Black German Shepherd Breed Appearance, Temperament, Health

You might take to recognize some dog breeds, but when it’s a German shepherd breed, you can immediately know whether a dog is a German Shepherd or not! And in this specific breed, black is considered rare and popular. You’ll be surprised to know that AKC has recognized the German Shepherd breed as the world’s 2nd most popular dog breed in the United States.

If you have ever owned a German Shepherd or have seen this dog in your neighborhood, you’ll know how these canines are so easily recognizable and how they look exactly.

You may have seen these canines with black and tan coat color, as is pretty common but seeing fully black German Shepherds is rare because they’re still not recognized by most major kennel clubs.

During the First World War, these canines were highly ignored, and even people renamed them “Black Alsatian.” After the Second World War, this dog breed again declined because they were associated with Germany. However, right now, this dog breed has become one of the most favorite dogs all across the globe, and these canines can be seen in very other homes.

The black coloration is unique and rare, but it does not result from cross-breeding. In fact, the gene of the black fur and coats is actually carried by purebred German Shepherds.

Are you planning to get a black German Shepherd puppy? Do you want to know more about the German Shepherd dog breed? If yes, you’re at the right pace!
Let’s get started.

Black German Shepherd: Overview

Just like other colors of German Shepherds, the black German Shepherd are also friendly, loyal, playful, and caring. These canines are highly active and like to play outdoor activities like walking and running with their owners. When trained properly, these adorable dogs also behave well with children and other pets. you can also check german shepherd names.

Here is the summary table of the german shepherd black color:

Breed Name:	Black German Shepherd
Breed Group:	Working dogs
Height:	Males: 24 to 26 inchesFemales: 22 to 25 inches
Weight:	60 to 85 pounds
Life Span:	10 to 14 years
Type of Coat:	straight, and a dense double coat which is either short, medium, or long hair.
Coat Color:	Solid Black
Temperament:	Loving, alert, courageous, intelligent, protective, sweet-natured, stable, and extremely loyal.
Other Names:	Alsatian, Black shepherd, black long-haired german shepherd, black german shepherd dog, pure black german shepherd, solid black german shepherd, full black german shepherd, all black german shepherd, black GSD, black shepherd dog
Grooming Needs:	High if they are long-haired GSDLow if they are short-haired GSD
Shedding:	High
Training Needs:	Easy to train.
Recommended Families:	Active families or individuals, families with children, other pets, or senior citizens.
Litter size	5 to 10 puppies

Black German Shepherd: Appearance

As you may have already guessed, Black German Shepherds are quite similar to other German Shepherds. The only major difference is the color of their coat. A full-grown black german shepherd is about 65 to 95 pounds and has a height of 26 inches.

Here is the size chart of the black German Shepherd:

	Weight	Height
Male:	65 – 90 pounds	24-26 inches
Female:	50 – 75 pounds	22-24 inches

These dogs usually have dark-colored eyes, but some of them also have blue-colored eyes. This might be a sign that that particular dog has other breeds in his pedigree, such as Huskies. These canines are lean but strong bodies with floppy ears.

Black German Shepherd: History

Now, let’s learn about the history and origin of the German shepherd dogs. This breed was first discovered by Von Stephanitz. He spotted a German Shepherd at a dog show, and after seeing this dog, he thought that this dog breed would be perfect for a working dog. So, he decided to adopt one of these canines and created the “Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde,” the Society for the German Shepherd Dog.

He named them Horand and bred them alongside other canines with similar physiques and overall appearances. It is believed that the first German Shepherd appeared in the US around 1906, and later in 1908, they got recognition from the AKC.

Black German Shepherd: Personality & Temperament

Black German shepherds are known not only for their unique coat color but also for their loyal and protective nature. These canines have stable and courageous personalities, which is one of the biggest reasons people prefer this dog breed.

A black shepherd is a confident, fearlessly loyal dog who is also a true companion and will stand next to you in any situation. This is why they are also used as guard dogs and disability assistance dogs.

If you train your black german shepherd dog well, they will be good with children, elders, and other pets. They can also keep a watchful eye on your baby when they’re playing or sleeping.

Training and Exercise Needs of a Black German Shepherd

As we already mentioned, this dog breed is highly smart and intelligent. Thus, black german shepherds are easy to train. However, you should start training them at an early age so that they can learn things fast. Try to include training sessions with positive reinforcement, routine work, and rewards.

Also, don’t forget to tell them they’re a good boy/girl after each session and that they’re doing well. This will make them happy, and they will try to cooperate with you in the training sessions. Also, socialize them with young kids and elders and introduce them to various types of noises and machines. This will help black sable german shepherds to understand their surroundings.

For exercise, these canines need daily exercise. These highly active and energetic dogs need to do activities that burn down their calories.

A black German Shepherd needs 40-60 minutes of exercise per day.

These dogs also love hiking and swimming, and many other outdoor activities. These dogs will love to try different activities and games, from playing ball games in the yard to climbing mountains with you.

Black German Shepherd: Food & Diet

The bigger the dog, the more food he will need!

So, black german shepherds actually do come in the bigger sized dog category, so you have to feed them the appropriate amount of food per day. You should give your pup at least 4 meals a day.

However, bigger canines have bloating issues, so try to provide them with food slowly and train them to eat their food slowly. Black shepherds also need good protein and nutrients in their food. A full grown black German Shepherd dog requires 1.19 grams of protein per pound of body weight and 0.59 grams of fat per pound of body weight.

