Black German Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in India that offer a sense of luxury to their owner. There was a time when only people from elite groups, royals, or rich people could have the luxury of keeping a German Shepherd as their pet.
But now, that’s not the case anymore, any dog lover or pet enthusiast from any background can keep a German Shepherd as their pet as long as they are capable of taking care of them.
Black German Shepherds may be fierce in appearance and could be intimidating for some people because of their strong and wolfy appearance but they are very friendly in nature and known to be extremely good family dogs.
Despite India, Black German shepherds are the most popular breeds of dogs in the US. Black German Shepherds are also known as Black Shepherds or Black GSD. Black shepherds are known for their versatile nature, intelligence, loyalty, courage, and sense of responsibility.
Their majestic solid black color coat is recognized as purebred and is quite a in demand. So if you are someone who is planning to bring a Black Shepherd into your home or someone who already has a Black GSD, then this article on Black German Shepherd is going to help you learn more about them.
History & Origin Of Black German Shepherd
The breed originated in the late 19th century in Germany. The credit for creating the German Shepherd breed goes to Captain Max Von Stephanitz. He is also known as the father of the German Shepherd Breed. The motive behind creating the German Shepherd breed was to develop a versatile working breed of dog combined with agility, intellect, and devotion.
As he began to breed and as the breed developed, various variants of coat colors emerged, including the classic solid black and tan.
Captain Max Von Stephanitz was enthusiastic about herding dogs and wanted to breed the best herding dogs for herding purposes. After combining herding dogs with Germany, Captain Max Von Stephanitz created Black German Shepherd.
Captain Max Von Stephantiz was fascinated by the intelligence, and build structure and thought that a German Shepherd would make a great herding dog or working dog. Originally, this breed was created to herd and protect livestock, such as hens and sheep, in rural areas.
The breed is rare but in high demand because of its majestic solid black color. One of the main reasons for the increased demand for the Black GSD is the commonality. The majority of dog enthusiasts own a traditional German Shepherd which is quite common.
To stand out from the crowd, there are people who want to own a German Shepherd but don’t want the conventional one and that’s why they are going for the other variants of German Shepherd which are White German Shepherd (White GSD) and Black German Shepherd (Black GSD).
The Majestic Appearance Of Black German Shepherd
As rare as they are, Black GSD are a stunning variation of the conventional German Shepherd breed. They are popular because of their majestic solid black coat color, sharp black nose, and deep dark brown eyes. Despite their fierce and striking appearance, Black GSD has the same temperament as a traditional German Shepherd.
Black Shepherds are great friendly dogs known for their intelligence, courage & bravery and loyalty toward family. They are muscular, sharp, agile, and have a strong appearance. A healthy Black Shepherd is always active and alert and their curiosity makes them lively.
A Black GSD has smooth curves with a broad chest giving it a strong and muscular look. A healthy adult Black GSD is 24-26 inches tall in height (male) and 65-90 pounds in weight (male). On the other hand, a female Black GSD is 22-24 inches tall and 50-70 pounds in weight.
Black German Shepherds are neither overfriendly nor aggressive. They sometimes might act on their instinct but they are quite obedient and could be handled easily with ample amounts of training.
Personality & Temperament Of Black German Shepherds
The Black GSD is often considered an over-aggressive dog just because of its fierce appearance. However, this statement is totally wrong. Black GSD shares the same temperament and personality as traditional or standard German Shepherds.
The breed was originally created for guarding purposes so they do have significant protective instinct. But acting on protective instinct does not make a dog aggressive. It’s just how they were created.
The Black GSDs are Intelligent, Loyal, Courageous, Energetic, Alert, Social, and Playful in nature and can be easily trained to be a good family watchdog.
Traits & Temperament Of Black GSD
Intelligence: Black GSDs are intelligent breeds of dogs known for their sharp mind and problem-solving abilities. Their high level of intelligence helps them excel in training and can be easily trained to unlock their full potential.
Loyalty: Black Shepherds are known to be loyal and devoted to their families and their protective instincts help them form strong bonds with their family members
Courage: Black GSDs are brave breeds of dogs that have strong protective instincts which makes them great guard dogs. There have been many incidents where a German Shepherd has protected their family members from threats.
