Is it shallow to pick a dog based on colour?

[BostonBanker]

In the horse situation, I think grey is gorgeous on horses!
I have a dark sorrel mare and she is GORGEOUS! She only has 2 markings, a star and a blaze. I would love to own a grey dapple someday.

I remember hearing not long ago how the Welsh pony breeders have sort of bred themselves into a bad place. Gray horses are one place where color isn't just a personal preference; pretty much 100% of grays over 15 (I think that is the right age) have melanomas. But the "perfect" hunter pony for a long time has been a white/gray Welsh. Now the breeders are realizing that they need to get some colors into their lines, because far too many are having major health problems.

Grays are stunning, and I love a dark dappled gray more than almost any other color (of course, they all fade too quickly to boring light gray), but I would never own one because of the health implications.

 

[Zoom]

To be perfectly honest, when I went looking for Aussies, above all I wanted a blue merle. I looked at other dogs, but didn't have that "click". Then along came Sawyer; I met him before I adopted him and luckily for me he was the perfect dog. I would love to have another blue merle, but if it turns out that the better dog for me is a black tri or along comes a rescue in really light red merle (my least favorite marking), I won't turn them down. Appearance is what draws me in, compatibility makes me stay. But I do have preferences by far.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I dont think it is shallow.

When we were looking for Elle, we only looked at breeders who were breeding blacks. We never wanted white for the same reason as the previous poster, very hard to keep clean, as well as the issue of eye stains. Also we refused to get a chocolate because our chocolate had recently passed away and we didnt want to feel like we were looking at the same dog... therefore since we prefer DARK colors and chocolate was out... we looked for poodle breeder who were breeding blacks... we turned down breeders who did not have them.

Anyway... why not get the color dog you like? They breed so many different colors because people prefer different things.

jmo.

elissa

 

[Beanie]

My parents think blue merle shelties are "ugly" and I doubt, even if they met one that had a great temperment, they'd ever own one. Because they're "ugly."
I don't think that way. I love sables, but I also think some blue merles are gorgeous, and if I ever met a tri and clicked with him, I absolutely wouldn't refuse him. I don't know... it's just not important to me.

 

[adojrts]

Colour is the last thing I consider when looking to purchase whether it be horse or dog. Although BB does have a point about greys in horses and I consider that as well, actually I have never owned a grey for those reasons lol. There are far too many other important things to consider first, imo.
Although, one good point about owning a grey and then having to sell it is, it will never end up going for meat. It is my understanding that greys can not be accepted for human or animal use in slaughter houses, because of the melanoma/cancer risk.

 

[showpug]

I don't think it's shallow at all. At this point, I have no interest in black pugs. I think they are cute, but not for me. It's just what I am naturally attracted to...I like fawns.

When someone picks a dog, they should be happy with ALL aspects of the dog. Temperament, color, size, purpose, coat care etc. If the perfect dog came along and had all the qualities I wanted other than the color, then I would probably still take the dog, but I absolutely wouldn't call someone shallow who didn't.

 

[RD]

Everybody has color preferences. Personally, I like black and white Border Collies, red Dobermans, black sable or bi-color GSDs . . . but physical health, structure, working ability and temperament are my first and foremost concerns. Color is near the bottom of the list.

I don't think it's shallow to have color or appearance preferences, but I think it's *foolish* to pick a dog unfit to your personality and lifestyle, simply because you like the way it looks.

 

[vanillasugar]

I don't think it's shallow, especially when it comes to pure bred dogs that you're already being fussy about (finding the right breeder, waiting for the right dog, and potentially spending a great deal of money depending on breed) colour is just one of those things that are fair to be considered. For example, the only small dog I've ever really been fond of is a longhaired dachshund. I prefer blue merle, or the light blonde ones. If I actually considered going out and putting forth the effort to find that dog, from the right breeder, I wouldn't see a problem holding out for the colour I want.

That being said, I don't think it's fair to eliminate a perfectly compatible dog based on colour. For example, I don't really like chocolate labs (especially the ones that carry yellow and are very light in pigment) but if one came along that was otherwise perfect in temperment etc. for me, I wouldn't turn it away!

 

[Dekka]

vanilla sugar that is what I mean. You are saying you wouldn't turn down the right dog if it was a colour that was less than ideal to you.

I know of many people who are stuck on colour. I have even had clients that have ended up with unsuitable dogs because they were so stuck on getting a particular coat pattern. I will not sell a pup to anyone if it isn't the right temperment match, no matter how much they like the colour. So if you are waiting for a tri colour male you might be waiting years, if that is very important to you.

Ok for all of you who say colour is a deciding factor..... new question, honest curiosity here. If you were having a child and you could easily and with no harm to the fetus pick your child's hair colour, would you chose something you find aesthetically pleasing (as you will be looking at your child for the rest of your life, and this child will live in your house for at least the next 18 years)

lol I have come to the conclusion I must be strange
oh and as the the grey horse thing.. most grey horses DON'T die of melanomas or cancer but most grey horses die WITH melanomas or cancer.

