Breed Standard

GERMAN SHEPHERD LONG HAIR ORIGIN:

Germany ACW CLASSIFICATION: Group I Sheepdogs and guard dogs for large and small livestock.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: According to an official resolution, the Augsburg-based German Shepherd Dog Club (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, SV), member of the German Canine Federation (Verband für das deutsche Hundewesen, VdH), founding association of the breed, is responsible for the standard of the German Shepherd Dog. This standard, based on the proposals of A. Meyer and von Stephanitz, was originally developed at the first meeting of members of the society in Frankfurt/Main on September 20, 1899. Amendments to the standard were made during the VI meeting of members of the society on July 28, 1901, during the XXIII member meeting in Cologne on September 17, 1909, the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee in Wiesbaden on September 5, 1930 and at the meeting of the Board of Directors and Committee of Breeding on March 25, 1961. The standard was revised and adopted by the World Union of German Shepherd Dogs (Weltunion für Deutsche Schäferhunde, WUSV) on August 30, 1976 and again revised and cataloged as resolved by the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee on March 23 and 24, 1991. The German Shepherd Dog, whose planned and regulated breeding began in the year 1899, after the founding of the S.V., was originally developed by crossing with shepherd dogs available in South Germany and Central, with the ultimate goal of creating a versatile utility dog highly suited to very demanding jobs. To achieve this goal, the German Shepherd Dog standard was developed emphasizing a correct physical structure and particularly a stable temperament and good character.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: The German Shepherd Dog is a medium-sized, slightly stretched-bodied, strong, well-muscled dog with dry bones and a firm overall build.

IMPORTANT MEASURES AND PROPORTIONS: The height of the withers in males: 60 – 65 cm; in females: 55 – 65 cm. The length of the body exceeds the measurement of the height of the withers by approximately 10 – 17%.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT: The German Shepherd Dog is even-tempered, with steady nerves, self-assured, totally easy-going and (except when provoked) totally benign; at the same time he must be attentive and easy to train. He must possess courage, combat instincts, and toughness to be appropriate as a companion, guard, protection, service, and herding dog.

HEAD: It is wedge-shaped, and is in proportion to the length of the body (its length is approximately 40% of the height of the withers), without appearing elongated. In general appearance it should be dry and moderately wide between the ears. Seen from the front and from the sides, the forehead is slightly arched and without or with a slightly marked median furrow. The proportion between the cranial and facial regions should be 50% to 50%. The width of the cranial region is almost equal to its length. Seen from above, the cranial region tapers uniformly from the ears to the nose, leaving a not very noticeable fronto-nasal depression and sloping into the wedge-shaped muzzle. The upper and lower jaws are strongly developed. The nasal bridge is straight, any bulging or sagging is undesirable. The lips, dark in color, are firm and well attached.

Nose: Must be black.

DENTURE: It must be strong, healthy and complete (42 teeth corresponding to the tooth formula). The German Shepherd dog has a scissor bite, so that the upper incisors cover the lower ones in close contact. A pincer bite, an upper or lower prognathism as well as large spaces between the teeth (lacunae) are faults. Equally defective is the straight alignment of all the incisors. The maxillary and mandibular bones must be strongly developed so that the teeth are deeply embedded in the dental arch.

EYES: Of medium size, almond-shaped, set obliquely and never protruding. Your colour must be as darkest as possible. Piercing light eyes are undesirable as they affect the dog's expression. EARS: The German Shepherd Dog has ears of medium size, erect, open forward, and carried evenly (neither turned up nor carried to the sides). They are pointed with canopy facing the front. Ears folded at the point or drooping are faulty. Ears thrown back, in motion or at rest, are not taken as a foul.

NECK: The neck should be strong, well muscled and without dewlap. Its angulation with the body (horizontally) is approximately 45°.

BODY: The topline runs without interruption from the set of the neck on the well defined withers and on the very slightly sloping back to the croup, also slightly sloping. The back is firm, strong and well muscled. The loin is broad, strongly developed and well muscled. The croup should be long, sloping slightly (approximately 23° from the horizontal line) and continuing towards the tail line without interrupting the topline. Chest: Moderately broad with the sternum as long as possible and well noticeable. The depth of the chest should be 45-48% of the height at the withers. The ribs should be moderately rounded. A barrel-shaped or flat chest is considered a foul.

TAIL: Reaching at least to the hock, but not exceeding the middle of the metatarsus. He has longer hair on his underside. At rest is carried hanging in a slight curve. When the dog is moving or paying attention, it carries its tail higher, but without exceeding the horizontal line. Corrective operations are prohibited.

FOREQUARTERS: Seen from all sides, the forelegs are straight; seen from the front, they are absolutely parallel. The shoulder blade and the upper arm are of the same length, firmly attached to the body by means of good musculature. The ideal angulation between the shoulder blade and the arm is 90°, but usually 110°. The elbows must not be turned in or out, whether the dog is at rest or in motion. The forearms, seen from either side, are straight and parallel to each other, dry and well muscled. The pastern has a length of approximately 1/3 of the forearm and forms an angulation with it of approximately 20-22°. A pastern that is too inclined (more than 22°) or too straight (less than 20°) impairs the dog's ability to work, especially its resistance. Forefeet: Rounded, compact, with arched toes. The pads should be firm, but not brittle. The nails are strong and dark in color.

HINDQUARTERS: The position of the hindquarters, seen from behind parallel to each other, should be slightly collected. The thigh and leg are almost the same length and form an angle of approximately 120o. The thighs are strong and well muscled. The hocks are strong and firm; the metatarsus is perpendicular below the hock. Hind feet: Compact, slightly arched; dark-colored hard pads; nails strong, arched and equally dark in color.

MOVEMENT: The German Shepherd is a trotter dog. The angulation and length of the limbs should be so closely related that, without noticeable alteration of the top line, the dog can push the hind limb down the full length of the body and reach the fore limb the same distance. Any tendency toward overangulation of the hindlimbs decreases steadiness and endurance, and consequently, the dog's utility ability. Correct structural proportions and good angulations result in a long-range, flat gait on the ground that gives the impression of effortless locomotion. Head thrown forward and tail slightly raised result in a smooth, flowing trot, showing a smooth, uninterrupted curved line from the tips of the ears over the neck and back to the tip of the tail.

SKIN: It must be loosely adjusted, without forming folds.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG HAIR long, wiry outer coat: Guard hair should be long, soft and not lying close to the body, with tufts on the ears and legs, pants and bushy tail with the formation of the bottom of the tuft. Short on the head, including the inside of the ears, on the front part of the legs, on the paws and on the feet, a little longer and more heavily covered with hair on the neck, almost forming a mane. On the back of the legs the hair extends to the carpal or hock joint and forms the pale pants on the back of the thighs.

COLOR: Black with reddish-brown, brown, yellow, and even light gray markings; totally black or grey; gray dogs are shaded with black, with a black coat and mask. Small inconspicuous white spots on the breast are tolerated but not desirable, as are very light colors on the underparts. In all color types, the nose must be black. Dogs without a mask, clear eyes and a penetrating expression, light or whitish spots on the chest and on the insides, as well as light nails and a red-white color at the tip of the tail are considered lacking pigmentation. The undercoat has a light greyish tone. White is not allowed.

SIZE AND WEIGHT: Males: Height at the withers: 60 – 65 cm Weight: 30 – 40 kg Females: Height at the withers: 55 – 60 cm Weight: 22 – 32 kg

FAILURES: Any deviation from the aforementioned criteria must be considered as a fault and its severity is considered in proportion to the degree of deviation from the standard.