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

[Sit Stay]

That's too funny about Grant, what a sweet story! I love Grant's coloring - the contrast between his blaze and his dark muzzle is so beautiful.

I'm with Shai on this one. Send me a clear sable English Shepherd any day!

Every time you mention that you prefer shaded sables to clear sables, my mind does somersaults trying to make sense of that. BOGGLED. Quinn's coat color and pattern is my absolute favorite and she's one of the prettiest dogs ever. If I end up with an English Shepherd, I'm pretty sure I'd like her to look exactly like Quinn.

LOL thank you! My mom is the exact same - in love with clear sables (even when Q was a puppy) and can't believe I like the shadeds better. I love the clear sable on Quinn - I find it very feminine and it shines so beautifully. I can't imagine her as a shaded sable and I think she would look much less feminine as one. If I got a shaded male I would have my perfect set!

 

[Fran101]

I don't think it's a silly thing to have a preference for.. I mean, you have to look at them everyday.

That said, I like route I did with Merlin (giving the breeder 100% free reign based on temperament) so while I do have my preference for color.. I doubt I'll ever be the kind that is really a stickler about.
I wanted a black tri initially lol oh well.

Other than the issue of him getting his white/beige hair all over my black leggings and black t-shirts, it's a non-issue haha

I wanted a pup so badly from this breeder and this litter that color honestly was a non issue.. I just wanted a puppy with the right temperament. Waiting as long as I did was long enough.. can't imagine waiting for the perfect puppy to pop up AND in the "right" color

 

[BostonBanker]

I don't know, I definitely hated Meg's color and looks when I got her. I'd have missed out on a lot if I'd said "no" because of it. I might have found another amazing dog that would have been great for me, but it might have pulled me down a different path in my life.

I don't think it is wrong, but outside of breeding issues (ie looking for a solid because you want to be able to breed to a merle, for instance) or show issues (where your dog might be DQ), it isn't something I can imagine caring that much about. Everyone has different priorities though, and I certainly don't get the impression that you are going to get a dog that is a terrible fit for you just because of color. As long as you are patient, if it matters to you, by all means, wait for the right color. You are the one who is going to be waking up next to the dog for the next 15 years - you might as well like what you see!

 

[JacksonsMom]

Thank you guys! It's not like I would place color above temperament for sure. I mean, I wouldn't wait around for like 5 years for a specific color with temperament I want, lol. I like the darker BT's in general, doesn't necessarily have to be blue/tan. You're probably right though, I'll probably see a photo of one of the pups and die and want it anyway! But I just wanted everyone's opinions. I am pretty sure the breeder I'm speaking to knows how into dogs I am (I've sent her lots of videos and pics of Jackson, and she knows I'm involved in agility, etc) so I wouldn't think she gets the vibe from me that all I care about is color.

I've always been partial to the darker colored Yorkies too and always wanted one. Jackson gets sooo silver on his back when it grows out, and I love his hair shorter/shaved because it gets darker, lol.

Here's my favorite (blue & tan)

But the grizzles can be darker, too, which I really like. I have a feeling this is what I'll end up with

This is probably my least fav

 

[Equinox]

LOL thank you! My mom is the exact same - in love with clear sables (even when Q was a puppy) and can't believe I like the shadeds better. I love the clear sable on Quinn - I find it very feminine and it shines so beautifully. I can't imagine her as a shaded sable and I think she would look much less feminine as one. If I got a shaded male I would have my perfect set!

It's okay, I know I've told this story before, but my mom and sister were both so in love with Trent while I was so disappointed. My first thought when I saw him was that he was the wrong color :rofl1: When we looked at puppy pictures, my sister pointed to the puppy that turned out to be Trent (the darkest puppy) and said that was her favorite. I called her crazy because I thought he was so homely.

I love the darker coated GSDs now and wouldn't mind another like him. But I definitely have a preference for a "Quinn color/patterned" English Shepherd!

 

[Kat09Tails]

It may be just me but I don't really care what color a dog is so long as all the other points I have are in line mainly because unless the dog is a super popular breed like labs or beagles I can't think of an instance of getting a short list of breeders with the right dogs AND being able to pick color.

When I was looking for Vinnie I had a very specific list A) not a puppy, B) not with a super high COI, C) of proper temperament, D) of proper type, E) of proper coat, F) sane contract. When I started looking for breeders it became apparent that I couldn't ask for health testing no matter how much I wanted it ( because no one does it) and color/markings would be extra hardship in the task of finding the dog I wanted. It only took 3-4 years to find him - going through nearly every major breeder in the US and UK and parts of Canada and rejecting a half dozen hopeful candidates.

