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Below is information on the breed standard
for the German Shepherd Dog. Note that there are two standards, the SV, and the AKC. Some people believe the American standard
falls short of the SV standard. I believe it is unfortunate that the AKC does not follow the stringent breeding program the
SV requires. A nice looking GSD falls short of the standard if the GSD does not have the proper temperment.
SV German Shepherd Breed Standard
SV BREED STANDARD
June 1997 Revisions
Translated by Fred Lanting, SV Conformation Judge Reprinted from Schutzhund
USA
Magazine Shepherd Dog
FCI Standard #166; replaces 23 March, 1991 edition
FCI Classification: Group 1 - Guardian and Driving dogs;
Section 1 - Shepherds' dogs with working titles.
Versatile use: Guardian and Service (Working) Dog
Short historic overview: Since the official establishment in Augsburg,
within the German Canine Association known as the VDH (German "Kennel Club"), the parent club of the breed, the Club for German
Shepherd Dogs (SV), is responsible for the breed Standard of the German Shepherd Dog. The Standard was set up in the first
membership meeting in Frankfurt on 20 September 1899, upon the suggestions of A. Meyer and M. von Stephanitz. At the 6th membership
gathering on 28 July 1901, the 23rd meeting in Köln on 17 September 1909, the conference of the executive committee and board
in Wiesbaden on 5 September 1930, and the breed committee and board of directors meeting on 25 March 1961. As part of that
one, the World Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs (WUSV) was involved with the work. At the WUSV conference on 30 August 1976
they agreed on another revision, and on 23/24 March 1991 assumed full powers by way of resolution of the executive and advisory
committees. [The current version was adopted in 1997.] The German Shepherd Dog, whose systematic breeding was begun in the
year 1899 with the founding of the Club, is from the former Central and Southern German stocks then available. They were bred
and descended from guardian dogs with the objective of creating a working dog predisposed to high performance. To reach this
goal, the breed Standard of the German Shepherd Dog was determined, with reference both to the bodily construction as well
as to the essential nature and character traits.
General appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is a medium-size, slightly stretched, strong, and
well muscled, with the "bone" dry and firm in the over-all construction. Important measurements and proportions The withers
height for males is 60 to 65 cm; that of bitches is 55 to 60 cm.* The length of torso exceeds the measure of the withers height
by about 10 - 17 %. The German Shepherd Dog must be, in its essential image, well-balanced, firm in nerves, self-confident,
absolutely calm and impartial, and (except in tempting situations) amiable. He must possess courage, willingness to fight,
and hardness, in order to be suitable as companion, watchdog, protector, service dog, and guardian.
Head
The head is to be wedge-shaped, large but in proportion to the body, with
length about 40% of the dog's height at the withers, without being clumsy or overly long. It is dry in its general appearance,
and moderately broad between the ears. The forehead is seen from in front and from the side to be only little arched, and
without central furrow or with only a slightly implied one. The proportion of back-skull to fore-ace is 50:50. The breadth
of back-skull corresponds approximately to its length. The top of the head (seen from above) from the ears to the nose is
a fairly continuous wedge-shaped taper, with a slanting but not too-sharply defined stop. Upper and lower jaws are definitely
strong. The muzzle is straight, neither a saddle shape nor an arch being desired. The lips are tight, closing well, and of
dark color. The nose must be black. The teeth must be strong, healthy and complete (42, conforming to the established rule).
The German Shepherd dog has a scissors bite; i.e., the incisors must mesh in a scissors bite whereby the incisors of the upper
jaw intersect like scissors with those of the lower jaw. Level (pincer), over-, and under-bites are faulty, as are large gaps
between the teeth (interrupted arrangement). Likewise incorrect is a straight line of the incisors. The jawbones must be strongly
developed, so that the teeth can be deeply embedded in their places. The eyes are medium in size, almond-shaped, somewhat
slanted, and not protruding. The color of the eyes should be as dark as possible; light, piercing eyes are not desired, as
this detracts from the dog's expression.
