The German Shepherd Dog- DDR, Czech and British Lines

Lately, I have been getting more visitors on this blog, which I have dedicated to the German Shepherd dog; something for which I’m grateful. So thanks for coming back if you have already read one of my posts before and thanks for coming for the first time if that is the case.

In earlier posts I mentioned that the German Shepherd dog breed has many varieties and types consistent with the standard of the breed and that in some cases it is possible to identify their place of origin by their physical characteristics. In this article I will name a few I know of, just to illustrate the point.

A couple of the most common ones are the German Shepherd dogs of German lines and the German Shepherd dogs of American lines. I have already explained the main differences in structure and temperament between these two lines on another post, so I will not bore you with their description again. If you are interested, you can check my post from December 6th 2009; “ The German Shepherd Dog Breed- Difference Between German Lines and American Lines ”.

A few other lines that fall in this category are:

East German Lines (DDR)

They were developed in the German Democratic Republic (Deutshe Demokratishe Republik) informally called East Germany, from those dogs that remained in the East after World War II.

The DDR was a socialist state, which was established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany and in the portion of East Berlin which was occupied by the Allied forces. Geographically, it consisted of northeast Germany rather than all of eastern Germany. Its dissolution began with the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 and ended in October 1990 with the German reunification. It has been 20 years since the reunification of Germany. However, even today a divide still exists between the German Shepherd bloodlines recovered after the World War II.

The DDR no longer exists today, but the DDR German Shepherd Dog still does, although in my opinion it’s a “dying breed”. Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East German dogs were kept isolated from West German dogs and because of that, they retained their own distinct characteristics. Although they came from the same original stock before the war, the division prevented the mixing of bloodlines and they developed fairly differently. Nowadays German Shepherd dogs of pure East German Lines are pretty rare and many lines are extinct.

True DDR bloodlines are limited to four decades of breeding in former East Germany, but their bloodlines may be found in the pedigrees of German Shepherds around the world today.

DDR dogs have a strong, solid, lean, muscular body, heavy bone structure and a large massive head. They have dark pigmentation and are not as angulated as West German show dogs. These dogs have a strong temperament, great working ability and are well suited for Schutzhund, police work, search and rescue and many other tasks. Most importantly, DDR German Shepherds have a very low incidence and severity of hip dysplasia.

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

German Shepherd Dog of East German Lines (DDR)

Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

They were bred in communist Czechoslovakia as state working dogs. These dogs were mostly developed from DDR lines and are essentially the same.

Czechoslovakia existed as a sovereign state from 1918 to 1992. In 1939 though, Czechoslovakia was forcefully divided and partially incorporated to Nazi Germany, and this lasted until 1945, when the Soviet Union took over the eastern part of Carpathian Ruthenia, which later became part of the Slovak Republic. From 1939 to 1945 the state didn’t really exist, although the Czechoslovakian government did continue to exist in exile. On January 1st 1993 Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Before the revolution in Czechoslovakia and the fall of their communist government in 1989, German Shepherds bred in Czechoslovakia were primarily working dogs used for the protection of their borders. What is exceptional is that their breeding was done in just one kennel founded in 1955, which was owned by the Czechoslovakian Army's Border Patrol. The dogs used for breeding were acquired mostly from the East Germany (DDR) and the breeding program focused on solid nerves, working ability, strong bones and dark pigmentation.

The DDR and Czechoslovakia were members of the Soviet Bloc and they both developed working bloodlines to be used as assistance to border guards and as police protection dogs. Because of the close affiliation between the two, both lines are pretty much the same bloodline.

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

German Shepherd Dog of Czechoslovakian Lines (Czech)

British Lines (Alsatians)

These lines are descendants of old lines that were imported into the British Isles before the post-war German lines.

Around 1908 the first German Shepherds arrived in Great Britain. In 1917, after America entered World War I, everything associated with Germany acquired a negative connotation. The American Kennel Club changed the name of the breed from the German Shepherd dog to the Shepherd Dog. Meanwhile in England, the breed was renamed Alsatian, after the French-German border area of  Alsace, Lorraine. The name Alsatian was never really used anywhere else, except for England, and it was changed back to the German Shepherd dog in 1977.

