The first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong, agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep-bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curves rather than angles. It looks substantial and not spindly, giving the impression, both at rest and in motion, of muscular fitness and nimbleness without any look of clumsiness or soft living. The ideal dog is stamped with a look of quality and nobility--difficult to define, but unmistakable when present. Secondary sex characteristics are strongly marked, and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex. Our goal as a breeder is to breed a line of German Shepherds, healthy, performance oriented, as well as a working dog and in the family a champion to all , good with children and adults alike. We are striving to get a line started that look well, with sound nerves, good drives correct in posture as well as structure,and a strong desire to serve their owner. I don't know at this point if one of my dogs will ever win a championship, but we are going to strive to get to that place were they will be that good. Our dogs will be well trained in tracking, Herding Carting, fly ball Frisbee, They are all AKC registered. And will be CKC registered. Our stud dog's daddy is a police guard dog. And all are guaranteed against Hip dyspepsia.
|
| The German Shepherd Dog Information |
pressed down, the height at the Withers is measured with a 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 about 63 cm for males and 6o cm for females . To not come to or to be
over that height is to diminish the breeding value of the dog. The German Shepherd is long,strong and well muscled. The bones
are dry, and the structure firm. The ratio of height to length and the placement and the structure of the limbs (Angulation) are so
balanced that a far-reching, effortless trot is guaranteed.
They have a weatherproof coat. A pleasing appearance as long as the working of the dog is not hindered. The sex characteristics
must be pronounced. The Masculinity of the males and the femininity of the females must be unmistakable. The German
Shepherd that corresponds to the standard offers the observer a picture of rugged strength intelligence and agility, over all
proportions are neither in excess or deficient in any way..
The way he moves and behaves leaves no doubt that he is sound in mind and body.
He possesses physical and mental traits that render possible an every ready working dog. He must also be cooperative,
adapting to every situation and take to work willingly an joyfully. He must show courage and hardness as the situation requires,
defending his handler and his property, but otherwise being fully attentive,obedient and pleasant to be around. He should show a
natural nobility and self confidence.
In 1889 Captain Max von Stephanitz began the standardization of the breed. It all started at a dog show in Karlsruhe in western
Germany. A medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog caught his attention. The dog was of the primal canine type, supple and
powerful, and possessed endurance, steadiness, and intelligence. He was a working sheepherder, born with this ability,
requiring no training other than direction and finish to become proficient at the task. This dog, Hektor Linksrhein, was purchased
by von Stephanitz, renamed Horand von Grafrath, and became the first registered German Shepherd Dog. stephanmax.jpg
2) Angulation and Movement The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter. His gait exhibits diagonal movement, i.e., the hind foot and
the forefoot on opposite sides move simultaneously. The limbs, therefore, must be so similarly proportioned to one another, i.e.
angulated, that the action of the rear as it carries through to the middle of the body and is matched by an equally far-reaching
forehand causes no essential change in the topline. Every tendency toward over angulation of the rear quarters diminishes
soundness and endurance. The correct proportions of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a
ground-eating gait that is low to the ground and imparts an impression of effortless progression. With his head thrust forward
and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter will have a topline that falls in moderate curves from the tip of the ears over
the neck and level back through the tip of the tail.
3) Temperament, Character and Abilities Sound nerves, alertness, self-confidence, trainability, watchfulness, loyalty and
incorruptibility, as well as courage, fighting drive and hardness, are the outstanding characteristics of a purebred German
Shepherd Dog. They make his suitable to be a superior working dog in general, and in particular to be a guard, companion,
protection and herding dog. His ample scenting abilities, added to his conformation as a trotter, make it possible for him to
quietly and surely work out a track without bodily strain and with his nose close to the ground. This makes him highly useful as a
multipurpose track and search dog.
4) Head The head should be in proportion to the body size (in length approximately 40% of the height at the withers) and not
coarse, over refined or over stretched (snippy). In general appearance, it should be dry with moderate breadth between the ears.
The forehead when viewed from the front or side is only slightly arched. It should be without a center furrow or with only a slightly
defined furrow. The cheeks form a gentle curve laterally without protrusion toward the front. When viewed from above, the skull
(approximately 50% of the entire head length) tapers gradually and evenly from the ears to the tip of the nose, with a sloping
rather than a sharply defined stop and into a long, dry wedge-shaped muzzle (the upper and lower jaws must be
strongly developed.) The width of the skull should correspond approximately to the length of the skull. Also, a slight oversize in
the case of males or undersize in the case of females is not objectionable. The muzzle is strong; the lips are firm and dry and
close tightly. The bridge of the nose is straight and runs nearly parallel with the plane of the forehead.
