General
Appearance
The first
impression
of a good
German
Shepherd Dog
is that of a
strong,
agile,
well-muscled
animal,
alert and
full of
life. It
should both
be and
appear to be
well
balanced,
with
harmonious
development
of the
forequarter
and
hindquarter.
The dog
should
appear to
the eye, and
actually be,
longer than
tall, deep
bodied, and
present an
outline of
smooth
curves
rather than
corners. It
should look
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 Shepherd
should be
stamped with
a look of
quality and
nobility,
difficult to
define but
unmistakable
when
present. The
good German
Shepherd Dog
never looks
common.
Secondary
sex
characteristics
should be
strongly
marked, and
every animal
should give
a definite
impression
of
masculinity
or
femininity,
according to
its sex.
Dogs should
be
definitely
masculine in
appearance
and
deportment;
bitches,
unmistakably
feminine,
without
weakness of
structure or
apparent
softness of
temperament.
The
condition of
the dog
should be
that of an
athlete in
good
condition,
the muscles
and flesh
firm and the
coat
lustrous.
Temperament
The breed
has a
distinct
personality
marked by a
direct and
fearless,
but not
hostile,
expression,
and
self-confidence
and a
certain
aloofness
which does
not lend
itself to
immediate
and
indiscriminate
friendships.
The Shepherd
Dog is not
one that
fawns upon
every new
acquaintance.
At the same
time, it
should be
approachable,
quietly
standing its
ground and
showing
confidence
and a
willingness
to meet
overtures
without
itself
making them.
It should be
poised, but
when the
occasion
demands,
eager and
alert, both
fit and
willing to
serve in any
capacity as
companion,
watch dog,
blind
leader,
herding dog
or guardian;
whichever
the
circumstances
may demand.
The Shepherd
Dog must not
be timid,
shrinking
behind its
master or
handler,
nervous,
looking
about or
upward with
anxious
expression
or showing
nervous
reactions to
strange
sounds or
sights, or
lackadaisical,
sluggish, or
manifestly
disinterested
in what goes
on about
him. Lack of
confidence
under any
surroundings
is not
typical of
good
character.
Cases of
extreme
timidity and
nervous
unbalance
sometimes
give the dog
an apparent,
but totally
unreal,
courage and
it becomes a
?fear
biter,?
snapping not
for any
justifiable
reason but
because it
is
apprehensive
of the
approach of
a stranger.
This is a
serious
fault
subject to
heavy
penalty.
Size
The ideal
height for
dogs is 25
inches (64
cm), and for
bitches, 23
inches (58
cm) at the
shoulder.
This height
is
established
by taking a
perpendicular
line from
the top of
the shoulder
blade to the
ground with
the coat
parted or so
pushed down
that this
measurement
will show
the only
actual
height of
the frame or
structure of
the dog. The
working
value of
dogs above
or below the
indicated
height is
proportionately
lessened,
although
variations
of an inch
(3 cm) above
or below the
ideal height
are
acceptable,
while
greater
variations
must be
considered
as faults.
Weights of
dogs of
desirable
size in
proper flesh
and
condition
average
between 75
and 85 lb.
(34 and 39
kg); and of
bitches,
between 60
and 70 lb.
(27 and 32
kg).
Coat
The Shepherd
is normally
a dog with a
double coat,
the amount
of undercoat
varying with
the season
of the year
and the
proportion
of the time
the dog
spends out
of doors. It
should,
however,
always be
present to a
sufficient
degree to
keep out
water, to
insulate
against
temperature
extremes,
and as a
protection
against
insects. The
outer coat
should be as
dense as
possible,
hair
straight,
harsh and
lying close
to the body.
A slightly
wavy outer
coat, often
of wiry
texture, is
equally
permissible.
The head,
including
the inner
ear,
foreface,
and legs and
paws are
covered with
short hair,
and the neck
with longer
and thicker
hair. The
rear of
forelegs and
hind legs
has somewhat
longer hair
extending to
the pastern
and hock
respectively.
Faults in
coat include
complete
lack of any
undercoat,
soft, silky
or too long
outer coat
and curly or
open coat.
Colour
The German
Shepherd Dog
differs
widely in
colour.
Generally
speaking,
strong, rich
colours are
to be
preferred,
with
definite
pigmentation,
and without
appearance
of a
washed-out
colour.
White dogs
are to be
disqualified.
Head
Clean-cut
and strong,
the head of
the Shepherd
is
characterized
by nobility.
It should
seem in
proportion
to the body
and should
not be
clumsy,
although a
degree of
coarseness
of head,
especially
in dogs, is
less of a
fault than
over-refinement.
A round or
domey skull
is a fault.
The muzzle
is long and
strong with
the lips
firmly
fitted, and
its topline
is usually
parallel
with an
imaginary
elongation
of the line
of the
forehead.
