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German Shepherd Dog - The Breed Standard.

 

FCI-Standard-No. 166/23.12.2010/E

German Shepherd Dog

Origin: Germany/23.12.2010

FCI classification:   Group 1 - herding dogs and cattle dogs

Section 1 - herding dogs with working trial

Use: Versatile Working, Herding and Service Dog

NOTE: For the ease of understanding of our audience, we have created an interactive breed standard which can help the viewer interact with each highlighted part of the dog's anatomy to see in depth details, making the process more interesting and easier for intellectual consumption of the novice fancier or someone looking to educate themselves on the subject. Hope you enjoy the process.

Brief Historical Overview:

 

According to the official documentation of the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V. (Society for the German Shepherd Dog, “SV” for short) – legal domicile in Augsburg, Germany, member of the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH, German Kennel Club) – the "SV" as the founding club of the breed is responsible for the breed standard of the German Shepherd Dog. Established in the first General Meeting at Frankfurt/Main on the 20th of September 1899 according to suggestions by A. Meyer and Max von Stephanitz and in addition to the amendments of the 6th General Meeting on the 28th of  July 1901, the 23rd General Meeting at Cologne/Rhineland on the 17th of September 1909, the Executive Board & Advisory Board Meeting at Wiesbaden on the 5th of September 1930 and the Breeding Committee & Executive Board Meeting on 25 March 1961, revisions were resolved within the framework of the World Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs (WUSV) Meeting on 30 August 1976. Revisions and cataloged measures were resolved with the Enabling Resolution through the Executive Board and Advisory Board from 23/24 March 1991, amended through the Federal Conventions from the 25th of May 1997 and the 31st of May/1 June 2008.

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General Appearance:

 

The German Shepherd Dog is medium-size, slightly elongated, powerful and well-muscled, with dry bone and firm overall structure with clear distinction between the sexes.

 

Character:

 

The German Shepherd Dog must be well-balanced (with strong nerves) in terms of character, self-assured, absolutely natural and (except for a stimulated situation) good-natured as well as attentive and willing to please. He must possess instinctive behavior, resilience and self-assurance in order to be suitable as a companion, guard, protection, service and herding dog.

 

Dimensional Ratios:

 

The height at the withers amounts to 60 cm to 65 cm for male dogs and 55 cm to 60 cm for female dogs. The trunk length exceeds the dimension at the height at the withers by about 10 – 17 %.

THE HEAD:

Eyes, Ears, Nose, Teeth, Jaws, Lips, Expression.

Please scroll over highlighted areas for detailed explanations of each component of the head, as explained in the breed standard.

Above, are examples of expressions of the German Shepherd Dog, these images include both males and females.

Please click on the thumbnails for an enlarged view.

THE STAND:

Neck, Chest, Overline, Forequarters, Hindquarters, Croup, Underline, Tail.

Please scroll over highlighted areas for detailed explanations of each component of the body, as explained in the breed standard.

THE MOVEMENT:

Front Reach, Overline, Neck Carriage, Hind Thrust.

Please scroll over highlighted areas for detailed explanations of each component of the body, as explained in the breed standard.

 

"The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter. The limbs must be coordinated in length and angulations so that the dog can shift the hindquarters towards the trunk without any essential change of the top line and can reach just as far with the forelimbs. Any tendency towards over-angulation of the hindquarters reduces the stability and the stamina, and thereby the working ability.

 

Correct body proportions and angulations results in a gait that is far-reaching and flat over the ground which conveys the impression of effortless forward movements. The head pushed forward and the slightly raised tail result in a consistent, smooth trot showing a gently curved, uninterrupted upper line from the ear tips over the neck and back to the end of the tail."

Above, are examples of the German Shepherd Dog in motion, these images include both males and females.

Please click on the thumbnails for an enlarged view.

THE COAT

 

Skin – The skin is (loosely) fitting, but without forming any folds.

 

HAIR TEXTURE

 

Hair:

The German Shepherd Dog is bred in the hair varieties double coat and long and harsh outer coat – both with undercoat.

 

Double coat (Stock Coat):

The guard hair should be as dense as possible, particularly harsh and close fitting: short on the head, including the inside of the ears, short on the front side of the legs, paws and toes, some-what longer and more strongly covered in hair on the neck. On the back side of the legs the hair extends to the carpal joint or the hock; it forms moderate ‘trousers’ on the back side of the haunches.

Long and harsh outer coat (Long Stock Coat):

The guard hair should be long, soft and not close fitting, with tufts on the ears and legs, bushy trousers and bushy tail with downward formation of tuft. Short on the head, including the inside of the ears, on the front side of the legs, on the paws and toes, somewhat longer and more strongly covered in hair on the neck, almost forming a mane. On the back side of the legs the hair extends to the carpal joint or the hock and forms clear trousers on the back side of the haunches.

Colors:

Colors are black with reddish-brown, brown and yellow to light grey markings; single-colored black, grey with darker shading, black saddle and mask. Unobtrusive, small white marks on chest as well as very light color on insides are permissible, but not desirable. The tip of the nose must be black in all colors. Dogs with lack of mask, light to piercing eye color, as well as with light to whitish markings on the chest and the insides, pale nails and red tip of tail are considered to be lacking in pigmentation. The undercoat shows a light greyish tone.  The color white is not allowed.

Nummer-Eins German Shepherds, Virginia

teamnummereins@gmail.com

+1(614)598-7546.