German Shepherds have a history dating back to the late 1800s in Germany. They were originally bred for their herding abilities where they quickly became known for their loyalty, intelligence, adaptability and versatility. Due to their high intelligence and easiness to train, they are able to fill many purposes including police and military services, search and rescue, drug detection and family guardians and companions. German Shepherds are loyal and show dedication to their handlers or families, to whom they form strong bonds and protective instincts. Therefore they make fantastic family pets, especially if you have children.
Today, the German Shepherd Dog is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world.
BREED STANDARD
ADAPTED FROM THE KENNEL UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA PAGE
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The German Shepherd Dog is medium-size, slightly elongated, powerful and well-muscled, with dry bone and firm overall structure.
IMPORTANT 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.
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 behaviour, resilience and self-assurance in order to be suitable as a companion, guard, protection, service and herding dog.
CONSTRUCTION
The head is wedge-shaped, and in proportion to the body size, without being plump or too elongated, dry in the overall appearance and moderately broad between the ears. Seen from the front and side, the forehead is only slightly arched and without any or with only a slightly indicated middle furrow. The nasal dorsum is straight, any dip or bulge is undesirable. The lips are taut, close well and are of dark colouring.
The nose must be black.
The teeth must be strong, healthy and complete (42 teeth according to the dental formula). The German Shepherd Dog has a scissor bite, i.e. the incisors must interlock like scissors, whereby the incisors of the upper jaw overlap those of the lower jaw. Occlusal overlay, overbite and retrusive occlusion as well as larger spaces between the teeth (gaps) are faulty. The jaw bones must be strongly developed so that the teeth can be deeply embedded in the dental ridge.
The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, slightly slanted and not protruding. The colour of the eyes should be as dark as possible. Light, piercing eyes are undesirable since they impair the dog’s impression.
The German Shepherd Dog has erect ears of medium size, which are carried upright and aligned, they are pointed and with the auricle facing forward. Tipped ears and drooping ears are faulty.
The neck should be strong, well-muscled and without loose neck skin.
The upper body line runs from the base of the neck via the high, long withers and via the straight back towards the slightly sloping croup, without visible interruption. The back is moderately long, firm, strong and well-muscled. The loin is broad, short, strongly developed and well-muscled. The croup should be long and slightly sloping and the upper line should merge into the base of the tail without interruption.
The chest should be moderately broad, the lower chest as long and pronounced as possible. The depth of the chest should amount to approx. 45 % to 48 % of the height at the withers.
The tail extends at least to the hock, but not beyond the middle of the hind pastern. It has slightly longer hair on the underside and is carried hanging downward in a gentle curve, whereby in a state of excitement and in motion it is raised and carried higher, but not beyond the horizontal. Operative corrections are forbidden.
The forelimbs are straight when seen from all sides, and absolutely parallel when seen from the front.
Shoulder blade and upper arm are of equal length, and firmly attached to the trunk by means of powerful musculature. The angulation from shoulder blade and upper arm is ideally 90°, but generally up to 110°.
The elbows may not be turned out either while standing or moving, and also not pushed in. The forearms are straight when seen from all sides, and absolutely parallel to each other, dry and firmly muscled. The pastern has a length of approximately 1/3 of the forearm, and has an angle of approx. 20° to 22° to the forearm.
The paws are rounded, well-closed and arched; the soles are hard, but not brittle. The nails are strong and of dark colour.
The position of hind legs is slightly backwards, whereby the hind limbs are parallel to each other when seen from the rear. Upper leg and lower leg are of approximately the same length and form an angle of approx. 120°; the legs are strong and well-muscled. The hocks are strongly developed and firm; the hind pastern stands vertically under the hock.
GAIT
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.
COAT
The German Shepherd Dog is bred in the hair varieties double coat and long and harsh outer coat, both with undercoat.
Double 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: 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.
COLOURS
Colours are black and tan, sable, bi-colour and solid black. Unobtrusive, small white marks on chest as well as very light colour on insides are permissible, but not desirable. The tip of the nose must be black in all colours. The colour white is not allowed.
SIZE/WEIGHT
Male dogs:
Height at the withers: 60cm to 65cm
Weight: 30kg to 40kg
Female dogs:
Height at the withers: 55cm to 60cm
Weight: 22kg to 32kg
HEALTH
German Shepherds may be prone to certain health issues including hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, conditions where the hip or elbow joint doesn’t develop properly. They are also susceptible to bloat, a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists. However, a healthy diet can help prevent these issues. A high-quality diet with sufficient protein and nutrients is important for maintaining their health, muscular build and energy levels. Consult with your breeder or veterinarian to determine the best diet for your German Shepherd’s individual needs. In addition to a healthy diet, it is important to monitor your German Shepherd’s weight and adjust their food intake accordingly. Obesity can lead to a variety of health problems, including joint issues and heart disease.
Regular exercise, such as daily walks or runs, can also help maintain a healthy weight and promote overall wellness. Following a breed suitable exercise routine while your puppy is growing and a care routine during their adult life is also important to assist in the prevention of health issues.
LOOKING FOR A BREEDER?
When looking for a German Shepherd breeder, it is important to do your research and find a reputable breeder who puts the health and well-being of their dogs first. Look for breeders who provide health certificates and are involved in breed clubs or organizations of international repute. Visiting the breeding facility and meeting the dogs can also give you a sense of the breeder’s commitment to their animals and their breeding program.
Additionally, it is important to ask the breeder about their socialization and training practices. A good breeder will start socializing their puppies from a young age. This can make a big difference in the temperament and behavior of your new German Shepherd. Once your puppy is at home, continued training is important, as is setting boundaries, to ensure you end up with a dog that is suitable to live with you and your family. Seek the assistance of a breed specific training club or a private trainer who is knowledgeable about the breed so that your dogs unique needs can be met. In addition, you can assist in socialising your puppy by exposing him/her to different environments. people, animals and noises. This is easily accomplished by taking your puppy to a craft market to pet-friendly café. This will make sure they are confident adults.