Blue Bay Shepherd

Blue Bay Shepherd

He is not recognized by the F.C.I.

Origin

Translation

En français, cette race se dit

Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar

En español, esta raza se dice

In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd

The Blue Bay Shepherd is a crossbreed between the rare, ancient blue-coated German Shepherd and the equally rare blue-coated wolf. According to enthusiasts, despite its wolf-like appearance, it makes an excellent companion. The breed is still developing and is not recognized by any official canine registry.

Outwardly, it is an extremely charming and beautiful animal with an exotic look that attracts attention. The Blue Bay Shepherd's popularity continues to grow, which is why we feel it's important to discuss it now.

The Blue Bay Shepherd has been in development for about twenty years, which is relatively short for a breed. The only confirmed breeder is Vicki Spencer of Southern Breeze Ranch. Her goal is to create dogs that combine the health and beauty of wolves with the loyalty and obedience of German Shepherds.

For Vicki Spencer, it was essential that this dog be unique, both in its intrinsic qualities and its appearance. She envisioned a distinctive blue coat and light-colored eyes. She discovered this shade of blue in the Eastern Woodland Wolf (it would seem, for now, that this color is only present in this species within the wolf population). After years of searching, she found a breeder in France who dedicated himself to breeding heritage German Shepherds. It was among them that she rediscovered this long-forgotten blue color. (Old breed German Shepherds have a different build and coat than modern German Shepherds. They are larger, more robust, and have longer hair.)

For her breeding program, the breeder selected more friendly and less protective dogs, aiming for docile and easy-going dogs. It is important to note that only dogs from the F6 generation are used for breeding; these are purebred dogs, not wolf-dog hybrids. Some Blue Bay German Shepherds have a wolf blood percentage of 12 to 16%, but the breeder strives to keep it at 6%. The first litter of Blue Bay German Shepherds was born in 2011.

Their height is not yet precisely determined, but it averages approximately 76 cm. Males can weigh up to 58 kg, while females weigh around 45 kg. Their eyes can be yellow or amber, sometimes with greenish reflections. The nose is dark, and the coat is blue or slate gray.

The characteristic blue-gray coat of the Bay Blue Shepherd is due to the D gene, which dilutes the black pigment. In wolf-dog hybrids, the higher the proportion of wolf blood, the lighter their coat becomes with age, turning gray or silver. However, the Bay Blue Shepherd retains its blue color throughout its life. Daily brushing is necessary.

Breeders, quite rightly, prioritize physical appearance over aesthetics when breeding. If a dog possesses the desired qualities but resembles a German Shepherd more closely, it is not excluded from the breeding program. This is the only way to guarantee the desired temperament.

The average lifespan of the breed is not yet determined. Based on current experience, cancer and gastric torsion are rare, while hypopituitarism and epilepsy are moderately common. They are relatively prone to hip dysplasia, a common condition in large breeds, and to degenerative myelopathy, typical of the German Shepherd. Overall, they appear to be healthy, but the limited number of available genes and selection for a specific color could pose problems in the future.

The breed is still in the early stages, so the temperament of individuals can vary. Nevertheless, it can be generally stated that the Blue Bay is an active, friendly, intelligent, and affectionate dog. Not a working dog, it can be kept in an apartment with proper exercise. Human-centered, it values companionship and always likes to be close to its owner.Training should be taken seriously, as it may exhibit an intense prey drive. However, due to the variation in temperament among individuals, it's currently uncertain how trainable Blue Bays are! Properly socialized specimens seem to get along well with other dogs and strangers. Due to their size, they are not currently recommended for households with children.