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Posted on December 27, 2007 by Jan Ryan | Posted under Pets Dogs
The Perfect German Shepherd
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The standards of the German Shepherd breed include these categories: general appearance, temperament, size and proportion, coat and color and gait. The general appearance standard of a good German Shepherd calls for an agile, alert animal with a look of quality and nobility. A German Shepherd's size and proportion requires that it should be longer than it is tall, and the dog should look solid and fit. The breed is self confident and direct and friendship with a German Shepherd must be earned. German Shepherds are eager and alert, ready to serve at a moment's notice as a watchdog, guide dog, herding dog or companion. According to the AKC standards, the proper size for German Shepherd males is twenty four to twenty six inches tall at the shoulder; the proper size for German Shepherd females is twenty two to twenty four inches tall at the shoulder. The German Shepherd head should have a noble, strong appearance, in good proportion to the body. Sex should be obvious, with males looking masculine, and females looking feminine. The German Shepherd face features very dark eyes, moderately pointed ears (never cropped or hanging) and a long, strong muzzle. The nose must be predominantly black or the dog will be disqualified from competition. The German Shepherd's neck should be relatively long, very strong and muscular, carrying the noble head high and facing forward. The body should be deeper than it is long, with long ribs, a taut abdomen, and a high, bushy tail. The forequarters are strong and well muscled, ending in short, compact feet. The upper thigh and the shoulder blade are parallel, and the lower thigh bone and the upper arm are parallel. The hindquarters are broad, and under the American Kennel Club standard, dewclaws removed from the hind 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. About The Author: Jan Ryan is a dog show judge who especially enjoys judging the Working Group. 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. |
Tags: GERMAN SHEPHERD, GERMAN SHEPHERDS, GERMAN SHEPHERD INFORMATION