These dogs developed a little differently than German Shepherds from other areas. They have heavier bone structure, a long body type, uniform shoulders and an even top line. They come in a variety of colors, being black and tan, black and red, sable, bi color and black the most common.

English Lines German Shepherd dogs have a soft temperament and they vary in drive. They make fabulous family companions, particularly for first time owners, but they also operate well as service dogs, therapy dogs and guide dogs.

German Shepherd Dog of British Lines (Alsatian)

German Shepherd Dog of British Lines (Alsatian)

German Shepherd Dog of British Lines (Alsatian)

German Shepherd Dog of British Lines (Alsatian)

German Shepherd Dog of British Lines (Alsatian)

Nowadays, it’s very hard to find German Shepherds of pure East German, Czechoslovakian or British Lines; in fact, even finding pictures of true representatives of these lines is difficult. To illustrate the fact that these lines have physical characteristics which clearly identify their origin, some of the pictures I’ve used in this article are from the mid to late nineteen hundreds, when these lines were unaltered. The German Shepherd dog has developed in many different ways since it’s creation and it will continue to; hopefully for the better.

On my next post I will explain how to find the right German Shepherd puppy for you.

The German Shepherd Dog- Show Lines and Working Lines

A few weeks ago I wrote an article in which I explained that there are many types within the German Shepherd dog breed and that these types can be separated into two categories; dogs which have physical characteristics that exhibit their intended purpose and dogs who by their physical traits display their place of origin. In this post I will talk about the first case, which are the differences between Show Lines (or High Lines) and Working Lines.

There are many differences between these two types of German Shepherds, but the most noticeable one is their physical conformation. The physical conformation of German Shepherd dogs from Show Bloodlines is much closer to the ideal described in the breed standard, while German Shepherds from Working Bloodlines are bred with emphasis in their aptitude for the job, rather than in their physical conformation.

German Shepherds from Show Bloodlines recognized by the FCI are very consistent in type. A good German Shepherd dog from Show Bloodlines is a strikingly beautiful dog. Show line German Shepherds tend to be larger, more angulated and brighter in color than Working Line dogs. They are predominantly black and red and exhibit a fluid trot and sound temperament which is usually softer than that of Working Bloodline German Shepherds.

A Few Examples of German Shepherd Dogs from Show Bloodlines:

German Shepherd Dog from Show Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Show Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Show Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Show Bloodlines

A mayor misconception among the German Shepherd dog enthusiasts and even some breeders and trainers is that German Shepherds from Show Lines are only bred for conformation and are unable to work as efficiently as German Shepherds from Working Lines. This is not entirely true.

Let’s clarify this. The German Shepherd Show Line is the most popular breed type in Germany. It’s true that they are bred for competition in the show ring, but they must also have working titles. They compete world wide under the German SV system, which requires working titles of show and breeding dogs. Germans take great pride in their breed, thus they make sure that the dogs they breed are the best and they have very strict rules when it comes to breeding. All breeding stock is required to pass a hip certification and prior to breeding each dog must have at least a Schutzhund I title and pass an endurance test; and a courage test at each national show where they compete.

Representatives of this line can be successful show dogs, but they can also perform as herding dogs, service dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs and sport dogs, and they make exceptional family companions and protectors. However, many show line dogs lack the energy and the nerves required of true protection dogs. Their energy and their nerves are what separate them from the working line dogs.

German Shepherds from Working Bloodlines on the other hand are bred mainly for their working traits rather than their appearance, thus the appearance of these dogs varies a lot. Although powerful and athletic, they are less likely to show the refined conformation typical of show lines; still, many due show excellent structure. They are oftentimes sable, but also come in a series of different colors. They can be black and tans, saddle backs, bi colors, solid blacks and pretty much every other color except white.

A Few Examples of Working Bloodline German Shepherds:

German Shepherd Dog from Working Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Working Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Working Bloodlines

German Shepherd Dog from Working Bloodlines

Working Line German Shepherds also have more drive than the average Show Line German Shepherd dog. They are normally more energetic than Show Line German Shepherds and have a stable though stronger temperament, solid nerves and great disposition. They are also generally healthier. These dogs also make wonderful family companions, although some show more drive and aggression than would be wanted in a family or guide dog.

Crosses between these two types are as good or as bad as the animals used to make the cross. Generally, they do not show the extremes of either parent's type.

