Is the Panda Shepherd a case of “making lemonade when presented with lemons?” Are proponents of the Panda Shepherd correct in thinking that if a trait is in a breed’s gene pool, it should be an accepted trait?
You’re going to want to know what a Panda Shepherd looks like, but as we don’t have permission to share any of the particular photos we found, click here to see what comes up on Pinterest. Getting back to the dog……
As far as we can tell, this is what is undisputed about the German Shepherd Dogs with white markings now known as, “Panda Shepherds:”
Back in 2000, two purebred GSDs (one registered with the AKC, the other with the German Shepherd Club Of Germany) were bred together and produced a litter that included a puppy with symmetrical white markings on her muzzle, chest, collar, belly, tail tip, and forelock. The puppy was named “Franka.”
The flabbergasted breeder had the University of California/Davis study a sample of Franka’s DNA which found the puppy to be a purebred German Shepherd Dog. However, further tests concluded that the cause of her remarkable coloring was the result of mutation of the KIT gene.
The KIT gene controls cell functions, and in Franka’s case, it inadvertently affected color. It’s believed that KIT mutated dogs can’t “carry” the gene with out expressing it. Unless a puppy randomly mutates the gene, one parent has to have a phenotypical (or visible) KIT mutation to produce offspring with the Panda coloring.
UC/Davis wrote of the mutation that in its “homozygous state, the Panda mutation is considered an early embryonic lethal as no live dogs with the pattern and with two copies of the mutation have been observed. Put another way, pups homozygous for the Panda mutation don’t develop in the uterus and are reabsorbed very early on.
There is a test available through Veterinary Genetics Laboratory that allows breeders to determine if white patterning is caused by the KIT gene mutation. The Coat Color Panda White Spotting test (H354) tests for the genetic status of the KIT-gene. This gene has two variants (alleles), P and N. The allele P is dominant. One copy of the P allele results in dogs with the Panda white pattern. Two copies of the P allele result in early embryonic death. The allele N does have no effect on the coat color.
Are Pandas healthy?
UC/Davis reported no health defect in German Shepherd Dogs that are heterozygous (one copy of the mutation) for the Panda pattern. OFA tests found Franka’s hips to be fair, and her elbows were normal. We did come across one site that mentioned blood disorders associated with Pandas, but we couldn’t find any corroborating sources. The same site also mentioned hip and elbow dysplasia, but those are issues found in many breeds, and can be especially problematic with substandard breeders. And that leads us to the exploitation of a unique or rare coloring.
Since Panda German Shepherd Dogs are considered “rare,” there are those who see the dogs as money makers. When doing research on the breed, the following line was typical of what we saw on the Internet: “Panda is the newest color variety of purebred German Shepherd Dogs. “Kennel Name” has had them since 2014. Limited availability! This isn’t to say this particular breeder was a substandard breeder, but rather, to underscore the sensational tone of the tag line.
Needless to say, the color is hotly debated, and while it’s often dismissed as a result of crossbreeding, we simply couldn’t find evidence of that. The color, of course, is considered a fault in the show ring. No registry we know of accepts the dogs as a breed or variation of the German Shepherd Dog, and when asked on a United Kennel Club forum about registered a Panda, the UKC moderator replied, “You can submit the application and photos to us and it would be considered on a case-by-case basis.”
What became of Franka? Once she matured, she was bred to a traditionally colored black and tan GSD. Out of the four puppies she whelped, three turned out to have black/tan/white coats but lacked the blue eyes, while the fourth puppy was the traditional black and tan coloring. The black/tan/white German Shepherd dogs (dogs that were 35% white) were given the name Panda Shepherds.
So, what say you? Is it appropriate to accept the color and “run with it?” Should it be accepted as a new breed, or a color variation of an existing one? Asking now is a little like putting toothpaste back in a tube, but we’re curious to know your thoughts.
Image of Panda German Shepherd by Daasan was a free download
I have a handsome 7 month old panda 🙂
I’m very positive my dog Harlo is a Panda Shepherd. 3 years old.
White markings on her muzzle, chest, collar, belly, tail tip, and forelock.
Black, Tan, White. Black saddle.
She’s lovely either way.