Seen from
the front,
the forehead
is only
moderately
arched and
the skull
slopes into
the long
wedge-shaped
muzzle
without
abrupt stop.
Jaws are
strongly
developed.
Weak and too
narrow
underjaws,
snipey
muzzles, and
no stop are
faults
Teeth: The
strong
teeth, 42 in
number (20
upper and 22
lower) are
strongly
developed
and meet in
a scissors
grip in
which part
of the inner
surface of
the upper
teeth meets
and engages
part of the
outer
surface of
the lower
teeth. This
type of bite
gives a more
powerful
grip than
one in which
the edges of
the teeth
meet
directly,
and is
subject to
less wear.
The dog is
overshot
when the
lower teeth
fail to
engage the
inner
surfaces of
the upper
teeth. This
is a serious
fault. The
reverse
condition -
an undershot
jaw - is a
very serious
fault. While
missing
premolars
are
frequently
observed,
complete
dentition is
decidedly to
be
preferred.
So-called
distemper
teeth and
discoloured
teeth are
faults whose
seriousness
varies with
the degree
of departure
from the
desired
white, sound
colouring.
Teeth broken
by accident
should not
be severely
penalized
but worn
teeth,
especially
the
incisors,
are often
indicative
of the lack
of a proper
scissors
bite,
although
some
allowance
should be
made for
age.
Eyes of
medium size,
almond
shaped, set
a little
obliquely
and not
protruding.
The colour
as dark as
possible.
Eyes of
lighter
colour are
sometimes
found and
are not a
serious
fault if
they
harmonize
with the
general
colouration,
but a dark
brown eye is
always to be
preferred.
The
expression
should be
keen,
intelligent,
and
composed.
The ears
should be
moderately
pointed,
open towards
the front,
and are
carried
erect when
at
attention,
the ideal
carriage
being one in
which the
centre lines
of the ears,
viewed from
the front,
are parallel
to each
other and
perpendicular
to the
ground.
Puppies
usually do
not
permanently
raise their
ears until
the fourth
or sixth
month, and
sometimes
not until
later.
Cropped and
hanging ears
are to be
discarded.
The
well-placed
and
well-carried
ear of a
size in
proportion
to the skull
materially
adds to the
general
appearance
of the
Shepherd.
Neither too
large nor
too small
ears are
desirable.
Too much
stress,
however,
should not
be laid on
perfection
of carriage
if the ears
are fully
erect.
Neck
The neck is
strong and
muscular,
clean-cut
and
relatively
long,
proportionate
in size to
the head and
without
loose folds
of skin.
When the dog
is at
attention or
excited, the
head is
raised and
the neck
carried
high,
otherwise
typical
carriage of
the head is
forward
rather than
up and but
little
higher than
the top of
the
shoulder,
particularly
in motion.
Body
The whole
structure of
the body
gives an
impression
of depth and
solidity
without
bulkiness.
Forechest,
commencing
at the
prosternum,
should be
well filled
and carried
well down
between the
legs with no
sense of
hollowness.
Chest should
be deep and
capacious
with ample
room for
lungs and
heart. Well
carried
forward,
with the
prosternum,
or process
of the
breastbone,
showing
ahead of the
shoulder
when the dog
is viewed
from the
side. Ribs
should be
well sprung
and long,
neither
barrel
shaped nor
too flat,
and carried
down to a
breastbone
which
reaches to
the elbow.
Correct
ribbing
allows the
elbow to
move back
freely when
the dog is
at a trot,
while too
round a rib
causes
interference
and throws
the elbow
out. Ribbing
should be
carried well
back so that
loin and
flank are
relatively
short.
Abdomen
firmly held
and not
paunchy. The
bottom line
of the
Shepherd is
only
moderately
tucked up in
flank, never
like that of
a Greyhound.
Legs
The bone of
the legs
should be
straight,
oval rather
than round
or flat, and
free from
sponginess.
Its
development
should be in
proportion
to the size
of the dog
and
contribute
to the
overall
impression
of substance
without
grossness.
Crooked leg
bones and
any
malformation
such as, for
example,
that caused
by rickets,
should be
penalized.
Pastern
should be of
medium
length,
strong and
springy.
Much more
spring of
pastern is
desirable in
the Shepherd
Dog than in
any other
breeds, as
it
contributes
to the ease
and
elasticity
of the
trotting
gait. The
upright
terrier
pastern is
definitely
undesirable.
Metatarsus
(the
so-called
?hock?):
short,
clean,
sharply
defined, and
of great
strength.
This is the
fulcrum upon
which much
of the
forward
movement of
the dog
depends.
Cow-hocks
are a
decided
fault, but
before
penalizing
for
Cow-hocks,
it should be
definitely
determined,
with the
animal in
motion, that
the dog has
this fault,
since many
dogs with
exceptionally
good
hindquarter
angulation
occasionally
stand so as
to give the
appearance
of cow-hockedness
which is not
actually
present.
