Is it stupid to be set on a color for your dog?

[Toller_08]

I don't think it's wrong and don't have any issue with someone waiting for their favourite colour puppy as long as temperament/personality is at the forefront.

I definitely have my colour preferences too. I generally prefer red above all else. But I try not to let colour play a role in my decisions to add a dog to the family. This time around, I ended up with the only black tri girl out of four girls and three of which were red, and I couldn't be happier. While colour to me is nice, it wasn't important enough for me to wait for a litter that would only produce my preferred colours. With that said though, I love all the colours that Aussies come in. So while initially I was a little sad I didn't get a red one, I wasn't heartbroken. And now I couldn't be more in love with the puppy I did get and I think she's super pretty and am really attracted to black bis and tris. Maybe if I didn't like a certain colour at all I would wait, but honestly waiting for a puppy for me is hard enough. Nevermind having to wait for just the right colour haha.

 

[Laurelin]

Well Groenendaels only come in black LOL I love the darker colors in Tervs and Mals but it would be a deciding factor for me.

When I decided to get a PyrShep, I knew for sure I didn't want a black one and I didn't want a rough faced fawn. Well, I got a rough faced fawn LOL I do like his color it's richer and he has the black mask than the most common fawn color.

So while I do have color preferences, I just can't see turning down the right puppy because I don't prefer the color. Maybe it's from years of living with a bunch of black dogs LOL - never had a choice about what color the next dog would be

Pretty much that. I would never turn down or choose a dog based on color. Color just... isn't a priority

I do certainly have favorite colors in breeds and others that I don't like so much. But . The breeding I'm considering for Nextdog isn't going to produce my favorite coloring (bi-black) for the breed. Oh well. I find myself being more and more open about other colors (merle specifically) the closer it gets.

I still haven't had my favorite sheltie or papillon color (bi-black). Ok, so I pretty much just love bicolors.

 

[Dekka]

I myself wouldn't turn down the right dog based on colour. But then I am so picky about other things if I waited for the perfect dog including colour to be born I might never have a dog.

While I think esthetics do play a part for me, its more about balance and build that colour. All my JRTs are my least fave colour option lol.

 

[MandyPug]

I still haven't had my favorite sheltie or papillon color (bi-black). Ok, so I pretty much just love bicolors.

The majority of papillons I know from agility are bi blacks lol. A couple sables but 3 of 5 are bi black =P

 

[Laurelin]

We collect sable dogs here. Of our dogs we had growing up 5/7 papillons were sable, all 3 shelties were sable, and our collieish mutt was sable too.

It's not intentional. I like sable ok but not nearly as much as the bicolors and tricolors. I do really love a dark mahogany sable sheltie. Not a fan of light clear sables, which is of course why both the shelties that belonged to me and Summer are all light sables. lol

I would be lying though if I didn't admit that I was very excited that Mia was a tricolor.

 

[CatStina]

My next Stafford will be red or red and white piebald. As long as you don't choose an unhealthy dog of one color over a healthy dog of an other color, I don't see the problem.

 

[Hillside]

Django was supposed to be a red or black Tri. I didn't like blue Merle. He ended up being the original (blue) Merle monster. Because of Mango, dark blue merles are now one of my favorite colors/patterns with not only Aussies, but anything else that comes in Merle.

Saga was supposed to be a red. (actually she was supposed to be a malinois. Oops.) She is black. And now I prefer black dobes.

With malinois, I prefer really dark coloring.
Guess who is a pretty light dog? Yup, Nico.

If you have researched all the things that "actually" matter, I see nothing wrong with waiting for a puppy that meets all your preferences.

 

[crazedACD]

How do breeders feel about potential puppy buyers asking for specific colors?

 

[Flyinsbt]

If people want a certain color, they want it. If I'm breeding, and someone wants a particular color, I'll probably have to direct them to another breeder, since chances are, my dogs won't produce it.

 

[noludoru]

I'd wait, personally.

For me, coat type is going to be more important than color, and I'll end up with whatever dog I end up with. But if I was waiting for a puppy of a certain breed and they had a color I had my heart set on. . . merle, for example. . . and there was a breeding of non-merle to non-merle scheduled in my preferred time-frame and a breeding 8 months later that would include merle puppies, I would probably wait for the merle puppy.

I wouldn't judge a puppy buyer for wanting to wait for their preferred color. It's a big decision, you're spending a lot of money on the pup, and you're going to live with it for the next decade - why wouldn't you get to be picky?

 

[Kilter]

How do breeders feel about potential puppy buyers asking for specific colors?

I don't mind at all, if they have more than just 'black' as the request.

If they have a good idea about what kind of dog they want under that black coat, and have a lot of experience and can say 'I don't want this' and 'I really like that' then it's not a big deal.

My ideal would be someone that said 'this is the type of dog I want, this is what I'm going to do with the dog, these are the kinds of dogs I've had in the past, these are the trainers I work with and agree with, and my first choice is a black tri, second choice is a blue merle, and I'll consider anything but ee red'

The concern of course being having the right pup with the wrong coat, and then having the person walk away last minute.