 

[blackmaskrott]

one reason I am glad that our breed only comes in slight variations of one color and markings. One less thing to not have to worry about.

I think puppy selection is hard to say the least, but the first consideration should be what your plans are for this dog and what characteristics you need to have to achieve those goals. As far as general appearance, we all have our preferences and it is not wrong to prefer one look over another. I don't think that one should ever sacrifice structure, temperament, or type (in that order) for coat color. Unless it conflicts with your breed's standard.

 

[Hillside]

When I finally narrowed down what breed I wanted (an Aussie), I then narrowed it down to what color/pattern I wanted. My dog was going to be a black tri. Ryan thought that merles were ugly and I wasn't too fond of that light blue merle that is far more predominate in the breed. Black tris were the only one I was really going to consider. We can see how that worked out. ( Oh and Ryan thinks Django is the best dog in the history of dogs now. Indeed, he was referring to him as his puppy within the first week.)

 

[oc_spirit]

I'm not too picky about colour, I have preferences but I wont deny a pup on colour alone when everything else stacks up. BUT I am picky about pigment. Not because of preference but because of health.

 

[Zoom]

Hillside, that was my thing too! I wanted a blue merle, but I didn't like the really light ones a whole lot unless they had blue eyes. Hadn't seen to many dark blues until Sawyer came along.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Dekka, that doesn't make sense...lol. The child isn't here on Earth yet...the dog is.

The dog...is here, and in front of me...and if there are two equal as you yourself made clear...then I will pick the one that is a color or pattern I prefer.

That question is thus, rather apples and oranges to me. One never knows what to expect or what one CAN expect from a child...but from a purebred dog? That is in fact a MAJOR reason people choose them...predictability. Right up to and including physical appearance including color.

 

[Dekka]

no as I posted before, you are NOT looking at two pups (as I said then if they are equal then yes chose on colour..beats tossing a coin) But if all things as in breed type etc are equal.. So if you are looking at JRTs but won't look at any ones with a solid coloured head etc. (actually had a woman who specifically only wanted a JRT if it had a solid brown head with a white diamond)

So for people who need t to have colour up there with temperment, health and structure for compatability, I was just wondering if they would be interested in making a child more aesthetically pleasing to them (in a non health, ability etc sort of way..)

 

[showpug]

no as I posted before, you are NOT looking at two pups (as I said then if they are equal then yes chose on colour..beats tossing a coin) But if all things as in breed type etc are equal.. So if you are looking at JRTs but won't look at any ones with a solid coloured head etc. (actually had a woman who specifically only wanted a JRT if it had a solid brown head with a white diamond)

So for people who need t to have colour up there with temperment, health and structure for compatability, I was just wondering if they would be interested in making a child more aesthetically pleasing to them (in a non health, ability etc sort of way..)

Dekka do you have children?

I don't think there is a parent on earth that doesn't find their child aesthetically pleasing, whether they actually are or not is a different story, lol I don't think it's realistic to compare dogs to children. I used to do that, until I had my daughter and have since learned they don't even come close to being comparable on so many different levels.

And to answer your question, no. I would not determine, create or change anything about my child if I had the chance to. Part of the excitement of having a baby is wondering what they will turn out like. The excitement of purebred dogs IMO is knowing what to expect and searching for exactly what you want.

 

[Zoom]

I really would like to have a tri-color Cav, but I've learned that for whatever reason, their conformation is slightly different than the Blenheims and it's harder to find quality breeding stock. Even then, the color doesn't seem to get passed on easily. I was looking at a breeder whose last litter was sired by a tri and all 8 pups were Blenheim like the mom. I wasn't able to get a pup either way, but I'd still LOVE to have a tri Cav someday. I love the Blenheims as well, but prefer them more heavily marked.

 

[Psyfalcon]

If I get my rescue greyhound, I do NOT want black. They grey too fast, and since I'd be getting it at 2-5 years, I don't want a greyed out dog

There are enough brindles and Whites with spots to for me to find on I like though. (I really want a brindle)

 

[Laurelin]

Color plays an important part in papillons. Blacks and tris have stronger ear fringe generally speaking (it has to do with the texture) but of course other than my black and tan GSD and my black lab EVERY dog I've ever owned has been sable. Dunno why. I guess I prefer them, I'm not sure. lol

I have to admit I really really love Beau's red color.

 

[anna84]

Dakotah I doubt it had anything to do with your thread.. basically x2 what Bax said.

And no, I don't think it's shallow. Not the best reason, I don't think, but shallow? No... as long as you're keeping in mind other things as well. If you intentionally get a dog you can't handle just because of their color, I wouldn't call you shallow.. I'd say you're stupid.

:hail:

States it perfectly if you take in to consideration everything else then also look at color thats fine. But only a moron would go looking for the perfect colored dog above all else. I LOVE the way Salukis look. There just perfect in the my aesthetic opinion. But I'll never own one. I want a working line GSD someday and in my head my future dog is a sable. If there was an ideal puppy that was black I'd take him. But if there were 2 ideal pups and ones black and the others sable then yeah I'd pick the sable one.