fine with prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and exercise modification.
Silver Black German Shepherd Price
If you are interested in a silver black German shepherd, you have to know about the price. Usually, a puppy of silver black German shepherd costs from $2,000 to $2,500.
However, the price highly depends on some factors. They include health checks, vet fees, location, breeder qualifications & experience, litter size, and rarity.
In addition, they are pricier than the more common German shepherds due to their unique coat color.
For your information, their coat colors result from 2 recessive genes where one from each parent. It means, both parents must be carriers, although they have no a silver coat.
Is a Silver Black German Shepherd Purebred?
The silver black German shepherd is purebred & is not mixed breed. You know, they only differ in color from other German shepherds & have the same health issues, behavior, and traits.
Then, breeders can only produce German shepherds with a silver black coat when breeding 2 recessive silver black German shepherd dogs.
Because the color of the coat depends on a recessive gene, breeders cannot produce these German shepherds with a mix of other Black German shepherd breed.
Even though majestic and unusual, many dog lovers do not like their coat color. Moreover, the American Kennel Club considers it a fault because of their washed-out look.
Sometimes, people call them black cream German shepherd or black sable German shepherd. For some people, it can be confusing enough.
In conclusion, silver black German shepherd is a family-friendly dog with superior energy, passion, courage, loyalty, and intelligence. This dog is also perfect as a guard dog.