German Shepherd: Standards Of A Noble Breed

The American Kennel Club (AKC), which establishes standards for all breeds of dog recognized in the United States, has established standards for the German Shepherd breed. Dogs that match this standard may win best of breed contests and may even be crowned champions in American Kennel Club dog shows. A German Shepherd that does not live up to the standard can still make a wonderful pet, but it will never win a dog show.

The standard of the breed calls for a well muscled, strong, and agile appearance, well balanced with a substantial appearance at rest and in motion. The ideal dog looks graceful and nimble and presents a curved, as opposed to angular, profile. A good German Shepherd has a fearless, confident personality: approachable but not overly friendly. The German Shepherd is poised and ready on a moment's notice to go to work as a guardian, guide dog, police dog, herding dog, or beloved family pet.

American Kennel Club standards require German Shepherd males to stand twenty four to twenty six inches tall at the shoulder. Females should stand twenty two to twenty four inches tall at the shoulder. A strong appearance of nobility marks the German Shepherd head. The appearance of the head should communicate the sex of the animal, masculine for males and feminine for females. The head must be proportional to the body. The eyes should be almond shaped and dark, American Kennel Club judges score the most points for the darkest possible eye color. The ears should be moderately pointed and the muzzle long, strong, and pronounced. The nose must be predominantly black.

The standard for the German Shepherd's neck is long and strong, with the head held high and proud. The rib cage is deep, with long ribs, a firm underbelly and a full tail held high in the air. The shoulders and forearms show muscular strength, with short, compact feet carrying the German Shepherd in its signature trotting gait. The upper thigh should run parallel to the shoulder blade and the lower thigh should run parallel to the upper arm are parallel. Hindquarters should be broad, with dewclaws absent from the back legs.
The standard for German Shepherds require a double coat, with a thick, short outer coat on the main part of the body and shorter coat on the head, legs, and paws. A slight wave may be acceptable to some judges, but silky, wooly and curly coats are faults that require disqualification from judging. The health of the dog shows in the coat, so a German Shepherd's coat should be glossy and well groomed. The classic German Shepherd is a deep tan with black saddle and facial features. Variations in color are permissible, although a white dog must always be disqualified. The German Shepherd moves in a trademark trot, covering ground quickly and steadily. A good German Shepherd trots effortlessly, as gait faults nearly always result in disqualification.

These are the American Kennel Club standard for breeders and dog show judges. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary. German Shepherd dogs who fall short of these standards make loyal, loving companions, so don't overlook dogs offered for adoption through German Shepherd rescue organizations when selecting a German Shepherd as a companion animal.

Jan Ryan is a dog show enthusiast who lives with two German Shepherds, Hilda and Shultz. American Kennel Club standards encourage breeders to use best practices that produce healthy, robust German Shepherd puppies. German Shepherd breeders strive to maintain the qualities that make the breed so special. Having good German Shepherd information about these standards is vital to keeping the breed unique.