 

[Grab]

I will note that, my general ambivalence towards colors aside, I do hope my future Standard Poodle is white. Because purple poofs.... However, my other more important requirements come first, lol.

 

[Dekka]

How do breeders feel about potential puppy buyers asking for specific colors?

To be honest its a bit of a 'red flag' for me. Now if someone had a good list (knew what was suitable for them and what they wanted) and wanted a particular colour then I would be more ok with it. But I would likely direct them another breeder if it wasn't the typical tan and white. I am far more ok with people wanting a coat type.

I guess I feel its hard enough to match up the right person to the right puppy when it comes to personality. That and so many 'newbies' to buying a puppy want to decided mostly based on colour.

All that said. I know someone who has been to worlds a few times does loads with her dogs.. she has said she might be interested in getting a JRT from me.. but it has to be black and white. ALL her dogs are black and white. Sadly unless I breed to a b/w boy there is 0 chance of my guys producing that. So its not like I judge all people as 'shallow' for wanting a particular colour. So if you are talking to a breeder don't make it sound like a particular colour is one of the most important aspects you are looking for...

 

[Flyinsbt]

For myself, because I do occasionally breed, I can't make color a requirement in looking at Staffords. Color is one of the worst reasons to use a dog in a breeding program (unless there are color related health concerns, ie; merle to merle). So while there are colors I like better, I can't take that too seriously in choosing a dog.

If choosing a pet dog, with breeding not a concern, then there is no reason not to make color an issue.

 

[Babyblue5290]

I definitely want a dog that is aesthetically pleasing to me. Not only in color but build as well. One of the reasons I chose Talon instead of one of his black and white brothers was because of his color. But I first narrowed it down by their personalities when I met them. There was one red/white boy that was gorgeous, but his personality was a bit on the shy side so I said no to him. Talon and his b/w brother where outgoing, rambunctious, tuggers, they loved chasing balls, and food motivated. So between the two the biggest difference was color, so I chose the color I wanted.

 

[Sit Stay]

I have a very serious preference for color. I will be disappointed if my next ES isn't a medium shaded sable and somewhat disappointed if I got another clear sable. I'd be happy with a tri, but shaded sable is definitely #1. I wouldn't prefer a split face or a watch eye but I don't think they'd chase me away.

However, I'm more picky about breeders and temperament, so I would take any puppy that would be a perfect fit. I am very set on my future breeder and she doesn't breed often, so I don't think I'd be willing to wait another 2-3 years knowing I could have brought my perfect puppy home if I hadn't have been so picky. I would regret something like that. Besides, I didn't like Quinn's color as a puppy and now I think it is beautiful, so even if I am initially disappointed I know it will grow on me.

 

[Shai]

I have a very serious preference for color. I will be disappointed if my next ES isn't a medium shaded sable and somewhat disappointed if I got another clear sable. I'd be happy with a tri, but shaded sable is definitely #1. I wouldn't prefer a split face or a watch eye but I don't think they'd chase me away.

However, I'm more picky about breeders and temperament, so I would take any puppy that would be a perfect fit. I am very set on my future breeder and she doesn't breed often, so I don't think I'd be willing to wait another 2-3 years knowing I could have brought my perfect puppy home if I hadn't have been so picky. I would regret something like that. Besides, I didn't like Quinn's color as a puppy and now I think it is beautiful, so even if I am initially disappointed I know it will grow on me.

If you get stuck with a clear sable just send him or her on to me...

 

[*blackrose]

I'm very picky about what kind of color I want. Black or chocolate Lab (no yellow) and I like the brown Chessies. I just don't really care for light colored dogs. Now, if the absolutely PERFECT dog was a yellow lab or a light colored Chessie...I'd probably go for it. But since I know what I prefer, I'll look for a breeding that will produce what I want - and that includes colors.

 

[stafinois]

Besides, I didn't like Quinn's color as a puppy and now I think it is beautiful, so even if I am initially disappointed I know it will grow on me.

When I was looking for the dog that was to be Grant, I wanted a blue or black AmStaf, not red or fawn. I was so pleased to know a breeder that fully health tested and titled her dogs on both ends before breeding that had only ever produced blues and blacks. His sire was a blue dog, his dam was black. Then the puppies came and there was one blue female, a black male, and Grant. I somehow knew as soon as they were born that I was getting a damned yellow dog. The sire's owner chose the black boy, but to be honest, I liked Grant better anyway. Now I'm pretty partial to the fawns

Grant's breeder had two more litters before she passed away, and both were all blacks. Sometimes people don't believe me that he's a Hartagold dog because he's the wrong color

With Malinois, there isn't as much variety. I prefer the darker ones, though. Harry was fairly dark, Stan is medium. Stan has a white strip on his chest and two white toes. Those kind of weirded me out at first.

 

[sillysally]

I don't think it's wrong, but I don't think color would be a deal breaker. I prefer chocolate and black labs, but if the right pup from the right breeder came along and it was a yellow, I'd take the pup.