Both dogs make loving, caring, warm hearted friends and are great at a wide range of tasks. As I have mentioned in previous posts, one of the main things that separates the German Shepherd dog from other breeds is the fact that although there are breeds which are better at specific tasks, no other breed has mastered such a large array of skills.

The German Shepherd Dog- Long Coated German Shepherds and White German Shepherds

The German Shepherd dog has many varieties and types, but some of these which many of you might be familiar with, have characteristics that are actually outside the restrictions of the breed standard; which means they are disqualifying. Let’s talk a little about two of the most common ones; the long coated German Shepherd dog and the white German Shepherd.

The Long Coated German Shepherd Dog

Long coated German Shepherds for instance, are referred to in the breed standard, but do not meet the ideal described in it. The recessive gene for long hair is present in all types of German Shepherds though. Long coated German Shepherds are in fact German Shepherd dogs, but since long hair is considered a disqualifying fault, they are not recognized as suitable specimens of the breed.

The main reason why these dogs are not accepted as suitable specimens of the breed is because long coated German Shepherds do not have an undercoat like short haired German Shepherds. Because of this, German Shepherd dogs with long coats are not waterproof. As you may remember from a previous post, I explained that German Shepherd dogs were originally developed as a a working dog and not being waterproof would be a hindrance to the dog’s working ability.

I do have to clarify though that long smooth coated German Shepherds do have an undercoat. This is still not a desired coat length, despite the dog still having an undercoat.

Nevertheless, these dogs are still being bred, mainly in North America, and some breeders are exclusively dedicated to breeding long-haired GSDs. In Europe, a separate breed club was created to promote this variation as the “Old German Shepherd”. Although many people just like the way they look, there are other reasons why people breed long coated German Shepherds, like the fact that they do not shed as much as the short haired version.

There are two types of long coats:

I- The Long Smooth Coated German Shepherd Dog

Long Smooth Coated German Shepherd Dog

This coat is not as weatherproof as the medium smooth coat. They generally have a substantially longer coat inside the ears and behind them, on the back of the forearm and in the loin area. They also have a bushy tail with a slight feathering underneath. These dogs frequently have a narrow chest and a narrow overstretched muzzle.

II- The Long Coated German Shepherd Dog

Long Coated German Shepherd Dog

This coat is significantly longer than that of the long smooth coated German Shepherd dog. It is normally very soft and parts along the back.

The White German Shepherd Dog

The white German Shepherd is another “variety” of German Shepherd dog which has a “faulty” characteristic, but is being bred in North America nowadays as a separate breed; the American White Shepherd. The white German Shepherd is a purebred German Shepherd Dog and contrary to some people’s beliefs, they are not a rare specimen, nor are they albinos; they are white coated, dark eyed dogs with black noses and pads.

The first imported German all-breed dog show was held in 1899 in Germany. Captain Max von Stephanitz and his friend, Arthur Meyer, were in search of a dog that was strong, healthy and intelligent, that had erect ears, was medium-short, had a weatherproof coat, was outgoing, had a friendly nature, high trainability and discipline. They found Hektor Linksrhein (later renamed Horand von Grafrath). Hektor carried recessive white genes.

At that time many herdsmen preferred dogs with white coats. They were easier to distinguish from the darker European wolves. Thus, with Hektor as the foundation dog, one factor that was enhanced was the white coat.

White German Shepherd Dog

In 1912, Anne Tracy imported the first German Shepherds into the United States and white puppies immediately started to show up in the first litters. In 1917 the first white German Shepherds from Anne Tracy’s kennel were registered in the American Kennel Club. In 1921 Captain Max von Stephanitz published his book "The German Shepherd Dog", which included a photo of a white German Shepherd dog, who was a direct descendant of Hektor.

In February 1933 Hitler declared a state of emergency and the German Nazi party took control over all aspects of German society, including the German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany. After the breed club came under their control and the death of Max von Stephanitz in 1936, white coats were made a disqualification in the breed standard. Hitler thought that the white genes brought about color fading in colored dogs. Now we know that the color fading gene is a different gene to the white recessive gene, but at that time this was not known, so in the years after WWII German breeders repopulated the breed and the standard remained unchanged.

