The Complete Guide to German Shepherds

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Sable German Shepherds are a variant of the regular German Shepherd breed. This variation of the German Shepherd breed is characterized by a pale base coat color that is covered with a mantle of another color. This breed is instantly recognizable, and they are quite beautiful. German Shepherd dogs are already bred by many quality breeders in the US and Europe, and they are well-known for their lovely disposition and their athletic ability. You will get access to all of these breed characteristics when you pick a Sable German Shepherd, along with a more unique coat pattern.

Sable German Shepherds are actually Alsatian Wolf Dogs, but the breed has been carefully standardized over time to create the Sable German Shepherd. This dog was originally used for sheep herding, but the breed offers so many lovely personality traits and performance traits that it has evolved to be more like the regular German Shepherd breed.

What is a Sable German Shepherd?

sable german shepherd
Sable German Shepherd

A Sable German Shepherd is actually an Alsatian Wolf Dog. This breed was developed in Germany and was used to herd sheep. Later, the dogs became popular with police and the military due to their strength, trainability, and intelligence. The breed dates back to the 1850s, but it has been refined over time to be more like the regular German Shepherd breed.

This is a dog breed that offers most of the same traits as the German Shepherd, with a few key physical differences. The temperament of the Sable German Shepherd will be in line with the regular breed, and they are also really great family dogs. They can be protective, but they are very trainable, and they can offer the right blend of performance traits and protective traits for many uses and jobs.

Are Sable German Shepherds Rare?

Sable German Shepherds are actually relatively rare since not many people breed for them. This means that they can be more expensive than other dog breeds, and it can make it tough to track down a breeder in your area to get one from. You might have to work with a breeder out of state or even out of your country in order to get a Sable German Shepherd. This is a breed that many backyard breeders will claim to be creating, and you should be wary of any Sable German Shepherd that is not expensive due to this problem.

Being sure that you are getting a real Sable German Shepherd matters, which is why you will want to work with a skilled and reputable breeder when you are choosing a Sable German Shepherd to add to your family.

Sable German Shepherds at a Glance

Height 26 inches tall for males, 24 inches for females
Weight 75-95 pounds for males, 60-70 pounds for females
Lifespan About 9-13 years
Colors Black, gray, red, silver, and tan
Suitable For Hunting, agility, show, family friend
Temperament Sweet and protective
Exercise Needs High energy
Good With Other Pets and kids Yes

Facts About Sable German Shepherds

Black Sable German Shepherd
Black Sable German Shepherds

Sable German Shepherds are not actually a part wolf. Many people like to indicate that they are, but this is not the case. This is a different dog breed that is an offshoot of the German Shepherd breed, but they are not directly related to or crossed with wolves.

Some Sable German Shepherds can be prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, so make sure that your dog is not always jumping onto tall surfaces or climbing over things like the fence.

Some Sable German Shepherds can have spinal diseases later in life, so you will need to be on the lookout for early symptoms of this condition.

This is a high-energy breed, so you will need to plan to spend about two hours a day exercising your dog if you want them to be enjoyable to share space within your home.

They often get along really well with other pets in the home, and they love children, which makes them great family dogs.

History of Sable German Shepherds

The first Sable German Shepherd was actually bred by Max Emil Friedrich von Stephanitz. Max had come across the Alsatian Wolf Dog and had loved the appearance and temperament of the dogs that he had worked with. He decided to help standardize the breed in 1850.

Max selected a dog that he named Horand von Grafath to be his foundation breeding dog. He created the Society for German Shepherd Dogs and stated that this society was for the creation of a consistent breed with standardized requirements. Horand was a wonderful foundation breeding animal and produced 84 puppies himself. These dogs served as the first examples of the breed and helped to define the breed’s characteristics for future generations.

When the German Shepherd was imported to the US in the early 20th century, it was actually most popular with gangsters and those who were looking to protect their property. There are also connections between the breed and Adolf Hitler as well. These more negative associations have been held against the breed for years and have made people think of German Shepherds as aggressive and mean dogs.

This is not the case, and the Sable German Shepherd will be as responsive to threats as you encourage them to be. If you expect your dog to act like a family dog, it will not be aggressive toward people.

Sable German Shepherd Appearance

The Sable German Shepherd has a light undercoat that is tan in color. This coat is covered with another coat color that is like a blanket or mantle, and that ends in dark tips. This is a color pattern that is often thought of in the Husky breed, but it appears in the Sable German Shepherd due to the same gene expression.

Your Sable German Shepherd will look like a standard German Shepherd other than its color. In some cases, the males will be slightly bigger than the standard German Shepherd dog, and these dogs can also be taller and leaner than standard German Shepherds.

