Color Variation in Dogs

        I've always found dog breeding really interesting, because if you think about it, it's really weird. I remember learning about "breeding" plants and making peonies or roses or tulips a darker or light color, but that also happens with dogs. This is why no dog's fur is totally identical to another's.
        Some breeders will focus on really dark golden's, another might breed honey colored germans. It's all a matter of preference. The biggest differences I've seen in dog breeds (as a long time dog owner) are with golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, and german shepherds.

Golden Retriever

        Above you'll see a white golden retriever, which is less common. Breeders like Golden Girls Kennels and White dove Ranch specifically look for parents with very white fur.

        What people see most often is somewhere between the picture above and below. Breeders who don't aim for a particular shade of fur usually come up with these kinds of variation, which shows that it's the most common for golden's.

        Below is what you would call a "fox red" golden retriever. Just like with white golden's, breeders combine parents with darker fur. However, I couldn't for the life of me find a breeder, because Google just sent me straight to breeders of fox red labs, not golden's. 

Yellow Labrador Retriever

        Yellow Labs can range from white (above) to yellow (below), but both are pretty common. 

        However, fox red labs are very rare, and just recently becoming very "in" for dog breeders and owners. Here are some breeders that focus on the red fur in labs: Red Pointing Labradors, Fox Red Lab Pups, Fox Red Lab, and Black Fork Labradors. 

        Obviously I've only mentioned the yellow labs, because there's really no variation in black labs, and brown/"chocolate" labs don't have much variation either. If you look up "light brown labs" you can sometimes get slightly darker yellow labs, and the majority of brown labs are either "dark" or "medium" brown. 

German Shepherds

        No, these aren't albinos. Every once in a while, a cute little genetic anomaly due to a recessive gene is born and breeders take advantage of it. Some breeders include: Polar Bear Puppies, Whitestone Kennels, and Rolling H Farms. 

        Again with cute little anomalies due to a gene that affects pigment formation. Black Germans aren't as rare as white ones (that sounds racist out of context), but you still don't see these as often as the brown ones. Breeders: Best Black German Shepherds and Black German Shepherds. 

       The norm is between the above image and below image, with a mix of brown shades. Everyone's probably seen them before in police movies and presentations. Different "shades" and "patterns" are called sable, fawn, honey, and saddle.

       Before I wrap up the blog, I do have to add that before you get a dog from a breeder, it's always best to check out the local shelters, because for one, you may find what you're looking for, and two, there's a chance you'll find the perfect match for you that you never realized.

Here's a video about a shelter dog that's considered "unadoptable. these dogs are called this because they are older than 1 year old, are overweight, have scars, etc. So remember the shelter animals too...

Dogs get 10 out of 5, because I'm a dog person.