Technically, there is no Blue German shepherd and they are not blue, they are more of a dark gray color. Moreover, these alternate colors are becoming more and more popular, but they are still rare to find.
In the same way, the blue coat that is on some dogs can be more diluted than on others, but they are still accepted as the same breed. In the same way, they have a more grayish coat which lightens over time if it is not properly groomed.
The merle gene is what gives this dog his unusual coloring and people often call him a blue german shepherd because he does have a bluish tint to his fur. But this coloring is not a solid blue like a dalmatian.
It’s more of a bluish-gray color. It is also worth noting that whilst these alternate colors are becoming increasingly popular, they are still rare to find.
Blue German shepherd Gene
All dogs can be genetically mixed with colors such as black, red, and white. A pure black German Shepherd will have two copies of the dominant black gene (DD) and no copies of the recessive genes for any of the other colors.
A Blue German Shepherd will have two of the recessive genes for the Blue coloration (Dd). Dogs that are a combination of more than one color can have a combination of dominant and recessive genes.
Every dog has a genotype that consists of a pair of alleles. Alleles are versions of a particular gene.
The Blue GSD, a technically thinned black shepherd, comes from the following genetic pairs:
- Traditional Black German Shepherd: DD
- Traditional Black German Shepherd: Dd
- Blue German Shepherd: dd
The dilution gene is recessive. That means that a dog must receive two copies of the ‘d’ allele in order to be a Blue color. Even if both parents carry the ‘dd’ allele, they can never produce a Blue colored puppy with alleles for this gene since it is recessive.
Also Read: Smegma Removal and Treatment: How to Clean Dog Smegma by Yourself
Since the Blue color is a dilution of the traditional Black, the gene is normally present in both parents. That is to say, a Black and a Black can produce a Blue, as well as a Blue and a Blue.
Can a Blue German shepherd be akc registered?
It is not known when the first blue German Shepherd appeared. However, according to AKC, in addition to liver color, the blue color is also a serious defect.
There is a lot of controversy in the German Shepherd world about the blue coat. Despite being blue, many still believe that they are a pure species and should not be mistaken.
Some ethnic purists say that the color blue is simply a genetic mutation. As such, blue German Shepherds should never be bred. Some advocate the complete extraction of color.
According to Max von Stefanitz’s philosophy of German Shepherd working dogs regardless of coat color, AKC does not prohibit any GSD registration based on color and so Blue German shepherd be akc registered.
Price of Blue German Shepherd
The Blue German Shepherd is not a mixed breed and is a variant of the standard GSD. Therefore, these dogs have the same characteristics and temperament. However, they are very rare and therefore very expensive.
For a standard GSD, you can find it anywhere between $ 400 and $ 900 for a puppy.
You can expect to pay between $ 1,200 to $ 1,500 and it may go up to $2000 depending upon the availability of a Blue German Shepherd puppy, but the price may vary depending on the breeder. You should always make sure you are buying from reputable breeders.
Blue German Shepherd puppies are usually born in litter sizes between 1 and 15 puppies.
Where to Buy Blue German Shepherd
Unfortunately, it is a tough task to find a breeder as we know that many breeders choose to increase the more authentic and more popular black and tan GSD which is considered as a standard color.
You can find a reputable breeder online through social media channels and also forums that speak a lot about these blue GSDs.
Blue German Shepherd with Blue Eyes
A few parent dogs with blue eyes are indebted to their eye color for a regressive gene that should be inherited.
Blue-eyed Blue German Shepherds may have two blue eyes or they may have odd eyes with one blue eye and one brown eye.
Dogs with odd eyes are sometimes characterized by heterochromia.
Many dog owners consider blue-eyed German Shepherds to be attractive, breeders misunderstand it, and deliberately do not raise blue-eyed dogs.
Similarly, AKC disqualified blue-eyed Blue German Shepherds from dog shows.
Are blue German shepherds aggressive?
No, blue German Shepherds are not considered aggressive as long as they are properly trained and socialized in childhood.
Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that German Shepherds are aggressive because they are often associated with police and military dogs, which act aggressively when prompted.
This causes some German Shepherds to associate with aggressive behavior, but not for long.
German Shepherds are very easy to train and you can teach them commands like ‘quiet’ and ‘recall’ to make sure you are in control of your Blue GSD that starts displaying aggressive signs.
Final ideas
There is very little difference between blue German Shepherd and the standard color German Shepherd. He is the same race, just a different color.
Blue German Shepherds are a well-known family pet considered the wrong color. They are very rare and you can expect to pay a little more for the puppy.
