Sumo also has a slightly softer coat, it looks like, which even eggagerates the dark appearance. He is really gorgeous. Aria only looks that dark when she is totally devoid of undercoat. 

Here is a goregous Arko pup...can't remember who it is but I think it may be Marley vom Linmarc??? 

Love that color Jenn

I had the privilege of actually seeing Jamaica in person.  She was alot darker in person than she appears in that picture. A powerful little female with very correct conformation for the American Showline GSDs for that time. Jamie as she was known at ringside, was the main attraction at many shows. 

I have a 5.5 Sumo Von der Dewhaus puppy. This is what she looks like right now.

boutique market for the rare and mysterious black sable?

Must not be THAT hard to find, there is a litter of Blacks/Black sables for sale right now here on PDB. ;)

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/classifieds.viewad?adid=214532

You know it must be something in the air, but the current OFA Health Champion is also a Black Sable.

Color of the month :) OFA CH of health dog of the month. Maybe that is what got me thinking about this color.

This one and the Sumo Puppy VickOH posted both look like they have orange lion like manes.

http://www.offa.org/healthch/healthch_gsd.html

SG Garak von Heksterhorst 

HIC, JJ-R, SR-T, EV-TG, ID-T, RPT, DD, CGN, CD, BH, AD, TR1, OB1, VPG1, IPO3V Kkl passed Sire Born : 02. October 2007

LOSH  1032538 Hip: OFA: Excellent - Elbows: OFA: Normal DNA: DM Clear   Tattoo: BHLVBB

Jenni, has Aria had any solid black progeny?

I would just like to say, I didn't choose my puppy because of color. I chose her as an IPO prospect in which she is showing great promise. She has a very nice pedigree. I also trained with Sumo for almost 2 years. Love his work ethic.

I kind of hate dark sables. There, I said it. I sort of throw up just a little every time someone calls me and asks for a "black sable." I can count on one hand the number of them that I've actually ended up selling a dog to. 9/10 of them want a lovely looking couch potato with raccoon eyes and zero aggression or drive. I sort of wish Aria was ugly at times, lol. She is the look people want, but not necessarily the temperament. But I digress...sorry...leftover frustration from the inquiries on her pups. 

Lineage, yes, she'll produce black when bred to a male who carries a black recessive; why do you ask? 

nice bit of negative selling technique jen.

if that dog in last pic is black sable then i own a black sable and did not know it untill 30 seconds ago.