Ears
The German Shepherd Dog has pricked ears of medium size, which are carried
upright and neither pointing outward nor inward; they taper to a point and are held with the opening of the shell facing forward.
Tipped over and hanging ears are faulty. Ears laid back during gating and/or relaxation are not faulted.
Neck
The neck should be strong, well muscled, and without loose skin at the
throat (dewlap). The head is held such that the neck is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees from the (horizontal) torso.
Body
The over-line proceeds from the neck, continuing over the high, long withers
and over the straight back through the slightly sloping croup without abrupt change. The back is moderately long, firm, strong,
and well muscled. The loin is broad, short, powerfully fashioned, and well muscled. The croup should be long and slightly
sloping (approx. 23° from the horizontal) and without a break in the over-line as it continues over the tail-set. The chest
should be moderately broad, its underline as long as possible, and pronounced. The depth of chest should be about 45 % to
48 % of the dog's height at the withers. The ribs should widen out and curve moderately. Barrel-shaped chests or slab-sided
appearance are equally faulty. The tail extends at least up to the hock joint, but not beyond the middle of the metatarsus.
Its hair is somewhat bushy on the underside. It is carried in a gentle hanging curve when relaxed, and is lifted more in excitement
and in movement, though not over the horizontal. Surgical corrections are forbidden.
Limbs Forehand
The front limbs are seen from all sides to be straight, and from the front
view are perfectly parallel. Shoulder blade and upper arm are of equal lengths accumulated and firmly attached to the torso
with medium-strong muscling. The angle between shoulder blade and upper arm amounts to, in the ideal case 90°, but as a rule
is 110°. The elbows, either when standing or moving, may not be turned out; likewise not pinched together. The forearms in
the standing dog are seen in all views to be straight and perfectly parallel to each other, dry, and firmly muscled. The pastern
has a length of approximately 1/3 that of the forearm and has an angle of approx. 20° to 22° to this. Both a slanting pastern
(more than 22°) as well as a steep pastern (less than 20°) are harmful to working suitability, particularly endurance. The
paws are round, well closed and arched, the soles hard, but not inflexible. The nails are sturdy and of a dark color.
Hind quarters
The position of the hind legs is slightly toward the rear, and viewed from
behind the hind-legs are parallel to each other. Upper thigh and lower thigh are roughly of equal length and form an angle
of approximately 120°. The thighs are powerful and well muscled. The hock joints are sturdily built and firm; the metatarsus
is vertical from the hock joint. The paws are closed, slightly arched, the pads hard and of dark color, the nails sturdy and
arched, and also dark.
Movement
The German Shepherd Dog is a trotter. The limbs must be so harmonious with
each other in length and angulation, that without creating much undulation of the top-line, the hindquarters can push the
torso forward in such a manner that the stride matches that of the forequarters. Every tendency toward over-angulation of
the hindquarters decreases the firmness and the endurance, and with that the working ability. With correct structural proportions
and angulation, a far-reaching, ground-covering, level gait results, which conveys the impression of effortless forward movement.
With the head thrust forward and tail slightly lifted it presents, in a fairly level, balanced, and smooth trot, one uninterrupted,
gently flowing over-line from the tips of the ears over the nape and back, through to the end of the tail.
Skin
The skin is (loosely) contiguous without, however, forming folds.
Coat
Condition of the hair
The correct type of hair-coat for the German Shepherd Dog is the Stock-hair
(straight, harsh topcoat) with undercoat. The topcoat should be as tight as possible, straight, harsh, and lying closely and
firmly. On the head between the ears, on the front side of the legs, and on paws and toes it is short. At the neck somewhat
longer and more abundant. On the backs of the legs the hair grows longer as far down as the wrist, and correspondingly down
to the hock. At the backside of the thighs it forms moderate trousers.
Colors
Black with reddish-brown, brown, tan, and/or light gray markings. Solid-black.