Feet
Rather
short,
compact,
with toes
well arched,
pads thick
and hard,
nails short
and strong.
The feet are
important to
the working
qualities of
the dog. The
ideal foot
is extremely
strong with
good
gripping
power and
plenty of
depth of
pad. The
so-called
cat-foot, or
terrier
foot, is not
desirable.
The thin,
spread or
hare-foot
is, however,
still more
undesirable.
Topline
The withers
should be
higher than,
and sloping
into, the
level back
to enable a
proper
attachment
of the
shoulder
blades. The
back should
be straight
and very
strongly
developed
without sag
or roach,
the section
from the
wither to
the croup
being
relatively
short. (The
desirable
long
proportion
of the
Shepherd Dog
is not
derived from
a long back
but from
overall
length with
relation to
height,
which is
achieved by
breadth of
forequarter
and
hindquarter
viewed from
the side.)
Loin: viewed
from the
top, broad
and strong,
blending
smoothly
into the
back without
undue length
between the
last rib and
the thigh,
when viewed
from the
side. Croup
should be
long and
gradually
sloping. Too
level or
flat a croup
prevents
proper
functioning
of the
hindquarter,
which must
be able to
reach well
under the
body. A
steep croup
also limits
the action
of the
hindquarter.
Structure
A German
Shepherd is
a trotting
dog and his
structure
has been
developed to
best meet
the
requirements
of his work
in herding.
That is to
say, a long,
effortless
trot which
shall cover
the maximum
amount of
ground with
the minimum
number of
steps,
consistent
with the
size of the
animal. The
proper body
proportion,
firmness of
back and
muscles and
the proper
angulation
of the
forequarters
and
hindquarters
serve this
end. They
enable the
dog to
propel
itself
forward by a
long step of
the
hindquarter
and to
compensate
for this
stride by a
long step of
the
forequarter.
The high
withers, the
firm back,
the strong
loin, the
properly
formed
croup, even
the tail as
balance and
rudder, all
contribute
to this same
end.
Proportion
The German
Shepherd Dog
is properly
longer than
tall with
the most
desirable
proportion
as 10 is to
8-1/2. We
have seen
how the
height is
ascertained;
the length
is
established
by a dog
standing
naturally
and
four-square,
measured on
a horizontal
line from
the point of
the
prosternum,
or
breastbone,
to the rear
edge of the
pelvis, the
ischium
tuberosity,
commonly
called the
sitting
bone.
Angulation
Forequarter:
the shoulder
blade should
be long,
laid on flat
against the
body with
its rounded
upper end in
a vertical
line above
the elbow,
and sloping
well forward
to the point
where it
joins the
upper arm.
The withers
should be
high, with
shoulder
blades
meeting
closely at
the top, and
the upper
arm set on
at an angle
approaching
as nearly as
possible a
right angle.
Such an
angulation
permits the
maximum
forward
extension of
the foreleg
without
binding or
effort.
Shoulder
faults
include too
steep or
straight a
position of
either blade
or upper
arm, too
short a
blade or
upper arm,
lack of
sufficient
angle
between
these two
members,
looseness
through lack
of firm
ligamentation,
and loaded
shoulder
with
prominent
pads of
flesh or
muscles on
the outer
side.
Construction
in which the
whole
shoulder
assembly is
pushed too
far forward
also
restricts
the stride
and is
faulty.
Hindquarters
The
angulation
of the
hindquarter
also
consists
ideally of a
series of
sharp angles
as far as
the relation
of the bones
to each
other is
concerned,
and the
thigh bone
should
parallel the
shoulder
blade while
the stifle
bone
parallels
the upper
arm. The
whole
assembly of
the thigh,
viewed from
the side,
should be
broad, with
both thigh
and stifle
well muscled
and of
proportionate
length,
forming as
nearly as
possible a
right angle.
The
metatarsus
(the unit
between the
hock joint
and the foot
commonly and
erroneously
called the
hock) is
strong,
clean and
short, the
hock joint
clean-cut
and sharply
defined.
Tail
Bushy, with
the last
vertebra
extended at
least to the
hock joint,
and usually
below. Set
smoothly
into the
croup and
low rather
than high,
at rest the
tail hangs
in a slight
curve like a
sabre. A
slight hook
- sometimes
carried to
one side -
is faulty
only to the
extent that
it mars
general
appearance.
When the dog
is excited
or in
motion, the
curve is
accentuated
and the tail
raised, but
it should
never be
lifted
beyond a
line at
right angles
with the
line of the
back. Docked
tails, or
those which
have been
operated
upon to
prevent
curling,
disqualify.