5) Dentition Dentition must be healthy, strong and complete (42 teeth, 20 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower jaw). The German
Shepherd Dog has a scissors bite, e.g. the incisors must meet each other in a scissors like fashion, with the outer surface of the
incisors of the lower jaw sliding next to the inner surface of the incisors of the upper jaw. An undershot or overshot bite is faulty,
as are large gaps between the teeth. A level bite is faulty, as the incisors close on a straight line. The jaws must be strongly
developed so that the teeth may be deeply rooted.
6) Ears The ears are of medium size, wide at the base and set high. They taper to a point and are carried facing forward and
vertically (the tips not inclined toward each other). Tipped, cropped and hanging ears are rejected. Ears drawn toward each other
greatly impair the general appearance. The ears of puppies and young dogs sometimes drop or pull toward each other during
the teething period, which can last until six months of age and sometimes longer.
Many dogs draw their ears back during motion or at rest. This is not faulty.
7) Eyes The eyes are of medium size, almond shaped, somewhat slanting and not protruding. The color of the eyes should
blend with the color of the coat. They should be as dark as possible. They should have a lively, intelligent and self-confident
expression.
8) Neck The neck should be strong with well-developed muscles and without looseness of the throat skin (dewlaps). The neck is
carried at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal. It is carried higher when excited and lower when trotting.
9) Body The body length should exceed the height at the withers. It should amount to about 110 to 117% of the height at the
withers. Dogs with a short, square or tall build are undesirable. The chest is deep (approximately 45 to 48% of the height at the
withers) but not too wide. The under side of the chest should be as long as possible and pronounced. The ribs should be well
formed and long, neither barrel shaped nor too flat. They should reach the sternum, which is at the same level as the elbows. A
correctly formed rib cage allows the elbows freedom of movement when the dogs trots. A too round rib cage disrupts the motion
of the elbows and causes them to turn out. A too flat rib cage draws the elbows in toward one another. The rib cage extends far
back so that the loins are relatively short. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The back, including the loins, is straight and
strongly developed yet not too long between the withers and the croup. The withers must be long and high, sloping slightly from
front to rear, defined against the back into which it gently blends without breaking the topline. The loins must be wide, strong and
well muscled. The croup is long and slightly angled (approximately 23 degrees). The ileum and the sacrum are the foundation
bones of the croup. Short, steep or flat croup are undesirable.
10) Tail he tail is bushy and should reach at least to the hock join but not beyond the middle of the hocks. Sometimes the tail
forms a hook to one side at its end, though this is undesirable. At rest the tail is carried in a gentle downward curve, but when the
dog is excited or in motion, it is curved more and carried higher. The tail should never be raised past the vertical. The tail,
therefore, should not be carried straight or curled over the back.
Docked tails are inadmissible.
11) Forequarters The shoulder blade should be long with an oblique placement (the angle at 45 degrees) and lying flat against
the body. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade in an approximate right angle. The upper arm as well as the shoulder must be
strong and well muscled. The forearm must be straight when viewed from all sides. The bones of the upper arm and forearm are
more oval than round. The pasterns should be firm but neither too steep nor too down in pastern (Approximately 20 degrees).
The elbows must be neither turned in nor turned out. the length of the leg bones should exceed the depth of the chest
(approximately 55%).
12) Hindquarters The thigh is broad and well muscled. The upper thigh bone when viewed from the side joins the only slightly
longer lower thigh bone at an angle of approximately 120 degrees. The angulation corresponds roughly to the forequarter
angulation without being overangulated. The hock joint is strong and firm. The hock is strong and forms a firm joint with the lower
thigh. The entire hindquarters must be strong and well muscled to be capable of carrying the body effortlessly forward during
motion.
13) Feet The feet are relatively round, short, tightly formed and arched. The pads are very hard, but not chapped. The nails are
short, strong and of a dark color. Dew claws sometime appear on the hind legs and should be removed within the first few days
of birth.