The most notable difference in the Sable German Shepherd is its unique and beautiful color, and you should expect that all of the other characteristics of a regular German Shepherd will be present. Be wary of dogs that do not look like German Shepherds but have the Sable coat pattern. These might not actually be German Shepherd dogs and could be another breed altogether.

How Long Do Sable German Shepherds Live?

Just like the regular German Shepherd breed, the Sable German Shepherd will probably enjoy a lifespan of about nine to thirteen years. Large dogs do not live as long as smaller dog breeds. This is common for medium to large dog breeds, and the German Shepherd is no exception.

The health conditions and risks that might impact your Sable German Shepherd’s quality of life are the same as in the regular breed as well. Since this is just a separate part of the German Shepherd breed, you can expect that the lifespan and health of your dog will be quite similar to the regular German Shepherd.

Sable German Shepherd Food and Diet Requirements

The Sable German Shepherd is not hard to feed. You should be able to feed your Sable German Shepherd high-quality kibble dog food without the need for supplemental food items. If you do choose to feed your dog raw food or a natural diet, you are getting these foods from a good source. Your dog might miss out on various essential nutrients if they are not eating a balanced diet, which kibble easily provides.

Be sure that you consult with your vet about how much to feed to your Sable German Shepherd as well. Some dogs will need more food than others to keep up with their exercise needs, and sometimes you will need to adjust your dog’s feeding regimen as they age and slow down. Your vet can also help you to select the right kind of dog food for the Sable German Shepherd breed so that you can be sure that they are getting all the nutrition that they need every day.

Sable German Shepherd Exercise Requirements

Sable German Shepherd Exercise

This is a very energetic breed, and it is a breed that requires about two hours of exercise a day. As your dog ages, it will likely not need this much daily exercise, but some dogs stay this active even into old age. Be sure that you are prepared to play with your dog, take them on walks, and keep them mentally stimulated on a daily basis.

German Shepherds love to go with their owners on adventures, so your dog will be happy to go on hikes, go to the park, or generally accompany you as you do the things that you love. Making sure that your dog gets all the exercise that it needs is key to keeping your dog mentally healthy as well as physically healthy.

Sable German Shepherd Trainability and Intelligence

Dark Sable German Shepherd

This dog breed is very high in intelligence, and they are very trainable. They can learn to do agility, can compete at hunting competitions, and can be trained for protection work. You can also teach your Sable German Shepherd to do a wide array of different tricks and skills that are suited to your unique needs and ability to entertain them. German Shepherds, as a whole, are highly trainable and can learn new skills as fast as you can teach them. This is part of why this breed is favored by the military and police.

Combine their trainability and intellect with their loyalty, and you can see why the German Shepherd dog is such a great training partner for all kinds of different tasks and activities. Even if your only goal is to teach your dog tricks and to spend time with them as your canine companion, you can teach your Sable German Shepherd anything that you need them to know with ease.

Sable German Shepherd Grooming

The German Shepherd breed is not a breed that requires an excessive amount of grooming, but they do shed their coats twice a year. You will also want to be sure that you brush your dog on a regular basis to help remove their undercoat and keep their skin healthy. You can take your Sable German Shepherd to a groomer if you do not feel up to the task of keeping their coat groomed and in good health.

Most people just get some quality dog grooming brushes and keep them on hand to give their dogs quick grooming when they think about it. This can be more than enough to keep your dog’s coat in good health, and you might never need to do anything else other than a bath from time to time.

Sable German Shepherd Health Risks and Conditions

Sable German Shepherds suffer from the same health risks and conditions as the regular German Shepherd breed. They can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, they might have back and hip issues as they age, they can get arthritis at a young age, and they are also more prone to cancer than some other breeds.

A quality breeder will certify their puppies to be free of heart defects and eye problems, and they will stand behind their breeding program if your pet should have hip or elbow dysplasia. You will want to be sure that you do not get a puppy from a breeder that does not certify for these kinds of conditions. While older dogs can suffer from a wide array of conditions associated with aging, a young dog should not have any of these problems.

Make sure that you are prepared to provide joint health support to your Sable German Shepherd and that you are on the lookout for possible liver and heart health issues as well as potential problems with back injuries.

What Color is a Sable German Shepherd

  • Black Sable German Shepherd

The Black Sable German Shepherd has a tan undercoat and a dark mantle with even darker tips on it. This coat pattern can appear silver underneath due to the contrast with the darkness of the mantle that covers the undercoat.

  • Red Sable German Shepherd

The Red Sable German Shepherd has a tan undercoat with a red mantle over it. The tips of the mantle are black as well, making this an almost fox-like coat pattern.

