If you just adopted a German Shepherd puppy, you’re probably wondering if and when that adorable puppy fur will change. Like humans, puppies grow fast. During this time, their coat goes through many changes.
German Shepherds will frequently change color during the first couple of years of their life. During this time, it’s common to see changes in their coat color, but the texture and length will also begin to develop into their adult form.
The rest of this article will discuss a German Shepherd’s puppy coat compared to an adult coat, at what age you will notice a change in your puppy’s coat color, and the variety of changes a puppy will experience as it grows. It will also discuss how to determine what color your puppy may grow up to become.
Why Is A German Shepherd’s Puppy Fur Different?
As puppies, German Shepherds are born with very soft and thin hair—wildly different from their usual thick, coarse hair as adult dogs. The fur they’re born with is called their puppy coat.
A puppy’s coat is essential to the beginning of its life. As German Shepherd puppies age, their soft, thin fur helps shield them from the elements and help regulate their body temperature. A German Shepherd’s puppy coat can be long or short, similar to their adult coat. Typically, however, it will be thin and very soft.
As your German Shepherd matures, its hair will begin to become short, thick, and coarse. Some German Shepherds, although rare, are long-haired. For adult German Shepherds, a soft, silky, too long outer coat is considered a fault to the American Kennel Club.
Although it’s rare, it’s still a possibility. If you notice that your German Shepherd puppy’s hair isn’t changing by becoming thicker and coarser, you might have a long-haired German Shepherd.
When Will I Notice A Change In My German Shepherd’s Coat?
You will begin to notice a change in your puppy’s coat color and overall texture very early on. As cute as that soft puppy fur is, it doesn’t stay around very long.
For German Shepherd puppies, the color change is the most dramatic during the first eight weeks of life. By the time your puppy is eight weeks old, you will typically be able to determine or already see their actual color.
However, they might not fully develop their adult coat until they’re two years old. As puppies, German Shepherds are either born black, white, or gray. As they mature, you’ll start to notice changes in their coat all around. It will be very gradual.
For instance, you could start seeing some brown coming in around the legs, stomach, or face at first. It might look strange, but eventually, your German Shepherd will fully mature and become a beautiful color.
What Color Will My German Shepherd Be?
If you’re expecting a typical tan and black German shepherd when you adopt a puppy, that might not be what you get.
Puppies can be born black, gray, or white. If you adopt a black German Shepherd puppy, it will generally stay black. However, a gray or white German shepherd can grow to be a variety of different colors.
What Are the Different Coat Colors Of German Shepherds?
German Shepherds have many standard colors, and the American Kennel Club doesn’t accept all of them. There are several standard colors, such as the tan and black already mentioned, but there are also a few rare ones.
Standard German Shepherd Coat Colors
German Shepherd coat colors you’ll typically encounter:
- Tan and Black: Tan and black is one of the most common colors you’ll see and probably what you imagine when you picture a German Shepherd.
- Black and Red: Black and red is another standard color scheme on German Shepherds. It’s not red in the traditional sense, but the brown color has a more reddish tint.
- Bicolor: A Bicolor German shepherd will usually be almost entirely black, but the feet will be a tan color.
- Gray: While gray isn’t the most common coat color, many don’t consider it rare. A dominant gene produces gray German shepherds, and the American Kennel Club recognizes them.
Rare German Shepherd Coat Colors
- Blue: Blue German Shepherds are one of the rarest colors. They won’t be a royal blue color, but they’ll look gray with a blue hue. Blue German Shepherds are due to a recessive gene, and therefore, they aren’t qualified to compete in dog shows even though the American Kennel Club recognizes them.
- Liver: The color liver resembles a light brown. So, this colored German Shepherd will look similar to your average tan German Shepherd, just a little bit lighter. Like blue coats, liver coats are recessive and considered to be faulted by the American Kennel Club.
- Black: Black German Shepherds are typically entirely black and will resemble that of black labs if their hair is short, except for the stick-straight ears, of course.
- White: White German Shepherds are entirely white. The American Kennel Club recognizes them, but dog shows disqualify them because of their recessive genes.
- Sable: Sable is a unique coat color. For this German Shepherd, almost all of their hairs will have a black tip, and the rest is composed of different colors.
How Do I Know What Color My German Shepherd Will Be?
The best way to determine the color your German shepherd will be is to look at its parents. Looking at the color of the parents should tell you what color your puppy will be. However, if you don’t have access to the parents, you might tell based on the color of the puppy coat.
If your puppy is born with a black puppy coat, it will typically stay black, and you’ll have a black German Shepherd. White German Shepherd puppies are the same. However, there are exceptions to this, and not all puppies are the same. Asking your vet or breeder’s advice might give you a more accurate guess.
Can I Do Anything To Help My German Shepherd’s Coat?
While you won’t be able to change the eventual color of your German Shepherd’s coat, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure your German Shepherd will have healthy and shiny fur.
Pay Attention To Your German Shepherd’s Diet
Ensuring your German Shepherd receives all the proper nutrients in its diet can do wonders for your dog’s skin and fur.
Many dog foods don’t give your dog the needed nutrients to grow, resulting in many deficiencies. Zinc deficiency, for instance, can cause many skin problems for your dog.
Before drastically changing your German Shepherd’s diet or introducing any new foods, it’s essential to talk to your vet.
Give Your German Shepherd Supplements
Always ask your vet before introducing new things to your German Shepherd’s diet, including any new supplements. There are various ways to add nutrients to your dog’s diet, but one of the main ways is to add it to their food bowl when you feed them.
If you’re looking for a great supplement to help your dog’s skin and coat, The Zesty Paws Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil from Amazon is highly recommended. This salmon oil is easy to give to your dog and offers clear instructions on the number of pumps to provide every day for the best benefits.
It’s great for joint function, heart health, and mixes well with any dog food.
Final Thoughts
Your German Shepherd’s coat will go through many stages before it reaches its final coat. The puppy coat, while adorably soft, won’t last long, and you’ll notice your dog’s changing coat within the first eight weeks of its life.
While the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize some German Shepherd coat colors or may not qualify for dog shows, they’re all beautiful and unique. So, no matter what color your German Shepherd grows into, it’ll surely turn heads when walking around the neighborhood.