14) Color Color should be black with regular markings in brown, tan to light gray, also with a black saddle, dark sable (black
cover on a gray or light brown case with corresponding lighter marks), black, uniform gray or with light or brown markings. Small
white markings on the forechest or a very light color on the insides of the legs are permissible though 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 and a red tip of the tail or washed out weak colors are considered lacking in pigment.) The
undercoat or base hair is always light gray, with the exception of that on black dogs. the final color of a puppy is only determined
when the outer coat completely develops.
15) Coat a) The medium smooth coated German Shepherd Dog The outer coat should be as thick as possible. The individual
hairs are straight, coarse and lying flat against the body. The coat is short on the head inclusive of the ears, the front of the legs,
the feet and the toes but longer and thicker on the neck. The hair grows longer on the back of the fore- and hind legs as far down
as the pastern and the hock joint, forming moderate breaching on the thighs. the length of the hair varies, and due to these
differences in length, there are many intermediate forms. A too short or mole like coat is faulty.
thick. The tail is bushy with slight feathering underneath. the long-smooth-coat is not as weatherproof as the thick. The tail is
bushy with slight feathering underneath. the long-smooth-coat is not as weatherproof as the medium-smooth-coat and is
therefore undesirable; however, provided there is sufficient undercoat, it may be passed for breeding, as long as the breed
regulations of the country allow it. With the long smooth coated German Shepherd Dog, a narrow chest and narrow over
stretched muzzle are frequently found.
chest and narrow over stretched muzzle are frequently found.
c) The long coated German Shepherd Dog The coat is considerably longer than that of the long-smooth-coat. It is generally very
soft and forms a parting along the back. The undercoat will be found in the region of the loins or will not be present at all. A long
coat is greatly diminished in weatherproofing and utility and therefore is undesirable.
Faults Faults include anything that impairs working versatility, endurance and working competency, especially lack of sex
characteristics and temperament traits contrary to the German Shepherd Dog such as apathy, weak nerves or overexcitability,
shyness; lack of vitality or willingness to work; monorchids and cryptorchids and testicles too small; a soft or flabby constitution
and a lack of substance; fading pigment; blues, albinos (with complete lack of pigmentation, e.g. pink nose, etc.) and whites
(near to pure white with black nose); over and under size; stunted growth; high-legged dogs and those with an overloaded
forechest; a disproportionately short, too refined or coarse build; a soft back, too steep a placement of the limbs and anything
depreciating the reach and endurance of gait; a muzzle that is too short, blunt, weak , pointed or narrow and 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, curled or generally faulty tail set; a
docked tail (stumpy) or a naturally short tail.
The above standard was approved and put into effect for the countries and clubs of the FCI. The name of the breed is the
German Shepherd Dog. The country of origin is Germany.
Withers to the ground. The ideal height at the Withers , is about 63 cm for males and 6o cm for females . To not come to or to be
over that height is to diminish the breeding value of the dog. The German Shepherd is long,strong and well muscled. The bones
are dry, and the structure firm. The ratio of height to length and the placement and the structure of the limbs (Angulation) are so
balanced that a far-reching, effortless trot is guaranteed.
They have a weatherproof coat. A pleasing appearance as long as the working of the dog is not hindered. The sex characteristics
must be pronounced. The Masculinity of the males and the femininity of the females must be unmistakable. The German
Shepherd that corresponds to the standard offers the observer a picture of rugged strength intelligence and agility, over all
proportions are neither in excess or deficient in any way..
The way he moves and behaves leaves no doubt that he is sound in mind and body.
He possesses physical and mental traits that render possible an every ready working dog. He must also be cooperative,
adapting to every situation and take to work willingly an joyfully. He must show courage and hardness as the situation requires,
defending his handler and his property, but otherwise being fully attentive,obedient and pleasant to be around. He should show a
natural nobility and self confidence.
In 1889 Captain Max von Stephanitz began the standardization of the breed. It all started at a dog show in Karlsruhe in western
Germany. A medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog caught his attention. The dog was of the primal canine type, supple and
powerful, and possessed endurance, steadiness, and intelligence. He was a working sheepherder, born with this ability,
requiring no training other than direction and finish to become proficient at the task. This dog, Hektor Linksrhein, was purchased
by von Stephanitz, renamed Horand von Grafrath, and became the first registered German Shepherd Dog. stephanmax.jpg
2) Angulation and Movement The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter. His gait exhibits diagonal movement, i.e., the hind foot and
the forefoot on opposite sides move simultaneously. The limbs, therefore, must be so similarly proportioned to one another, i.e.
angulated, that the action of the rear as it carries through to the middle of the body and is matched by an equally far-reaching
forehand causes no essential change in the topline. Every tendency toward over angulation of the rear quarters diminishes
soundness and endurance. The correct proportions of height to length and corresponding length of the leg bones results in a
ground-eating gait that is low to the ground and imparts an impression of effortless progression. With his head thrust forward
and a slightly raised tail, a balanced and even trotter will have a topline that falls in moderate curves from the tip of the ears over
the neck and level back through the tip of the tail.
