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This one-man breed is known for its tendency to display family loyalty and personal dignity. German Shepherd Dogs, also known as Deutsche schäferhund in German, is many-a-times shortened to GSD.
As with many other dog breeds, German shepherds have several coat color varieties. Most people are acquainted with the black, tan-black, and red-black colors. Other varieties of GSD include solid white, silver sable, tan, tan and liver, solid liver, golden, solid black, blue, red sable, and panda shepherd. This article will focus on the liver-colored GSD.
About the Liver German Shepherd
Liver German Shepherds are a rare and uncommon color variation of the breed. As their name suggests, they sport a liver-coated coat. Furthermore, their nose tends to be brown or pink the dogs’ eyes can appear amber.
They primarily come in three main liver color variations: Liver and tan, liver and white, and solid liver.
The GSD is longer than it’s tall, strong, agile, alert, and full of life. The animal is well-muscled, deep-bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curvy parts rather than angular ones. It looks substantial, giving an impression of nimbleness as well as of muscular fitness without any look of clumsiness.
With a life expectancy of 7-10 years, liver German Shepherds show courage, loyalty, confidence, a willingness to work and learn, and will protect their family and property against intruders without hesitation.
The Rise of the Liver GSD
Descending from German herding dogs, these animals showed variations in their types in different districts until the later part of the 19th century. GSDs became very famous in the USA in the early 1900s.
Today, GSDs are police dogs and can also be found in military units all over the world because of their high trainability, extreme loyalty, and commitment.
The liver color in the German Shepherd breed is a brownish color, which is caused by a recessive gene called the B Locus. For a liver GSD to be born, both of its parents need to possess at least one liver gene and both need to pass their genes down to the pup.
Liver German Shepherd and AKC
The American Kennel Club has rules and regulations regarding acceptable dog breeds.
They do this to ensure that high standards of breeding are adhered to and strictly followed. Being recognized by the AKC means that your dog can participate in sporting events and shows, among other benefits.
The liver-colored GSD is recognized by AKC but only to a degree. Only solid liver is accepted. Coat colors such as black and liver or liver and tan are not.
Health Problems
Some of the health problems that this breed is predisposed to include:
- Hip dysplasia
- Diabetes
- Corneal dystrophy
- Aortic stenosis, pericardial effusion
- Musculoskeletal issues
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Bloat
- Hemophilia
- Epilepsy
Good Family Dogs
GSDs make great family dogs. Whether it is protection, love and devotion, cuddles, loyalty, working ability, excellent social skills, or intelligence and trainability, a GSD will not disappoint you. But you should also be ready to deal with a lot of shedding, high exercise requirements, separation anxiety issues, and dominance.
Caring for Liver German Shephard
Nutrition
- Do proper research and know about human foods that are safe for dogs and which are not.
- Avoid feeding them cooked bones or foods that have high-fat content.
- You can even use tiny biscuit pieces or the dog’s kibble as treats during training.
Exercise
- This is a very active breed and requires a lot of exercise for its physical and mental well-being.
Training
For the pup to grow into a well-mannered adult, it’s necessary for them to socialize and attend obedience training classes.
Health
Recommended Health tests:
- Hip Evaluation
- Elbow Evaluation
Where to get a Liver GSD Puppy?
Liver German Shepherds are rare and ultimately cost more than any other GSDs. They are mostly a result of specialty or designer breeding programs, hence highly unlikely to be found in a dog shelter.
They are mostly available in regular breeding programs and can range anything between $500 to $1500. Those with detailed proofs or regulated breeding history, specific titles, or working titles cost upwards of $2500.
A Quick Summary
The breed ranks second on the AKC Breed Popularity list! Additionally, some considered the GSD to be the finest all-purpose working breed. The dog has a noble character and high intelligence. Overall, regardless of its coat color, the GSD is a dog lover’s delight.