Although in America many white German Shepherds proved to be great in obedience trials throughout the 1950's and gained increasing popularity in the 60's, friction developed between the breeders of the standard German Shepherd dog and the fanatics of the white-coated German Shepherds. Some genetic problems that appeared in the breed were erroneously blamed on the white coat gene and Germany campaigned to outlaw the white color.

One of the genetic problems blamed on the white coat was again the fading or "washing out" of the darker dogs’ color, which has been refuted many times by breeders and geneticists since then. The long held belief that the white gene is linked to biological problems has no foundation. As a matter of fact, if American White Shepherds have any “fault”, it's more likely to be a temperament fault. American White Shepherds are usually bred to have a softer, more mellow, more sensitive personality than traditionally colored German Shepherds and they tend to be timid.

In 1964, fanciers of the white German Shepherd dog in Sacramento, California formed the first White German Shepherd Dog Club in order to protect these dogs. In 1969, white German Shepherd dog fanciers across the country got together and following the lead of the Sacramento group formed The White German Shepherd Dog Club of America. The organization accepted and adjusted the GSDCA breed standard to allow the white coat color. Soon after, specialty shows sponsored by The White German Shepherd Dog Club of America began displaying the white-coated dog to the public.

The German Shepherd dog breed also has many varieties and types which are consistent with the standard of the breed and I will talk about them in future posts.

The German Shepherd Dog- Varieties, Types and Related Breeds

Varieties Within the German Shepherd Dog Breed

In previous articles I explained how the clubs that regulate the breeding of purebred dogs in the world are organized; specifically the clubs that control the breeding of German Shepherd dogs. I also explained the differences between two of the main lines within the German Shepherd dog breed; the German Shepherd dog of German lines and the German Shepherd dog of American lines. It is equally important to clarify that in reality, the German Shepherd dog is just one. According to the breed standard written by the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), the German Shepherd dog can have variations in structure within a certain range, being the color, probably the most obvious varying characteristic to the untrained eye. Any variation outside the provisions of the breed standard is disqualifying. Long-haired German Shepherds for instance, although referred to in the breed standard, do not meet the ideal described in it. Thus, despite the fact that long-haired German Shepherd dogs are German Shepherds, they are not suitable specimens of the breed. Long hair is considered a disqualifying fault. Despite this, there are breeders (mainly in North America) that breed them, and some breeders are exclusively dedicated to breeding long-haired German Shepherd dogs.

There are also types within the breed which can be separated into two categories; dogs which have certain physical characteristics that manifest the intended purpose of the dog and dogs who by their physical characteristics divulge their place of origin. In the first case, I’m talking about the obvious differences between Show Lines (also called High Lines) and Working Lines. Basically, the physical conformation of German Shepherd dogs from Show Bloodlines is much closer to the ideal described in the breed standard, and German Shepherds of Working Bloodlines are bred putting more emphasis in their disposition for the job, than in their physical structure. In the second case, I’m talking about the different types of German Shepherds that come from different parts of the world. Some examples of German Shepherds from various areas are: West German, East German (DDR), Czechoslovakian (Czech), British (Alsatians), etc. All these dogs have types which are characteristic of their place of origin, but all, although some more than others, comply with the characteristics specified in the German Shepherd dog breed standard.

New Breeds Developed from the German Shepherd Dog 

On the other hand, we have the White "German Shepherd", or American White Shepherd, which having a color that is not acceptable under the standard, is not bred in Germany. However, in the United States there are breeders that are exclusively dedicated to their breeding. This has led them to evolve separately from the original German Shepherd dog, so that they no longer share a number of characteristics of the breed and should not be called German Shepherds.

Currently, there are even other dog breeds and even wolf "hybrids", which were created using the German Shepherd dog as a foundation. Some examples are: the Shiloh Shepherd, the King Shepherd, the American Tundra Shepherd and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog.

In future posts I will write a little more about some of these varieties and types within the German Shepherd dog breed.

The German Shepherd Dog- Tattoos

Lately, I have been writing a third part to my article about the different lines within the German Shepherd dog breed, where I will mention other varieties within the breed and some breeds which have developed from it.

I recently got a little sidetracked when I joined a couple German Shepherd dog forums and after discussing the fact that GSDs are tattooed and getting so many answers from owners, breeders and fans of these breed which had no idea how this worked and in many cases doubted the fact that these dogs had to be tattooed, I thought it was probably a good idea to write about this now, and continue with the other article in a few days.