3) Temperament, Character and Abilities Sound nerves, alertness, self-confidence, trainability, watchfulness, loyalty and
incorruptibility, as well as courage, fighting drive and hardness, are the outstanding characteristics of a purebred German
Shepherd Dog. They make his suitable to be a superior working dog in general, and in particular to be a guard, companion,
protection and herding dog. His ample scenting abilities, added to his conformation as a trotter, make it possible for him to
quietly and surely work out a track without bodily strain and with his nose close to the ground. This makes him highly useful as a
multipurpose track and search dog.
4) Head The head should be in proportion to the body size (in length approximately 40% of the height at the withers) and not
coarse, over refined or over stretched (snippy). In general appearance, it should be dry with moderate breadth between the ears.
The forehead when viewed from the front or side is only slightly arched. It should be without a center furrow or with only a slightly
defined furrow. The cheeks form a gentle curve laterally without protrusion toward the front. When viewed from above, the skull
(approximately 50% of the entire head length) tapers gradually and evenly from the ears to the tip of the nose, with a sloping
rather than a sharply defined stop and into a long, dry wedge-shaped muzzle (the upper and lower jaws must be
strongly developed.) The width of the skull should correspond approximately to the length of the skull. Also, a slight oversize in
the case of males or undersize in the case of females is not objectionable. The muzzle is strong; the lips are firm and dry and
close tightly. The bridge of the nose is straight and runs nearly parallel with the plane of the forehead.
5) Dentition Dentition must be healthy, strong and complete (42 teeth, 20 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower jaw). The German
Shepherd Dog has a scissors bite, e.g. the incisors must meet each other in a scissors like fashion, with the outer surface of the
incisors of the lower jaw sliding next to the inner surface of the incisors of the upper jaw. An undershot or overshot bite is faulty,
as are large gaps between the teeth. A level bite is faulty, as the incisors close on a straight line. The jaws must be strongly
developed so that the teeth may be deeply rooted.
6) Ears The ears are of medium size, wide at the base and set high. They taper to a point and are carried facing forward and
vertically (the tips not inclined toward each other). Tipped, cropped and hanging ears are rejected. Ears drawn toward each other
greatly impair the general appearance. The ears of puppies and young dogs sometimes drop or pull toward each other during
the teething period, which can last until six months of age and sometimes longer.
Many dogs draw their ears back during motion or at rest. This is not faulty.
7) Eyes The eyes are of medium size, almond shaped, somewhat slanting and not protruding. The color of the eyes should
blend with the color of the coat. They should be as dark as possible. They should have a lively, intelligent and self-confident
expression.
8) Neck The neck should be strong with well-developed muscles and without looseness of the throat skin (dewlaps). The neck is
carried at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal. It is carried higher when excited and lower when trotting.
9) Body The body length should exceed the height at the withers. It should amount to about 110 to 117% of the height at the
withers. Dogs with a short, square or tall build are undesirable. The chest is deep (approximately 45 to 48% of the height at the
withers) but not too wide. The under side of the chest should be as long as possible and pronounced. The ribs should be well
formed and long, neither barrel shaped nor too flat. They should reach the sternum, which is at the same level as the elbows. A
correctly formed rib cage allows the elbows freedom of movement when the dogs trots. A too round rib cage disrupts the motion
of the elbows and causes them to turn out. A too flat rib cage draws the elbows in toward one another. The rib cage extends far
back so that the loins are relatively short. The abdomen is moderately tucked up. The back, including the loins, is straight and
strongly developed yet not too long between the withers and the croup. The withers must be long and high, sloping slightly from
front to rear, defined against the back into which it gently blends without breaking the topline. The loins must be wide, strong and
well muscled. The croup is long and slightly angled (approximately 23 degrees). The ileum and the sacrum are the foundation
bones of the croup. Short, steep or flat croup are undesirable.
