2 - Plush Coated

GSD's have a medium length coat with a thick, fluffy undercoat.These dogs do not have any feathering as in the long coated GSD's. 

3 -  The Coated German Shepherd, also called Long Coat

These dogs have much longer fur around their ears, on the backs of their legs, chest and tail (feathering) than other German Shepherd's.  Contrary to popular belief these dogs DO NOT shed as much as a standard coat.  The reason for that is that they DO NOT have as much of an undercoat. The undercoat is the fur that will be shed, thus they do not shed as much.

The basic body color of the German Shepherd is controlled by the genes. The order of German Shepherd coat colors dominance is as follows: golden sable, grey sable, saddle marked black and tan, bicolor, black and tan,  black and white.

Additionally, know that the black gene is recessive to all the other dark colors in GSD's. Solid black German Shepherds bred to solid black German Shepherds will only produce blacks. The sable colors are dominant over all the other colors and patterns in the German Shepherd Dog breed.

PICTURED BELOW IS A SABLE LONGCOAT.

This gene controls the black pigment formation on the GSD, not the hair color. The German Shepherd coat colors order of dominance is exactly as follows: Black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads;

Carrier for liver color; Liver color - brown black colors, brown nose, eye rims and pads.

Note: most GSDs are considered black pigment including nose, eyerims and pads.

PICTURED BELOW...  SOLID BLACK PLUSH COAT.

White coat color in the German Shepherd Dog is recessive and also completely independent of the genes needed to produce agouti, two-tone, or solid patterns that occur in colored dogs. White coat color is also totally independent of either of the blue or liver dilution genes found in the German Shepherd Dog breed.

The white gene masks the genetic coat pigment of the German Shepherd coat colors, although it does not affect skin pigment. A good white GSD should have both dark eyes and a black nose and lips.

In order to get a white coat color in the German Shepherd, both parents must carry the white gene (they must either be white dogs themselves or be carriers of the white gene). The order of dominance is as follows: Melanin is produced. (Standard GSD colors have this); Partial albinism (not seen); White coat with dark eyes and nose (not albino).

PICTURED BELOW IS A WHITE PLUSH COAT.

This controls the intensity of the non-black coloration. The order of dominance is as follows: Lightest tan (cream); Intermediate tan (tan); Darkest tan (red).

The intensity of the German Shepherd Coat Colors series determines whether GSD's with color (i.e. not all-black or all-white recessives) will be black & cream, black & tan or black & red.

PICTURED BELOW IS A BLACK/RED LONGCOAT.

This controls whether or not a mask appear on your German Shepherd. The order of German Shepherd Coat Colors dominance is as follows: a black mask on the face; dark coat with no mask; Brindle (rare, will be seen as striping on the legs); clear tan.

BELOW...

These pictures show different typs of "masks" on the German Shepherd Dog.

This controls how intense the black pigment will appear on your German Shepherd. The order of dominance is as follows: Dense pigment; blue dilution.

Black pigment combined with blue dilution will produce a blue coated German Shepherd which looks as though it has a dusty or flour sheen to it.

NOTE .................

All these genes put together determine your own German Shepherds coat colors.