Male Black German Shepherd Puppy Growth and Weight Chart

Age	Weight Range	Height Range
1 month	5.5-9 lbs	4-6”
2 months	16-20 lbs	7-9”
3 months	22-30 lbs	9-11”
4 months	35-40 lbs	11-14”
5 months	40-49 lbs	14-16”
6 months	49-57 lbs	1-18”
7 months	57-62 lbs	19-20”
8 months	62-66 lbs	20-22”
9 months	64-71 lbs	21-23”
10 months	66-73 lbs	22-24”
11 months	66-75 lbs	22-24”
1 year	71-75 lbs	22-24”
1.5 years	71-79 lbs	23-25”
2 years		23-25”
3 years		24-26”

Female Black German Shepherd Puppy Growth and Weight Chart

Age	Weight Range	Height Range
1 month	4.5-8 lbs	3-5”
2 months	11-17 lbs	6-9”
3 months	17-26 lbs	8-10”
4 months	31-35 lbs	10-12”
5 months	35-44 lbs	12-14”
6 months	44-49 lbs	15-17”
7 months	49-53 lbs	17-19”
8 months	53-57 lbs	18-20”
9 months	55-60 lbs	19-21”
10 months	57-62 lbs	19-21”
11 months	60-64 lbs	20-22”
1 year	60-64 lbs	20-22”
1.5 years	60-66 lbs	21-22”
2 years	62-66 lbs	21-22”
3 years	66-70 lbs	22-24”

Here is what various age group of black german shepherd dogs require per day:

• Male puppies: 2,200 to 3,000 calories
• Female puppies: 1,700 to 2,500 calories
• Male adults: 1,300 to 1,800 calories
• Female adults:1,000 to 1,500 calories

Puppy Age	Total Cups of Dry Kibble	Number of Meals Per Day
8 weeks old	1 – 1 ½ cups	4
12 weeks old	1 ½ – 2 cups	4
6 months to 9 months old	2 – 3 cups	3
9 months to 12 months old	3 – 3 ½ cups	3
12 months old and above	3 ½ – 4 cups	2

Black German Shepherd: Life span

The average lifespan of a black german shepherd is 9 to 13 years.

Black German Shepherd: Health and Care

It’s sad that dogs are not immortal, and they can’t live with us for a long time. But the good thing is that even though the period is short, they give us so much joy, happiness, and love.

Black german shepherds also suffer from many health problems, such as:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Bloat
• Allergies
• Epilepsy
• Hemophilia
• Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy (CDRM)
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Panosteitis
• Diabetes
• Cataracts
• Pancreatitis
• Thyroid issues
• Bladder Stones
• Osteoarthritis
• Urinary Tract Infections
• Nose Infections
• Cauda equina syndrome
• Dental Health Problems
• Cancer

This is why taking your puppy to the vet regularly is important to avoid any potentially serious health issues.

Black German Shepherd Grooming

If you need a low-maintenance dog, get a medium-coated black german shepherd. That’s because long coats mean more grooming and more shedding. For medium coats, daily brushing is not required.

However, if your pup has a double coat, you have to groom them daily, and they also shed a lot. You can keep hair shedding under control by using a deshedding tool for your dog. Apart from this, you can also use anti-shed shampoos to keep your dog’s shedding to a minimal amount.

These dogs usually shed in the shedding season, which is spring and fall. So be ready to vacuum your home more often in these two seasons!

Apart from this, take your dog to the professional grooming center at least 2 times a year.

Cost of Black German Shepherd Puppies

The German shepherd breed is widely among the United States. So, it’s not that difficult to see a german shepherd. You might also have seen one in your neighborhood, but the black ones are difficult to find. That’s because breeders usually don’t prefer to breed black german shepherds.

So if you want to adopt a puppy, you have to look for specific centers and places that are specialized in breeding black german shepherds.

The black color coat is not as common as the usual colors like the tan and black and tan mix. So the black german Shepherds are a bit more expensive than normal ones. Even though the black puppies have similar characteristics to the regular GSD, you have to pay extra money.

For example, for normal german shepherd puppies, you have to pay anywhere between $300 and $700. On the other hand, for a black German Shepherd pup[py you have to pay around $700 to $2000.

Experience Level for Owning a Black German Shepherd Dog

This is another important factor that needs to be considered while thinking of getting a german shepherd puppy.

Black german shepherd dogs are only recommended for experienced pet owners. This means if you want to adopt a german shepherd puppy, you should have owned at least one puppy in the past and have proper knowledge about active pets. For example, if you have good experience having a Shih Tzu, still you’re not qualified to have a german shepherd as it comes in the medium-sized active dog category.

Black german shepherd dogs are highly active and energetic dogs, so you have to give them proper training and attention. Without all these things, these canines can easily become aggressive and destructive.

So if you’re planning to get this dog but don’t have any pet experience, we recommend taking your time. You have to think about how much time and attention you can give to these dogs. Apart from this, these puppies are expensive, and there are also other living expenses such as food, grooming, health, and training.

FAQs

Are Black German Shepherd Good Family Pets?

Yes, these canines are friendly and socialize dogs. These dogs are proven to be great family pets and companions when trained correctly. With their sweet personality and protective nature, these german shepherd dogs have already won the hearts of many pet owners.

So this is all about the black German Shepherd. These dogs are a great addition to families who have experience owning dogs previously. Make sure to give them proper attention and time. You have to give them at least 1-2 hours of exercise and playtime to stimulate their energy. Apart from this, they also need regular grooming and brushing. So, if you’re ready to provide all these things, you are ready to adopt a black german shepherd puppy!

I hope this in-depth guide on the black German Shepherd has given you the necessary information to make your final decision. Please share this blog with your family and friends if you find it helpful and informative.

To get more information:

• All About the Magnificent White German Shepherd
• 8 Best Dog Pet For Senior Citizen People
• Sable German Shepherd: From Appearance to Health Problems