Panda Shepherd Information

There has been a great deal of dispute over the Panda Shepherd. Many claim that this breed is the result from crossings with other breeds such as the Border Collie, however this is untrue.

On October 4, 2000, a liter of German Shepherd puppies were whelped. The father was a traditional black and tan saddle patterned dog, and the mother was solid black. In this litter, there was a "Panda Shepherd". The breeder, Cindy McCann, was shocked at what she saw with one of the puppies- it was unlike any other German Shepherd she had ever seen.

To figure out how this happened, a geneticist was consulted. His first thoughts were that there was a "fence jumper"- that another breed jumped the fence and mated with the female. When he was through with his testing, he was even more shocked than anyone. The black and tan German Shepherd and the black German Shepherd were indeed the parents of this puppy. The cause for this unique coloration was a genetic mutation, plain and simple.

Then came a very difficult decision for Cindy McCann. Should this dog be bred? Well, this dog is a purebred German Shepherd, and from excellent lineage. She was bred, and produced a male that was also of this unique color.

It is hoped that the Panda Shepherd will gain recognition as a variety of the German Shepherd Dog, or recognized as a new breed. These dogs are in fact, German Shepherd Dogs, but of a unique color. They maintain the wonderful temperaments and structure that a well bred German Shepherd should have.

What sets this breed apart from all the other "new breeds" that have come around in the last decade is the high standards placed on them. The founder isn't trying to make a quick buck by pushing as many puppies as she can. These dogs are not permitted to be bred unless the standards of the founder herself are kept. Health testing is of great importance, as well as competing in various canine events.