Let’s clarify a few things first. All German Shepherd dogs that were born in the United States on or after January 1st 2005 must have a tattoo, preferably in the right ear; or microchip identification. They should be at least five numbers or letters, or any combination of numbers and letters. Tattoos may be a unique tattoo number of the owner's choice, or a 7-digit tattoo may be obtained from the USA organizations. These tattoos must be verified by a licensed veterinarian and the tattoo or microchip number must be certified on their original 4-generation pedigree. The purpose of this is to record the permanent identification of all German Shepherd Dogs born in the United States.

All over the world (except for very few countries, including the US) national registries abide by the rules set by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale); which is a world canine organization whose main objective is to promote and preserve purebred dogs and links all dog clubs worldwide in order to have uniform breed standards.

The SV (Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde- the German Shepherd Dog Club in Germany) which is the parent club of the breed and the largest and most active breed-specific club in the world is a member of the WUSV (World Union of SV's) and the WUSV in turn is a member of the FCI. The WUSV mainly serves as a link to the SV in Germany and connects other German Shepherd clubs around the world to the FCI.

Due to the fact that the AKC doesn't follow the rules set by the FCI, the USA (United Schutzhund Clubs of America) is the main entity in the US dedicated to protecting and preserving the German Shepherd dog. Through its WUSV membership, the USA has established itself as the only German Shepherd breed registry in the US that complies with international (FCI) rules and promotes an SV/USA registry. The USA requires that all dogs are tattooed between six and eight weeks of age.

If a GSD is only registered in the AKC it probably doesn't require a tattoo, but as I have mentioned in previous posts, German Shepherd dogs that are not registered in a national registry that abides by the rules of the FCI haven’t necessarily been bred according to the breed's standard.

The reason why the German Shepherd dog is still one of the world's most popular breeds after more than 100 years is because of rules like this, which help make sure that all German Shepherds are bred according to the breed's standard.

The German Shepherd Dog- Breed Standard

Planned breeding of the German Shepherd dog started in 1899. The German Shepherd dog breed was created using the different types of sheepdogs existent at that time in Central and Southern Germany as the basis for the breed, with the intention of developing a high performance dog.

In order to achieve this objective the German Shepherd dog breed Standard was established. The breed standard describes the German Shepherd dog’s physical structure, psychological characteristics and temperament. The standard was edited in accordance to what was established officially by the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) and based on what was proposed by A. Meyer and von Stephanitz. It was originally developed in the first meeting of the members of the society in Frankfurt-Main, on September 20th 1899 and in the coming years it experienced some modifications.

General Appearance and Character

The German Shepherd dog is a strong, deep-bodied, medium sized dog, slightly longer than tall, the bones are dry and the structure firm. The characteristics of the German Shepherd are strongly marked and the masculinity of the male and femininity of the female must be evident.

With the hair pressed down, the height at the withers is measured by stick along the vertical as it follows the line of the elbow from the withers to the ground. The ideal height at the withers is 62.5 cm (24.6 in) for males and 57.5 cm (22.6 in) for females; 2.5 cm (1 in) either above or below the ideal are permissible. Exceeding the maximum as well as not meeting the minimum decreases the working and breeding value of the dog.

In general, the German Shepherd dog must offer the observer a picture of rugged strength, intelligence and agility. When in motion it must carry itself with ease and subtleness, but at the same time displaying great stamina.

Although very energetic, the German Shepherd dog must also be obedient, easily trainable, cooperative, and must adapt to every situation and work willingly and joyfully. It must be well balanced and undisturbed (except in irritating or stimulating circumstances) and must have a strong fighting drive and strength of character. The German Shepherd dog must show courage and hardness in defending its handler and its property. It must be a fully attentive, obedient and a pleasant household companion. The GSD should be kind to children and other animals, and composed in his contact with people. All in all, it must give a harmonious picture of natural nobility and self-confidence.