  • Dark Sable German Shepherd

The Dark Sable German Shepherd has a tan undercoat and a dark, an almost brindled mantle that covers it. The tips of this coat pattern are black, just like the other coat styles in this breed, but they are much harder to see due to the color of the mantle.

  • Long Hair Sable German Shepherd

The Sable German Shepherd can come in a long-haired variant as well, expressing the same coat patterns with the same undercoat and mantle. The longer hair of this variant will throw off the color appearance some, but you will still be able to tell that the dog is sable.

  • Blue Sable German Shepherd

The Blue Sable German Shepherd has a tan undercoat and a blue-black mantle with black tips. This coat pattern can look like the Black Sable coat pattern until it is in the sunlight.

  • Tan Sable German Shepherd

A Tan Sable German Shepherd will have a tan undercoat with a darker tan or brown mantle over it with black tips. This is a coat pattern that can also appear to be more uniform than it really is until your dog is outside in the sun.

  • Light Sable German Shepherd

Light Sable German Shepherds have a tan undercoat and a mantle that looks a lot like the traditional German Shepherd coat pattern. This is the closest approximation to the regular German Shepherd coat pattern.

How Much Are Sable German Shepherds?

Sable German Shepherds will cost between $800 and $1,500. You will want to be sure that you are working with a skilled and honest breeder when you shop for this breed. There are many backyard breeders who are not responsible in their breeding techniques, which can lead to getting a dog that is not healthy. Always be cautious about any kind of special breeding program that does not let you see the parents and which does not offer a genetic testing profile for each of the parent dogs. You do not want to end up with a dog that is inbred or that is going to have health problems that you would rather avoid.

Check out: Top 10 Best Sable German Shepherd Breeders in The United States

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Sable German Shepherds good for families?

Sable German Shepherds are great family dogs, and they can thrive in a family that has time to exercise them. They love kids and other pets, and they often fit right into families that already have other animals. So long as your Sable German Shepherd is kept exercised and mentally stimulated, it will be a great part of your family that will bring a lot of joy to everyone.

Are Sable German Shepherds good for first-time owners?

Sable German Shepherds are a lot like regular German Shepherds in the sense that they are not always ideal for first-time dog owners. They can be a lot more work than some people realize, and if you are very busy, you might not have time to properly exercise a Sable German Shepherd. Making sure that your dog gets the attention that it needs is key to owning a Sable German Shepherd. Be sure that you are prepared to offer your dog enough attention before you decide to get a Sable German Shepherd.

Do Sable German Shepherds get darker with age?

Sable German Shepherds can darken some with age. They start out quite light as puppies and will darken until they are about four or five months old to their final color. As they grow out of their youth and into their older age, Sable German Shepherds can continue to darken in color. This is because the color of their undercoat changes and grows darker over time.

Are Sable German Shepherds more aggressive?

Sable German Shepherds have the same temperament as the rest of the German Shepherd breed. While there are dogs that are bred to be aggressive for hunting purposes, this is not common, and most German Shepherds will only be aggressive if you train them to act this way. Avoiding this behavior is a good idea since it can lead to problems that pet owners will want to avoid.

How to tell if a German Shepherd puppy is sable?

Sable German Shepherd puppies will be light in color and have visibly darker tips on their coat. This is common to all sable colors, and you should be able to tell right off that the puppy you are looking at is a Sable German Shepherd. The puppies often look grey in color with dark tips on their coat, no matter what their final coat color will be. Over time, the coats of these dogs will darken, and they will take on the Sable color pattern that their parents display.

Is A Sable German Shepherd Right for You?

sable german shepherd colors
Sable German Shepherd Dog

A Sable German Shepherd can be a great choice for you and your family if you are prepared to offer your dog enough exercise and if you are able to work with them on a daily basis. This is the key factor that needs to be considered when you are looking into getting a Sable German Shepherd since they are high-energy dogs. You also might want to think carefully about getting this dog breed if you live in a very small house or an apartment. Some big dogs are not happy in really small living situations like this, and the Sable German Shepherd could struggle with this kind of home.

A Sable German Shepherd is a great family dog that gets along well with kids and other animals. They can be the perfect new family member to add to your household, and you will enjoy years of companionship with this breed of dog.

Other German Shepherd Colors

German Shepherd Tips and Resources

About Rachel Baxley

Rachel Baxley is a writer and editor living in the East Bay of California. She has a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University in philosophy and a master’s degree from the University of North Florida in criminology. Originally from Florida, Rachel grew up with a number of her family’s Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, so she loves big, friendly dogs. She especially enjoys combining her lifelong love of dogs with her passion for writing. Read more about her.