 

[Cinnamon00]

I wouldn't say it's bad persay, I usually favored white to any other color... before Cinnamon I had another dog named Max, unfortunately he ran away , he was white also, so when I looked for a dog that was a must: it must be white. It wasn't til Luna, that I changed my mind, ok she still has white on her but she's still mostly tricolor.. you don't know what you're missing til you really go out there and find that special dog who wins over your heart and it may just not be the color you always preferred. .

 

[HayleyMarie]

I Am with kat, I really could care less of the color of the dog. I concentrate on the temperament, and health of the dog. Aka giving the breeder full reign on picking a puppy that would suit myself the best.

Although I don't think it matters if you have your heart set on the perfect color as long as your willing to wait and all the other ducks are in a row breeder wise.

Lucky for me westies are all one color. And I love the tan boerboels just as much as I love the darker ones and the Irish ones.

 

[JacksonsMom]

I Am with kat, I really could care less of the color of the dog. I concentrate on the temperament, and health of the dog. Aka giving the breeder full reign on picking a puppy that would suit myself the best.

Although I don't think it matters if you have your heart set on the perfect color as long as your willing to wait and all the other ducks are in a row breeder wise.

Lucky for me westies are all one color. And I love the tan boerboels just as much as I love the darker ones and the Irish ones.

Lol, I know, I thought about that with Westies and how it'd be easier with just one color! I just never really found a breeder I REALLY liked with them... they're still a 'want' breed though. I just meet such a mix of them (some with not so great temperments, and others that are awesome). It's pretty much 50/50. So I'd be really picky where I got one from, and just can't find a breeder that I love as much. Structurally, I like BT's better too. But then every time I see Teagan, I want a Westie! LOL

 

[Laurelin]

For me I think you would always be compromising on something, or at least I'd feel that way. I have yet to see two dogs that are identical in all important ways (equal temperament, pedigree, health history, structure, drive, etc).

I've even found as I figure out which breeds suit me, I start thinking those breeds are prettier/more attractive looking.

 

[Paviche]

I think that if you're putting that much effort & money into finding the perfect dog for you, why not include color? I think it's a little silly to completely eliminate a potential pup just based on color if it's not important (as in, you're looking for a show potential and the pup is mismarked) but to each their own, right?

For most of the breeds I'm really interested in, I'm open to pretty much any color but definitely have my preferences. The only one I feel even somewhat strongly about is the Standard Poodle... I really would rather not have a solid white dog. Dirt shows up so much easier, and it's also an aesthetic thing, too. I prefer colors. But even then if the pup was otherwise a perfect match, I wouldn't turn it down. But if I had a choice between two similar puppies (in any breed) I would go for the one I thought was prettier.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I don't think it's stupid to be set on a color UNLESS you are going to ignore temperament and how well the puppy is going to fit into your home in favor of a pretty color. That being said, I was set on a red merle before I brought Cara home and I ended up with a minimally marked bi. Now I find myself preferring more minimally marked dogs, go figure. :lol-sign:

 

[golden&hovawart]

Funny:I would not get another golden unless it is golden red,like Priska.
So as I live in Fr and they are all cream white,the breed is out!.
In the Hova,BLACK/TAN is my favorite color.When Gaia was born,no B/T girl so I went,with all BLACK cos the line was more important than the color.
In PyrShep,we always went,for fawn but I love brindle or Harlequin.
IN Aussie,I love RED and TRI.
IN BC,it's B/W and TRI

 

[Dakotah]

As long as you're waiting for the right dog that will match you in personality, etc., adding a color requirement just makes your wait longer...nothing wrong with that. Your call.

This.
For Aussies, I prefer LOUD colors. Merles with lots and lots of color, I prefer reds also.
For GSDs, I like them darker. Not completely black but with tons of darkness on them.

Same goes for horses, with me. I prefer loud, colorful Paints, as long as the horse has everything else I want.

 

[StillandSilent]

I'm not set so much on a color, though I do have preferences, but I really, really, prefer dark eyes on a dog. Not blue or green, dark. It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, but all things equal, I would go with brown eyes every time.

Luckily, the breeds I'm looking at aren't known for throwing blue, so it will probably be a non issue.

 

[Shakou]

If the dog is healthy, and fits your life style, I don't see why it would be wrong. It's your dog after all, and if you have your heart set on it looking a certain way, you should be able to have that.