Black German Shepherd

Other colours in the German Shepherd

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  Grey

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  White

Black in the German Shepherd

The solid black German Shepherd features a rich, jet-black double coat with a straight, close-fitting outer layer and a natural sheen. Deep black pigmentation extends consistently to the nose leather, lips, eye rims, and nails, while the dense undercoat typically presents a dark greyish tone. Puppies are born completely black and retain this solid coloration through maturity, though shedding seasons may temporarily reveal lighter tones in the dense undercoat. While less frequently seen in litters than the classic black-and-tan or sable patterns, solid black dogs are firmly established, particularly within working bloodlines. Under the official FCI and VDH breed standard (No. 166), the solid black coat is fully recognized and accepted as a standard color.

Breed standard

Black is a colour the FCI standard recognises in the German Shepherd.

Colour is not a mark of quality. A price premium for a ‘rare’ colour is a warning sign.