Energetic: They don’t have an athletic strong body just for the show, they require regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy. It is very important that you provide this athletic dog with a proper two hours of interactive playtime.
Trainability: Black Shepherds are an intelligent breed of dogs that can be trained easily. With proper training, they can be obedient and used as working dogs.
Alertness: Black German Shepherds are active breeds of dogs that are naturally alert thanks to their protective instincts. Their keen sense of awareness makes them excellent watchdogs.
Socialization: They are neither over-friendly nor over-aggressive. These dogs need early socialization to get along with other animals and people outside of the family tree.
Playfulness: Every dog loves spending time with their owners and play time plays an important role in their overall well-being and health. Playtime allows you to form an affectionate bond with your dog.
Distinctive Characteristics Of Black Shepherd
The deep solid black coat is the most striking feature of the Black GSD. While the standard German Shepherd is known for its black and tan sable coat, the Black Shepherd is known for its entirely solid black coat.
This striking appearance is what sets Black GSD apart from its more common counterparts. Mentioned below are some of the key characteristics of Black GSD.
Coat and Appearance
The solid black coat is the most defining feature of a Black Shepherd. This solid black coat is dense, plush, and short to medium in length which provides insulation in various weather conditions.
Black GSD are built for endurance and are strong and agile. They have a muscular athletic body that gives them a strong personality. And just like standard German Shepherds, Black Shepherds also have long pointed elongated ears that give them an alert and attentive appearance.
They have deep dark brown almond-shaped eyes that give them an intelligent and expressive gaze.
Size & Proportions Of Black GSD
Black Shepherds are medium to large size breeds that have broad chests with smooth curves giving them strong muscular personalities. The typical size of a healthy adult male Black GSD is between 24-26 inches (61-66cm) at the shoulder, while the Black GSD females are slightly shorter, ranging from 22-24 inches (56 cm-61 cm).
Adult male Black GSD weighs somewhere around 65 to 90 pounds (29-41 kg), on the other hand, female Black GSD weigh around 50-70 pounds (23-32 kg).
Training And Exercise For Black Shepherd
Black German Shepherds are athletic and energetic breeds of dogs that require an ample amount of regular exercise and can be trained easily. Regular exercise plays a vital role in the overall well-being of your dog.
Black GSD is a medium to large-sized dog that requires a playtime of a minimum of 1 to 2 hours to keep your dog healthy, fit, and happy. To meet their daily quota of physical exercise you can take your dog for regular morning and evening 1 to 2 hours of walk.
You can also take your dog to a dog-friendly dog park or even standard parks where it can stretch its legs and roam around freely. You can also spend interactive playtime with your dog for their mental and physical stimulation.
German Shepherd loves games such as fetch and for their mental stimulation, you can buy problem-solving specially designed puzzles toys for your dogs.
Obedience Training
Black GSD is an intelligent dog that is easy to train. Obedience training is the first step toward training and teaching your newly bought puppy some of the basic commands such as “sit,” “come,” “stay,” and “stand up.” These basic commands will help you establish a strong foundation in controlling your dog.
Socialization
To make sure your Black GSD does not become over-friendly or over-aggressive toward its family, other animals, and people, it is best to export it to new people and other animals at an early age. This practice will help prevent your dog from developing fear or aggression towards other animals and strangers.
Mental Stimulation
Your Black Shepherd belongs to an intelligent breed of dog and requires an ample amount of mental stimulation to ensure it remains happy and mentally active. There are so many puzzle dog toys that you can buy online or offline for your dog or you can play several interactive games with your dog to make sure your dog does not catch boredom or you can provide your dog with other obedience training to keep your dog engaged.
Exercise
As I have mentioned above, Black Shepherds have high energy levels and ensure they stay happy and lively, they require a regular exercise regime. As their owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you fulfill their daily quota of physical and mental stimulation. Being ignorant of their physical needs and requirements can cause behavioral problems in your dog.
Health Considerations For Black German Shepherds
Just like standard German Shepherds, Black GSDs are also prone to several health issues. Let’s learn some of the common health issues in Black German Shepherds.
HIP Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is one of the most common health issues that can be developed in a Black GSD. This health issue is caused by a genetic condition in which the hip joint of a Black Shepherd doesn’t maturely develop or develop incorrectly.
