Dark sable or freak of nature? - Page 2

When the puppy fuzz falls out the black will be gone where there is tan underneath. This was my experience with puppies and colors. Some will happen early and some will creep on as it ages. I love watching pups change/develop in time. Do keep the new pics coming.  

I LOVE PUPPIES!

Joann,

at this age, the hair will not be any longer than that of the other puppies yet. But you will notice a difference at around 6 weeks of age. I still think that the puppy is a coat. A sure way to tell is if the puppy's hair feels softer and more silky than its littermates'.

There is no such thing as sable hair on a black and tan dog. Undercoat can be light and the top hair can be dark. A so-called sable hair is a single hair with three different colors on it,  just on that single hair. This is a dominant trait, meaning at least one parent has to be a sable for a puppy to receive that color. The puppy to the far left is a sable, the rest are not. As to your remark about adults with a sable head: These are just adults with lots of darker markings around the head. Here is a link to my 9 month old Orbit von Tronje-daughter who has that, too. My husband calls her Ms. Muddy-Face. The photo was taken when she was 4 months old, but she retained that dark face, more of a dusting, not completely black. Some dogs produce that trait in Germany, Orbit is one of them, another would be Flick von Arlett and Baru Haus Yue. http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/489372.html

Chris

This is what that puppy looks like now   and you can see on top of his head the red or tan coming accross...if the top of the head of your puppy is two toned, it is the tan or red underneath and when older , his red will be accross his head.....The father of this pup was very heavy black faced and top headed , but now is red all over head and on face...

Black and tan.

Sable hairs are three toned

I would not call his face sable. It will just be a light face. He will probably keep the black muzzle.  I think he will look just fine. I know of some folks who prefer a lighter marked face. So don't write him off.

Debby

ebinezer052899@yahoo.com http://castlebrookshepherds.net/enter.html

Do they bite???? LOL If so, who gives a shit????? : )