What is this black crusty lump on my 8-year-old German Shepherd?

It sounds like this is some kind of skin growth. Dogs can develop melanomas of the skin along with many other benign growths. I would recommend having your vet take a look - they might recommend taking a sample with a small needle to determine what this might be, or they might recommend going ahead and removing it.

This looks like it could be an adenoma, or benign growth originating from the glands in the skin. Sometimes adenomas can produce oils that collect at the surface and can be dark brown or black. There are many other skin masses that could look similar, and some might be more serious so I would recommend having your veterinarian take a look in person.

It is hard to tell from the picture what these could be. Sometimes growths of the oil glands in the skin can appear this way. Infection can also be black and crusty. Melanomas can also appear as black growths on the skin. I would recommend that you take her to see your veterinarian so they can take a sample to diagnose it so that you know what it is and what needs to be done about it.

It is possible this could be a cyst. Cysts can decrease in size, especially if the vet used a needle to aspirate fluid from the cyst. They do not, however, usually go away completely and will often fill back up. In some cases, these cysts will rupture and can cause pain or result in infection, so the best course if it seems to be causing problems is to remove it surgically.

With Artu being young and the location of this mass being on or around the face, statistically speaking this is most likely a benign lesion. The first one that comes to mind is known as a histiocytoma, something that is not a concern and will often resolve spontaneously even if left to its own devices. Getting the cytology sent out to the lab is definitely the way to go in order to be sure it isn't anything more harmful that requires immediate attention. Though you indicated the area is non-painful and he does not seem negatively effective systemically, this is not necessarily an indication of Artu's overall health relating to this lesion. There are certainly other types of lesions that can occur in young animals that are concerning, some of which come to mind include mast cell tumors and/or melanomas. However, these would be less likely. Hope this makes sense.

This looks like the start of a mass in his skin. Masses around the skin can be cancerous or benign, because if he is location it is good to get them tested asap. Otherwise it may be an infection in the skin or a crust over a scab.

This lump on Sam could be benign or malignant. In an older dog, there is always a chance any lump could be malignant. Any suspicious lumps should be examined by the vet. The vet can perform a test called a fine needle aspirate on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of its cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the lump is diagnosed, the vet can discuss treatment options if needed. Give his vet a call tomorrow to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!