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What is a Non-Breed Standard?
What is a Non-Breed Standard?
We decided to reference the Colour Watch system by KC and open the doors for non-standard coloured dogs. Yes, at last, your Panda GSD will be able to compete at our shows!
Non-breed standard- NBS
Breed Standard- BS
NBS dogs are judged separately from the BS dogs!
Important notes
Important notes
The NBS dogs will not be able to compete with BS dogs
The NBS dogs will receive their own placings and certificates separately from BS dogs.
The NBS dogs will be able to receive Championship certificates under the same regulations as and the BS dogs but having their own certificates which would state the relation to NBS.
The dangers of breeding for fashionable colours
The dangers of breeding for fashionable colours
In 2023, The Kennel Club organised a free webinar for owners and breeders to find out more about the dangers of breeding for ‘fashionable’ colours, with the example of colour dilution alopecia. The webinar explores research on the condition to date, advice for breeders to avoid colour dilution alopecia, and how best to support dogs affected with this condition.
Watch the video here: video
Biases
Biases
1. Breed Standard Integrity
Major kennel clubs (like AKC, UKC, FCI) have strict color standards for each breed.
Breeding outside these standards can weaken breed conformity over generations and may be viewed as irresponsible or even exploitative.
2. Reputation & Community Perception
Reputable breeders often aim to preserve and improve breed standards.
Breeding NBS dogs can lead to being excluded from breed clubs, denied show participation, or shunned by serious breeders.
There is a widespread bias that NBS breeding = “backyard” or “profit-first” breeding, especially when labeled as "rare" or sold at inflated prices.
3. Genetic Concerns
Unusual colors can arise from recessive genes, mutations, or past crossbreeding.
Without genetic testing, NBS dogs might carry undesirable or harmful traits alongside their color.
Breeding without understanding genetic impact risks introducing or reinforcing health problems.
4. Registry Limitations
Some kennel clubs may allow limited registration, but often restrict breeding rights or bar show eligibility for NBS-colored dogs.
Offspring might also receive limited or no registration, depending on the club.
5. Ethical Responsibility
If a breeder chooses to breed NBS dogs, it's considered ethical to:
Disclose the non-standard traits honestly.
Avoid misleading marketing like “rare” unless it's backed by genetic science.
Prioritize health, structure, and temperament over color.
Breeds included in the NBS
Breeds included in the NBS
other breeds will be added soon, we will be referencing the links before judging
All possible colours are presented below.
Some judging styles don't recognise some BS colours as standard. However, the NBS colours will be available within all the judging styles.
Category 1: 0–2% NBS Colours
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black & Tan
Black & Tan Brindle
Chocolate Dapple & Tan
Chocolate & Tan
Chocolate & Tan Brindle
Red
Red Brindle
Red Dapple
Shaded Red
Silver Dapple & Tan
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
Blue & Tan
Isabella & Tan
AKC
Black
Chocolate
Fawn
Brindle Piebald
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
White With Black Spots
White With Liver Spots
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Lemon spotted
AKC
White & Lemon
White & Orange
White Black & Tan
White, Liver & Tan
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black with rust red (tan)
Blue with rust red (tan)
Brown with rust red (tan)
Fawn (Isabella) with rust red (tan)
Black with rust red (tan) (white ancestry)
Brown with rust red (tan) (white ancestry)
Blue with rust red (tan) (white ancestry)
Fawn (Isabella) with rust red (tan) (white ancestry)
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Cream and white (white ancestry)
(NBS) White (white ancestry)
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Pepper & Salt
Non-breed standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Black & Silver
AKC
Black & Tan
Fawn
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Black & Silver
Pepper & Salt
White
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Chocolate
(NBS) Chocolate & Liver
(NBS) Chocolate & Pepper
(NBS) Chocolate & Tan
(NBS) Chocolate & Wheaten
(NBS) Chocolate & White
(NBS) Liver & Tan
(NBS) Liver
(NBS) Tan & White
(NBS) Parti Black & Silver
(NBS) Parti Black & White
(NBS) Parti Chocolate Pepper
(NBS) Parti Chocolate & Tan
(NBS) Parti Liver
(NBS) Parti Pepper & Salt
(NBS) Parti White & Black
(NBS) Parti White & Chocolate