Head

The head is shaped like a wedge and should be proportional to the size of the body and not coarse, over refined or overstretched. The general appearance should be dry with moderate breadth between the ears (in length approximately 40% of the height at the withers). The width of the forehead is close in size to the length. When viewed from the front or the side it’s only slightly arched. It should not have a center crease or only a slightly defined one. When viewed from above, the skull narrows gradually and evenly from the ears to the tip of the nose, with a gradual slope rather than a sharply defined stop and into a wedge-shaped muzzle. The upper and lower jaws must be strongly developed. The bridge of the nose must be straight and runs almost parallel to the forehead. The muzzle is strong and black in color, the lips dark, firm, dry and should close tightly.

Dentition

Dentition must be strong, healthy, and complete (42 teeth, 20 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower jaw). The German Shepherd dog has a scissors bite, which means the incisors of the upper jaw cover the incisors of the lower jaw in close contact.

An undershot or overshot bite is a fault, as well as large gaps between the teeth. A level bite (when the incisors close on a straight line) is also a fault. The jaws must be strongly developed so that the teeth may be deeply rooted.

Eyes

The eyes are of medium size, almond shaped, somewhat slanting and never protruding. The color of the eyes should blend with the color of the coat and always be as dark as possible. They should have self-confident, lively and intelligent expression; defiant when in the presence of a stranger.

Ears

The ears are of medium size, upright, wide at the base and set high. They narrow to a point and are carried facing forward and vertically. Tipped, cropped and hanging ears are a fault. The ears of puppies and young dogs sometimes drop or pull toward each other and this can last until they’re six months of age and sometimes longer. During motion or at rest, many dogs draw their ears back; which is not considered a fault.

Neck

The neck should be strong with well-developed muscles and without looseness of the skin. The neck is carried at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal. It is carried higher when excited and lower when trotting.

Body

The length of the body should exceed the height at the withers by about 10 to 17%. Dogs whose length is too short, appear to be square or are too tall are undesirable. The back is straight and strongly developed, but not too long between the withers and the croup. The top-line should run uninterrupted from the base of the neck, over the withers and a slightly slanted back towards the croup which is slightly slanted too. The withers must be long and pretty high, sloping slightly from front to rear, well defined against the back into which it gently blends without breaking the top-line. The croup is long and slightly angled (approximately 23 degrees to the horizontal) and must reach the base of the tail with no interruptions of the top-line. The rib cage extends far back so that the loins are relatively short. The loins must be wide, strong and well muscled. The chest is deep (approximately 45 to 48% of the height at the withers) but not too wide. The under chest should be pronounced and as long as possible. The ribs should be well formed and long, neither barrel shaped nor too flat. The abdomen should be moderately tucked up.

Tail

The tail is bushy and has slightly longer hairs on its lower area. It should at least reach the hock joint but not extend beyond the middle of the metatarsus. At rest the tail is carried in a gentle curve. Sometimes the tail forms a hook to one side at its end, which is undesirable. When the dog is excited or in motion, the tail is curved more and carried higher, but should never be raised past the vertical.

Forequarters

The forearm when viewed from all sides must be straight and when viewed from the front absolutely parallel. The bones of the upper arm and forearm must be the same length and firmly attached to the body by well-developed muscles. The angle between the shoulder blade and the arm must be approximately 90 degrees, which is ideal, but can be up to 110 degrees. The elbows must not be turned in nor turned out, neither when the dog is at rest or moving. They shouldn’t be too close or too far from the chest either. The length of the metacarpus is approximately one third of the forearm and the angle between the two is approximately 20 to 22 degrees. The length of the leg bones should exceed the depth of the chest (approximately 55%).

Front Feet

The feet are relatively round, firm, tightly formed and arched. The pads are hard, but not chapped. The nails are strong and of a dark color.

Hindquarters

The hindquarters must be powerful and well muscled to be capable of carrying the body effortlessly forward during motion. The thighs must be broad and well muscled. Viewed from the back the hindquarters must be parallel to each other. The upper thigh bone should be slightly shorter than the lower thigh bone and form an angle of approximately 120 degrees. The hock is strong and firm. The metacarpus is situated under de hock and is perpendicular to it.

Hind Feet

The feet are relatively round, firm, tightly formed and arched. The pads are hard, but not chapped. The nails are strong and of a dark color. Dewclaws sometimes appear on the hind legs and should be removed within the first few days of birth.

Coat

There are three coat varieties within the German Shepherd dog breed, but the only correct coat is the medium smooth one.