10) Tail he tail is bushy and should reach at least to the hock join but not beyond the middle of the hocks. Sometimes the tail
forms a hook to one side at its end, though this is undesirable. At rest the tail is carried in a gentle downward curve, but when the
dog is excited or in motion, it is curved more and carried higher. The tail should never be raised past the vertical. The tail,
therefore, should not be carried straight or curled over the back.
Docked tails are inadmissible.
11) Forequarters The shoulder blade should be long with an oblique placement (the angle at 45 degrees) and lying flat against
the body. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade in an approximate right angle. The upper arm as well as the shoulder must be
strong and well muscled. The forearm must be straight when viewed from all sides. The bones of the upper arm and forearm are
more oval than round. The pasterns should be firm but neither too steep nor too down in pastern (Approximately 20 degrees).
The elbows must be neither turned in nor turned out. the length of the leg bones should exceed the depth of the chest
(approximately 55%).
12) Hindquarters The thigh is broad and well muscled. The upper thigh bone when viewed from the side joins the only slightly
longer lower thigh bone at an angle of approximately 120 degrees. The angulation corresponds roughly to the forequarter
angulation without being overangulated. The hock joint is strong and firm. The hock is strong and forms a firm joint with the lower
thigh. The entire hindquarters must be strong and well muscled to be capable of carrying the body effortlessly forward during
motion.
13) Feet The feet are relatively round, short, tightly formed and arched. The pads are very hard, but not chapped. The nails are
short, strong and of a dark color. Dew claws sometime appear on the hind legs and should be removed within the first few days
of birth.
14) Color Color should be black with regular markings in brown, tan to light gray, also with a black saddle, dark sable (black
cover on a gray or light brown case with corresponding lighter marks), black, uniform gray or with light or brown markings. Small
white markings on the forechest or a very light color on the insides of the legs are permissible though 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 and a red tip of the tail or washed out weak colors are considered lacking in pigment.) The
undercoat or base hair is always light gray, with the exception of that on black dogs. the final color of a puppy is only determined
when the outer coat completely develops.
15) Coat a) The medium smooth coated German Shepherd Dog The outer coat should be as thick as possible. The individual
hairs are straight, coarse and lying flat against the body. The coat is short on the head inclusive of the ears, the front of the legs,
the feet and the toes but longer and thicker on the neck. The hair grows longer on the back of the fore- and hind legs as far down
as the pastern and the hock joint, forming moderate breaching on the thighs. the length of the hair varies, and due to these
differences in length, there are many intermediate forms. A too short or mole like coat is faulty.
thick. The tail is bushy with slight feathering underneath. the long-smooth-coat is not as weatherproof as the thick. The tail is
bushy with slight feathering underneath. the long-smooth-coat is not as weatherproof as the medium-smooth-coat and is
therefore undesirable; however, provided there is sufficient undercoat, it may be passed for breeding, as long as the breed
regulations of the country allow it. With the long smooth coated German Shepherd Dog, a narrow chest and narrow over
stretched muzzle are frequently found.
chest and narrow over stretched muzzle are frequently found.
c) The long coated German Shepherd Dog The coat is considerably longer than that of the long-smooth-coat. It is generally very
soft and forms a parting along the back. The undercoat will be found in the region of the loins or will not be present at all. A long
coat is greatly diminished in weatherproofing and utility and therefore is undesirable.
Faults Faults include anything that impairs working versatility, endurance and working competency, especially lack of sex
characteristics and temperament traits contrary to the German Shepherd Dog such as apathy, weak nerves or overexcitability,
shyness; lack of vitality or willingness to work; monorchids and cryptorchids and testicles too small; a soft or flabby constitution
and a lack of substance; fading pigment; blues, albinos (with complete lack of pigmentation, e.g. pink nose, etc.) and whites
(near to pure white with black nose); over and under size; stunted growth; high-legged dogs and those with an overloaded
forechest; a disproportionately short, too refined or coarse build; a soft back, too steep a placement of the limbs and anything
depreciating the reach and endurance of gait; a muzzle that is too short, blunt, weak , pointed or narrow and 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, curled or generally faulty tail set; a
docked tail (stumpy) or a naturally short tail.
The above standard was approved and put into effect for the countries and clubs of the FCI. The name of the breed is the
German Shepherd Dog. The country of origin is Germany.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |