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BLUE AND LIVER SHEPHERD DOGS
Basics:
This is a coat color caused by a recessive gene that causes the coat to look 'diluted'. Blue and liver colored German Shepherds are unique and their coat and color markings are regarded as serious fauls in the AKC (American Kennel Club) etc. There are two types of diluted coat colors. Liver and blue. The liver color is a chocolate brown, the blue is like these two lovely pals demonstrate bellow:
When they are pups Blue Shepherds tend to be of shades of grey. This can sometimes be very bluish, sometimes it is very dark and appears black. These dogs still inherit the color patterns from their parents, this is seperate from their blue gene. As an example, the older dog in the right picture is a blue and red "Saddle back". The pup is a blue and tan "Blanket back". Some blues are purely blue and would have been black if not for their blue recessive gene. As these dogs grow their coat changes and matures. The coat color of dogs like Renegade (the bigger dog in the right picture) basically consitst of light hair bases with dark tips, they also tend to have a light undercoat. Also the eye color of blue dogs is often different. It tends to be lighter. Shades such as amber or yellow are some. And with it comes the nose leather, which is usually shades of grey. The nose leather not being black is a disqualifiyng fault in the AKC etc. and the coat and eye color is also a serious fault. Therefore they can't take part in most Confermation Shows. But the blue factor doesn't alter their temperament at all so they still are active, intelligent and loyal dogs who can take part in Agility, Obedience, Herding, Schutzhund or any other sport just like any other purebreed German Shepherd Dog.
When does a Blue Shepherd occur?
The blue gene is a
recessive gene that affects the black pigment. In order for a
blue pup(s) to be thrown both parents must carry the recessive
gene. Carrying the gene and showing the blue coloring are two
different things. The normal colored gene is a dominant gene. The
developing pup(s) must choose a gene from each parent dog. If
each parent has a blue gene but are normal colored Shepherds they
also carry the normal color gene.So, if the pup takes any
normal color gene, he will be a normal colored Shepherd,
regardless if the other parent has a double blue gene (shows the
coloring and caries one) or not. If the pup will now take a
normal color gene from one parent and a blue recessive gene from
the other, the pup will be a normal colored dog but a blue gene
carrier, as the normal color gene is the dominant one and
therefore will 'defete' the recessive blue gene. If the pup gets
the blue gene from both parents it he will get the blue coloring,
meaning they carry the double recessive. If you bred two blues
together it would meen the whole litter will be blue as the only
gene to choose from is the blue recessive one. Both parents would
have the double recessive as well as the pups.
Sadly, a lot of these newborn Blues are killed. Either basically
because they are unwanted, useless breeding stock or because the
top Champion breeders find it too embarrising to have thrown a
diluted coat type. But, those lucky enough to be left alive are
often sold an can lead a happy life just as any other German
Shepherd!
We would like to change this negative attitude towards blue
Shepherds. A blue Shepherd bred
to a normal one will throw normal pups just like any other
parent, no change of pigment. So why be so negative towards a dog
which has its own personality, its own loyalty and ... its own
beauty! Sure, a blue Shepherd can't be shown or exhibited, but is
that a reason to dump it?
In the pictures: The two pictures show Renegade and Gypsy, two Blue Shepherds. They belong Darlene, who you can e-mail at bluedogs@charter.net. Darlene also has her own Homepage at www.bluedogs.8m.com
By the way: Darlene is a big friend of Blue Shepherds and wants to learn as much about them as possible! Do talk to her if you have would like to discuss these dogs further!