Tails too
short, or
with clumpy
end due to
the
ankylosis or
the growing
together of
the
vertebrae,
are serious
faults.
Gait
General
Impression:
The gait of
the German
Shepherd Dog
is
outreaching,
elastic,
seemingly
without
effort,
smooth and
rhythmic. At
a walk it
covers a
great deal
of ground,
with long
step of both
hind leg and
foreleg. At
a trot, the
dog covers
still more
ground and
moves
powerfully
but easily
with a
beautiful
co-ordination
of back and
limbs so
that, in the
best
examples,
the gait
appears to
be the
steady
motion of a
well-lubricated
machine. The
feet travel
close to the
ground, and
neither fore
nor hind
feet should
lift high on
either
forward
reach or
backward
push.
The
hindquarter
delivers,
through the
back, a
powerful
forward
thrust which
slightly
lifts the
whole animal
and drives
the body
forward.
Reaching far
under, and
passing the
imprint left
by the front
foot, the
strong
arched hind
foot takes
hold of the
ground; then
hock,
stifle, and
upper thigh
come into
play and
sweep back,
the stroke
of the hind
leg
finishing
with the
foot still
close to the
ground in a
smooth
follow-through.
The
overreach of
the
hindquarter
usually
necessitates
one hind
foot passing
outside and
the other
hind foot
passing
inside the
track of the
forefeet and
such action
is not
faulty
unless the
locomotion
is crabwise
with the
dog?s body
sideways out
of the
normal
straight
line. In
order to
achieve
ideal
movement of
this kind,
there must
be full
muscular
co-ordination
throughout
the
structure
with the
action of
muscles and
ligaments
positive,
regular and
accurate.
Back
Transmission
The typical
smooth,
flowing gait
of the
Shepherd Dog
cannot be
maintained
without
great
strength and
firmness
(which does
not mean
stiffness)
of back. The
whole effort
of the
hindquarter
is
transmitted
to the
forequarter
through the
muscular and
bony
structure of
the loin,
back, and
withers. At
full trot,
the back
must remain
firm and
level
without
sway, roll,
whip or
roach. To
compensate
for the
forward
motion
imparted by
the
hindquarter,
the shoulder
should open
to its full
extent - the
desirability
of good
shoulder
angulation
now becomes
apparent -
and the
forelegs
should reach
out in a
stride
balancing
that of the
hindquarter.
A steep
shoulder
will cause
the dog
either to
stumble or
to raise the
forelegs
very high in
an effort to
co-ordinate
with the
hindquarter,
which is
impossible
when
shoulder
structure is
faulty. A
serious gait
fault
results when
a dog moves
too low in
front,
presenting
an unleveled
topline with
the wither
lower than
the hips.
The Shepherd
Dog does not
track on
widely
separated
parallel
lines as
does the
terrier, but
brings the
feet inward
toward the
middle line
of the body
when at trot
in order to
maintain
balance. For
this reason
a dog viewed
from the
front or
rear when in
motion will
often seem
to travel
close. This
is not a
fault if the
feet do not
strike or
cross, or if
the knees or
shoulders
are not
thrown out,
but the feet
and hocks
should be
parallel
even if
close
together.
The
excellence
of gait must
also be
evaluated by
viewing from
the side the
effortless,
properly
coordinated
covering of
ground.
Summary
It should
never be
forgotten
that the
ideal
Shepherd is
a working
animal which
must have an
incorruptible
character
combined
with body
and gait
suitable for
the arduous
work which
constitutes
its primary
purpose. All
its
qualities
should be
weighed in
respect to
their
contribution
to such
work, and
while no
compromise
should be
permitted
with regard
to its
working
potentiality,
the dog must
nevertheless
possess a
high degree
of beauty
and
nobility.
Evaluation
of Faults
Note: Faults
are
important in
the order of
their group,
as per group
headings,
irrespective
of their
position in
each group.
Very Serious
Faults
Major faults
of
temperament;
undershot
lower jaw.
Serious
Faults
Faults of
balance and
proportion;
poor gait,
viewed
either from
front, rear
or side;
marked
deficiency
of substance
(bone or
body);
bitchy male
dogs; faulty
backs; too
level or too
short croup;
long and
weak loin;
very bad
feet; ring
tails; tails
much too
short;
rickety
condition;
more than
four missing
premolars or
any other
missing
teeth,
unless due
to accident;
lack of
nobility;
badly
washed-out
colour;
badly
overshot
bite.
Faults
Doggy
bitches;
poorly
carried
ears;
too-fine in
head; weak
muzzles;
improper
muscular
condition;
faulty coat,
other than
temporary
condition;
badly
affected
teeth.
Minor Faults
Too coarse
head; hooked
tails; too
light, round
or
protruding
eyes;
discoloured
teeth;
condition of
coat, due to
season or
keeping.
Disqualifications