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Liver
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Yellow
AKC
Yellow
Category 2: >2–10% NBS Colours
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Red
(NBS) Black & Tan
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Blue
Cream
Fawn
Red
White
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Chocolate
(NBS) Lilac
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black & Cream
Black & Cream Brindle
Black & Tan
Black & Tan Brindle
Chocolate Dapple & Tan
Chocolate & Cream
Chocolate & Cream Brindle
Chocolate & Tan
Chocolate & Tan Brindle
Chocolate Dapple & Cream
Cream
Cream Brindle
Cream Dapple
Red
Red Brindle
Red Dapple
Shaded Cream
Shaded Red
Silver Dapple & Cream
Silver Dapple & Tan
Non-breed-standard colours:
Black & Tan Piebald
Blue & Cream
Blue & Cream Dapple
Blue & Tan
Blue & Tan Dapple
Blue & Tan Piebald
Chocolate & Tan Piebald
Cream Piebald
Isabella & Tan
Isabella & Tan Dapple
Isabella & Tan Piebald
Red Piebald
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Bi-Colour
Black
Black & Gold
Black & Tan
Dark Sable
Gold Sable
Grey
Grey Sable
Sable
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) White
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) Blue & Gold
(NBS) Blue & Tan
(NBS) Blue Sable
(NBS) Isabella
(NBS) Isabella & Tan
(NBS) Liver
(NBS) Liver & Tan
(NBS) Liver Sable
AKC
White
Accepted by request
Panda
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Blue
Brindle
Fawn
Harlequin
Mantle
Non-breed standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Merle
AKC
Blue & White
Blue Brindle
Chocolate
Chocolate & White
Chocolate Brindle
Mantle Merle
Merlequin
Blue Mask
Brindle Markings
Chocolate Markings
Chocolate Mask
Fawn Markings
Merle Markings
Piebald
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Apricot
Black
Blue
Brown
Cream
Red
Silver
White
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Apricot & White
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & White
(NBS) Brown & Silver
(NBS) Brown & White
(NBS) Blue & White
(NBS) Red & White
(NBS) Silver & White
(NBS) Particolour
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Apricot
Black
Blue
Brown
Cream
Red
Silver
White
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Black & Cream
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & White
(NBS) Brown & White
(NBS) Blue & White
(NBS) Apricot & White
(NBS) Silver & White
(NBS) Red & White
(NBS) Cream & White
(NBS) Particolour
Category 3: >10–30% NBS Colours
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black & White
Brindle & White
Mahogany Brindle & White
Seal & White
Seal Brindle & White
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Blue & White
(NBS) Red & White
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Beaver
Black
Blue
Chocolate
Cream
Orange
White
Orange Sable
Wolf Sable
Shaded Sable
Parti Colour
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Cream Sable
(NBS) Black and Tan
(NBS) Blue and Tan
(NBS) Black and Silver
(NBS) Black with white markings
(NBS) Blue with white markings
(NBS) Chocolate with white markings
(NBS) Cream with white markings
(NBS) Orange with white markings
(NBS) Orange Sable with white markings
(NBS) Wolf Sable with white markings
(NBS) Shaded Sable with white markings
AKC
Beaver Sable
Black & Brindle
Blue Brindle
Brindle
Chocolate Merle
Chocolate Sable
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Apricot
Black
Blue
Brown
Cream
Red
Silver
White
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Apricot & White
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & White
(NBS) Brown & White
(NBS) Blue & White
(NBS) Cream & White
(NBS) Particolour
(NBS) Red & White
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Silver & White
AKC
Black & Apricot
Black & Brown
Black & Cream
Black & Gray
Black & Silver
Black & Tan
Black & White
Blue & White
Brown & Apricot
Brown & White
Cream & White
Gray & White
Red & Apricot
Red & White
White & Apricot
White & Silver
Black Mask
Black Points
White Markings
White Mask
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Apricot
Black
Blue
Brown
Chocolate Dilute
Cream
Cream Dilute
Fawn
Five Point Red
Red
Red Fawn
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & White Flowered
(NBS) Blue & Tan
(NBS) Blue & White Flowered
(NBS) Brindle
(NBS) Brown & White Flowered
(NBS) Chocolate & White Flowered
(NBS) Red & White Flowered
(NBS) Sable
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black & White
Brindle
Brindle & White
Gold & White
Gold Brindle
Gold Brindle & White
Gold With Black Mask
Grey & White
Solid Black
Solid Gold
Liver
Liver & White
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) Cream
(NBS) Lilac
(NBS) Lilac & White
(NBS) White
(NBS) Particolour
AKC
Black Gold & Silver
Black Gold & White
Black White & Silver
Silver Gold & White
White
Black Markings
Black Mask
Tan Markings
White Markings
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Grey
Grey & White
Grey Brown
Grey Sable
Grey Sable & White
Greyish Yellow
Red
Red Sable
Red Sable & white
Reddish Brown
Reddish Yellow
Sable
Steel Grey
Wolf Grey
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) White
AKC
Black
Blue
White
Yellow
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Mouse Grey
Roe Grey
Silver Grey
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Blue
Category 4: >30% NBS Colours or Over 1,000 NBS Registrations Annually
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Brindle
Brindle & White
Fawn
Fawn & White
Fawn Brindle
Fawn Brindle & White
Red
Red & White
Red Brindle
Red Brindle & White
Red Fawn
White
White & Brindle
White & Fawn
White & Red
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Black
(NBS) Black & White
(NBS) Black & White with Tan markings
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & Tan with White Markings
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) Blue & Tan
(NBS) Blue with White or Tan Markings or Patches
(NBS) Blue Fawn
(NBS) Blue Fawn with White Markings or Patches
(NBS) Blue with White, Sable, Tan Markings
(NBS) Brown
(NBS) Brown with Tan Markings
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Sable with Tan or White Markings
(NBS) Cream
AKC
Brindle & White
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black & Cream
Black & Cream Brindle
Black & Tan
Black & Tan Brindle
Chocolate Dapple & Tan
Chocolate & Cream
Chocolate & Cream Brindle
Chocolate & Tan
Chocolate & Tan Brindle
Chocolate Dapple & Cream
Cream
Cream Brindle
Cream Dapple
Fawn
Fawn Brindle
Fawn Dapple
Red
Red Brindle
Red Dapple
Shaded Red
Silver Dapple & Cream
Silver Dapple & Tan
Non-breed-standard colours:
Black & Cream Brindle Dapple
Black & Cream Piebald
Black & Tan Piebald
Blue & Cream
Blue & Cream Dapple
Blue & Tan
Blue & Tan Dapple
Blue & Tan Piebald
Chocolate & Cream Brindle Dapple
Chocolate & Tan Piebald
Cream Brindle Dapple
Cream Piebald
Isabella & Cream
Isabella & Cream Dapple
Isabella & Tan
Isabella & Tan Dapple
Isabella & Tan Piebald
Red Brindle Dapple
Red Piebald
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Brindle
Light Brindle
Dark Brindle
Brindle & White
Fawn
Fawn & White
Fawn Pied
Fawn With Black Mask
Pied
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black & Tan with white markings
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) Blue & Tan
(NBS) Blue with white markings or patches
(NBS) Blue Fawn
(NBS) Blue Fawn with white markings or patches
(NBS) Blue with white, sable, tan markings
(NBS) Brown
(NBS) Brown with Tan or white markings
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Sable with Tan or white markings
(NBS) Red
(NBS) Cream
AKC
Black
Black & Fawn
Blue
Tan Points
Ticked
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Fawn With Black Mask
Apricot With Black Mask
Silver With Black Mask
Black
Non-breed-standard colours:
(NBS) Black & Tan
(NBS) Black with White, Tan or Sable markings
(NBS) Blue
(NBS) Blue with White, Tan or Sable Markings
(NBS) Brown with White, Tan or Black markings
(NBS) Brown
(NBS) Cream - no Black Mask
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Silver - no Black Mask
(NBS) White
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Chocolate
Liver
Yellow
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Charcoal
(NBS) Champagne
(NBS) Silver
AKC
White Markings
Breed standard colours in this breed include:
Black
Black & Tan
Black & White
Black & White Ticked
Black White & Tan
Blue Roan
Blue Roan & Tan
Chocolate
Chocolate & Tan
Chocolate & White
Chocolate Roan
Chocolate Roan & Tan
Chocolate White & Tan
Golden
Lemon & White
Lemon Roan
Liver
Liver & Tan
Liver & White
Liver & White Ticked
Liver Roan
Liver Roan & Tan
Liver White & Tan
Orange & White
Orange & White Ticked
Orange Roan
Red
Non-breed-standard colours:
KC
(NBS) Sable
(NBS) Black Sable
(NBS) Blue Roan Sable
(NBS) Chocolate Sable
(NBS) Chocolate Sable Roan
(NBS) Dark Sable
(NBS) Gold Sable
(NBS) Red Sable
(NBS) Sable Roan
AKC
Blue Roan
Blue Roan & Tan
Cream
Golden
Red Roan
Sable
Sable & White
Ticked
White Markings
Other breeds
Apricot
Black & Tan
Blue
Chocolate
Cream
Fawn
Gray
Red
White
White Markings
Black Brindle
Black, Brown Undercoat
Black, Fawn Undercoat
Black, Red Undercoat
Black, Silver Undercoat
Brown
Fawn Brindle
Red Brindle
Silver
Silver Brindle
White, Red Shading
Black Mask
Pinto
White Markings
White Mask
Black Mask
Gray Mask
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