Every dog parent thinks that their dog is the most special.
Of course, to us, they are; no other dog is the one by our side every day. But while our own pups are special in their own rights, most of them don’t have something unique about them genetically. But Kay Talbert, an animal rescuer who regularly shares her companions on TikTok, does have a pet worth turning heads.
The Golden Furkid
Talbert haș many videos of her pets, including a blind Jack Russell Terrier mix, on TikTok. But a short video of her gold German Shepherd, Lucy, is the one that’s earned her two million views. Set to the song ‘Yellow’ by Coldplay, the video asks ‘Have you ever seen a solid gold German Shepherd before?’ along with pictures of Lucy. As it turns out, most of us haven’t. Many people have insisted Lucy must be a mixed breed due to her unusual color.
However, Talbert says that both of her parents were full-blooded German Shepherds. Lucy’s ‘blonde’ coloration isn’t recognized in the breed standard for German Shepherds, but it is a recessive gene that can be intentionally or unintentionally bred.
Is My Dog Special?
While of course we all love our pups regardless of their coloration, it is fascinating to find dogs outside of the norm. There are many unusual color combinations for German Shepherds alone – solid liver/tan & liver, panda, steel blue/tan, plus Lucy’s golden fur.
These colors aren’t recognized in the breed standard, but for dog parents who don’t intend to show, they’re a delight. Check your dog’s breed standard, if purebred, to see if they conform or if perhaps they’ve inherited a rare coloration. Keep in mind that some ‘rare’ dogs sold by unscrupulous breeders are actually just mixed breeds. Meanwhile, some dogs can even be born green.