I- The Medium Smooth Coated German Shepherd Dog

The outer coat should be as thick as possible. Individual hairs are straight, coarse and lie flat against the body. The coat must be short on the head, the ears, the front of the legs, the feet and the toes, but it should be thicker and longer on the neck. Hair grows a little longer on the back of the front legs and hind legs, down to the pastern and the hock joint. The length of the hair varies, and because of this, there are many intermediate forms. A coat that is too short is faulty.

II- The Long Smooth Coated German Shepherd Dog

Individual hairs are longer. They are not always straight and they lie close to the body. The coat is substantially longer inside and behind the ears, on the back of the forearm and sometimes in the loin area. Sometimes there will be tufts in the ears and feathering from the elbow to the pastern. The breeching along the thigh is long and thick. The tail is bushy and has a slight feathering underneath. This long smooth coat is not as weatherproof as the medium smooth coat, consequently it is undesirable. In some cases, when there is enough undercoat, it may be passed for breeding as long as the breed regulations of the country allow it.

Long smooth coated German Shepherd dogs frequently have a narrow chest and a narrow overstretched muzzle.

III- The Long Coated German Shepherd Dog

This coat is considerably longer than that of the long smooth coated GSD. It is typically very soft and forms a parting along the back. There will commonly be an undercoat in the region of the loins or there will none at all. Long coats have weakened weatherproofing and utility and therefore are undesirable.

Angulation and Movement

The German Shepherd dog is a trotter. His gait displays a diagonal movement, which means that the hind foot and the forefoot on opposite sides move simultaneously. Therefore, the limbs must be similarly proportioned to one another. This way, as the action of the rear carries through to the middle of the body, it is matched by an equally far reaching forehand and causes no fundamental change in the top line. The correct proportion of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a gait that is low to the ground and conveys an impression of effortless progression. With his head thrust forward and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter will have a top line that exhibits moderate curves from the tip of the ears, over the neck and levels back through the tip of the tail.

The height to length ratio and the placement and structure of the limbs (angulation) are very balanced and give the dog that a far reaching, effortless trot. Overangulation of the rear quarters diminishes soundness and endurance.

A pleasing appearance is desired as long as the working ability of the dog is not called into question.

Temperament, Character and Abilities

A purebred German Shepherd dog has some outstanding characteristics, such as; self-confidence, sound nerves, alertness, watchfulness, trainability, loyalty, incorruptibility, fighting drive, courage and hardness. These characteristics make him suitable to be a superior working dog in general, as well as a multi-purpose track and search dog, herding dog, guard and protection dog and the ultimate companion.

Color

There are many color options in the German Shepherd dog breed. It may have a black saddle with regular markings in red, brown, tan or light gray. It may be dark sable, black, uniform gray or have light or brown markings. Small white markings on the chest or a very light color on the insides of the legs are accepted, but not desired. The nose must be black with all coat colors. Dogs with little or no masks, yellow or strikingly light eyes, light markings on the chest and insides of the legs, white nails, a red tip on the tail or washed out weak colors are considered lacking in pigment. The undercoat or base hair is always light gray or fawn, with the exception of black dogs. The final color of a puppy is only determined when the outer coat completely develops.

Faults

Faults include anything that decreases the dog’s working versatility or stamina, especially the absence of sexual characteristics, or temperament traits inconsistent with the German Shepherd dog such as; shyness, apathy, lack of vitality, unwillingness to work, weak nerves, or over excitability. A soft or flabby constitution, or a lack of substance; over and under sized dogs; dogs with stunted growth; high-legged dogs; dogs with an overloaded fore chest; disproportionately short dogs, dogs that are too refined or with an inferior build; a soft back; a placement of the limbs which is too steep and anything that decreases the reach and endurance of gait; fading pigmentation; blue dogs, albinos and white German Shepherds; monorchids, cryptorchids, or dogs with testicles that are too small; a muzzle that is too short, blunt, weak, pointed, narrow or lacks strength; an over or undershot bite, or any other faults of dentition, especially weak or worn teeth; a coat that is too soft, too short, or too long; a lack of undercoat; hanging ears, a permanently faulty ear carriage, or cropped ears; a ringed tail, curled tail, docked tail, naturally short tail, or generally faulty tail set.
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