This condition can lead to arthritis and mobility issues in your dog. The best way to ensure your dog doesn’t suffer from this problem is to buy your dog from an authorized and reputed breeder who screens their dog for hip dysplasia.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This is one of the most dangerous diseases that can affect your Black GSD. This disease affects the spinal cord of your dog causing weakness in the hind legs which can eventually lead to paralysis. The worst thing about this disease is that it is not a treatable disease as there are no cures available for this disease. However, early detection can help doctors to manage your dog’s condition.
Bloat
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that can affect dog breeds with deep chests just like Black GSD. Bloat is also common and mainly caused by excessive feeding and less physical exercise. You can safeguard your dog against bloat by feeding your dog smaller meals. Also, make sure you give your dog enough time to rest and digest its food before taking your dog out for a walk.
Allergies
Black GSDs are sensitive dogs and prone to various skin allergies and can develop skin infections and allergies or become food sensitive. In case your dog catches any skin issues it is advised to see a veterinarian for further assistance.
Nutrition And Diet For Your Black GSD
As I have mentioned before, Black German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs that require a balanced and high nutrition and high-protein diet for them to stay fit, healthy, happy, and lively.
Low nutrition and a low protein unbalanced diet can lead to various health issues in your Black GSD. As their pet parent, it is your responsibility to feed your Black Shepherd with high protein and quality dog food.
There are several natural ways and recipes that teach pet owners how they can make high-protein quality dog food for their large-sized dogs at home using natural and chemical-free ingredients.
Find out some of the best food for dogs in India here.
Making high-protein dog food at home could be overwhelming for most pet owners but that’s okay. There are several dog food brands out there that offer good quality dog food that you can buy for your dog.
However, make sure you always check the back of the product before buying it for your dog to ensure it contains all the essential nutrients and the right amount of fats and proteins required for your dog.
Grooming Your Black Shepherd
A regular grooming regime is required to keep your Black GSD looking good and healthy. Regular grooming also helps in maintaining the coat of your Black Shepherd. It also helps in preventing skin allergies and skin issues.
They have a dense medium to long hair coat that requires brushing at least once a week to get rid of the loose hair and prevent matting and any chance of catching any skiing problems in your dog.
All German Shepherds suffer from excess shedding, especially during the shedding season that comes twice a year. To ensure their coat doesn’t itch, it is essential to brush their coat more often.
However, bathing can be done once every one or two months or when your dog is dirty and smelling. You should always use mild shampoo or you can opt for natural shampoo for your dog to ensure their safety.
Read our ultimate grooming guide in India to become a master groomer for your dog.
Also, make sure to clean their sensitive parts such as ears to prevent infections. You can consult a veterinarian to prescribe you an ear cleaner for your dog to ensure you don’t hurt your dog’s ear while cleaning.
To maintain the dental health of your dog you should develop brushing habits from an early age. You can use a dog toothbrush or even use your finger for brushing in the start to help your dog develop a healthy brushing habit. You can also buy dental chews that also help maintain the dental health of your dog.
Bottom Line
Black German Shepherd is a versatile breed of dog that has a unique striking majestic appearance with all the qualities of standard German Shepherds. Black GSD are muscular and athletic in appearance with a strong build and are known for their loyalty, intelligence, courage, and devotion to their loved ones.
These dogs are easy to train and give a sense of fulfillment. So if you are planning to bring a Black German Shepherd into your home then this article has all the essential information that you may need to know before buying a Black GSD.
I hope you find this article helpful and informative.
Are black German Shepherds rare?
Despite being a purebred dog, Black German Shepherds are very rare and can cost around $700 to $2000.
What is so special about black German Shepherds?
Their majestic striking solid black coat makes Black German Shepherds stand out and their qualities such as their intelligence, courage, loyalty, and devotion towards their family makes them special.
Is Black German Shepherd good?
Despite their fierce appearance, Black German Shepherds are known to be good companions. They are friendly, sharp, brave, and devoted to their family members. Their protective instinct makes them protective toward their family making them perfect guard dogs and adorable guardians.
Which German Shepherd is best?
West-German Working Line is one of the most popular breeds of dogs and is currently said to be the best German Shepherd variant. Their calm nature makes them perfect companions for people who want a friendly family dog.