Hi Shelley, “Harlo” well could be, and she’s looks quite comfortable on “her” bed! We love seeing pictures and appreciate the time you took to share Harlo’s with us.
Harlo side profile
My Beau is a 2 year old panda shepherd and the best boy in the world
10 month old panda shepherd, Storm
Thanks for the picture, Candice, it helps!!
Rayne, aka judy rae rae, our 8 month old panda. (Storms lady friend 🙂 )
Thanks for another picture, Candice. It’s exceedingly difficult to describe something when a picture is so much better!
Lucy, 7 month old Panda sweetheart!
Lucy is lovely, Hailey!
Here’s an updated photo of Lucy, she’s now 1 year 3 months old.
Wow, Hailey, she’s really coming along! Thanks for showing her to us all grown up!
After reading this I don’t think my handsome guy is mixed with husky anymore
Panda Shepherds don’t have white bodies like this. Looks Aussie or Cattle Dog mix.
Jenga here is an AKC registered panda. They are registered under their base coat as panda is not a color but a pattern. They are not faults in the show ring. The parent registry, German Shepherd Dog Club of America, and AKC both state under color:
“Color
The German Shepherd Dog varies in color, and most colors are permissible. Strong rich colors are preferred. Pale, washed-out colors and blues or livers are serious faults. A white dog must be disqualified.”
Cindy Whitaker did attempt to show one of her dogs but recieved threats in the parking lot at a show, thus the assumption they cannot be shown.
A few more shots of Beau
One more of big Beau
We have had Dr. Watson since he was a pup- he is now close to 4 and we are amazed he is not a big mix of a lot of other breeds- but potentially a Panda Shepherd! We have always known him to be amazing and have guessed in the mix. I plan now to get the test.
I would love more information about this breed too- the pictures I see on line seem to all have doges with the lower back hips- he does not really have that.
Dr. Watson? What a wonderful name! He looks like a sweetheart, Emmy!
He is! I would love to know more about this breed and connect with others with Pandas.
Hey Emmy! There are a couple facebook groups to join if you want to connect with panda owners! Just do a quick search for panda German Shepherd Love or Panda German Shepherd Dogs!
Hi Emmy,
Frankie was born in July 2022 and this is her at 8months
I would love to get a Panda Shepard. I live in South eastern SD and I don’t know where to find a rescue shelter or a breeder in this area. Could you help me with this?
Thank you
Francine, there isn’t a club we found, but we did come across a Panda Shepherd breeder listed on the AKC’s marketplace website. Please don’t regard this as an endorsement as we don’t know the breeder and can’t speak to their program one way or the other. Ask lots of questions!
This Luna a 1 year old Panda German shepherd
Thanks for sharing Luna’s photo, Karen, she’s lovely!
Gypsy I am now sure is a Panda. I thought she was mixed with border collie. She is 5 months old here.
It would be interesting to see a DNA test since there are no cases where the white has been present past the shoulder blade area (on upper body). She is beautiful!
Gypsy. My 5 month old Panda.
This my 1 year old male AKC registered Panda, Aegon Targaryen. Mom is a distant descendant of Franka.
My 1 year old Panda GSD Fenway. Acquired from a breeder in the Adirondack region of NY.
This is Dusty Rose. My husband rescued her from a scrap yard in Detroit 8 yrs ago. BEST dog we have ever had!! We did a DNA test, thinking she was part collie and it came back 50% German Shepherd, 25% Rottweiler & 25% other. I searched the internet and found the Panda Shepherd. Whatever she is, she is beautiful, inside and out!!
What a sweet face Dusty Rose has, Renae, and she’s a very lucky girl to have been found by you.
She looks to be piebald
This is Noa, my 7 yr old Panda Shepard. He’s an awesome dog. We love to be around him. BTW: that’s he best pal next to him!!!
This is Noa, my 7 yr old Panda Shepard. He’s an awesome dog. We love to be around him. BTW: that’s his best pal next to him!!!
This is Noa, my 7 yr old Panda. BTW: that’s his partner in crime next to him.
Meet THOR, my beautiful panda shepherd.
Ok, one more. .
There is one showing this weekend at UKC shows.