Sable with dark overcast. Black saddle and mask. Inconspicuous, small white chest markings, likewise light color on the insides,
are allowed but not desirable. The nose bulb must be black in all colors of the breed. Missing mask, light (piercing) eye
color, as well as light to whitish markings at chest and under/inner sides, light claws, and red-tipped tail are to be considered
as deficient pigment. The undercoat has a light gray color. The color white is not permitted.
Size/weight*
Males: Withers height 60 cm to 65 cm; weight 30 kg to 40 kg Females: Withers
height 55 cm to 60 cm; weight 22 kg to 32 kg Testicles Dogs should display two evidently normally developed testicles, situated
in the scrotum. Faults All deviations from the above-mentioned points should be considered as errors, the severity of fault
appraisal being strictly in proportion to the degree of the deviation. Major Faults Anything that departs from the Standard
and known characteristics of the breed in relation to the suitability for work; Ear faults: held out to the side; low-set;
tipped over; overset (tipped toward each other); weak; Considerably lacking in pigment; Considerable deficiency in overall
firmness.
Dentition faults:
All deviations from the scissors bite and the formation of the teeth that
are not dealt with in the following list of specific faults. Disqualifying Faults (also ineligible for breed survey): a) Weak
character, biting, nervous; b) Demonstrated severe hip dysplasia c) Cryptorchidism (unilateral or bilateral), clearly unequal
or stunted, atrophied testicles; d) Deformed ears or tails; e) Dogs with deformities; f) Dentition faults involving the absence
of: one P-3 and another tooth, or one fang (canine), or one P-4, or one Molar-1 or Molar-2, or any total of three or more
teeth; g) Incisor (bite) irregularities: overshot by 2mm or more, undershot, or pincer bite (even or level in entire incisor
area); h) Oversize by more than one centimeter; i) Albinism; j) White haircoat even if the dog has dark eyes and nails; k)
Langstockhaar (topcoat long, straight, soft, not lying tightly; with undercoat present; flags (feathering) on ears and legs,
bushy trousers, bushy tail with formation of flags on the underside); l) Langhaar (topcoat long, soft; without undercoat,
generally parting in the middle of the back; flags at ears, legs, and tail).
*Dogs are 60-65 cm (23.6 to 25.6 inches) and 30-40 kg (66-88 lbs.); bitches
55-60 cm (21.6 to 23.6 inches) and 22-32 kg (481/2 to 701/2 lbs.).
Source Cited: "SV Conformation Judge Reprinted from Schutzhund USA
"
AKC - Breed Standard
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 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.
Temperament
The
breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence and a certain
aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing
its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the
occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding
dog, or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be timid, shrinking behind its master or handler;
it should not be nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous reactions, such as tucking of
tail, to strange sounds or sights. Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character. Any of the
above deficiencies in character which indicate shyness must be penalized as very serious faults and any dog exhibiting
pronounced indications of these must be excused from the ring. It must be possible for the judge to observe the teeth and
to determine that both testicles are descended. Any dog that attempts to bite the judge must be disqualified. The ideal
dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work that constitutes
its primary purpose.
Size, Proportion, Substance
The desired height for males at the top of the highest
point of the shoulder blade is 24 to 26 inches; and for bitches, 22 to 24 inches.
The German Shepherd Dog is longer
than tall, with the most desirable proportion as 10 to 8½. The length is measured from the point of the prosternum
or breastbone to the rear edge of the pelvis, the ischial tuberosity. The desirable long proportion is not derived from a
long back, but from overall length with relation to height, which is achieved by length of forequarter and length of withers
and hindquarter, viewed from the side.
Head
The
head is noble, cleanly chiseled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body.
The head of the male is distinctly masculine, and that of the bitch distinctly feminine.
The expression keen,
intelligent and composed. Eyes of medium size, almond shaped, set a little obliquely and not protruding. The color
is as dark as possible. Ears are moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front, and carried
erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel
to each other and perpendicular to the ground. A dog with cropped or hanging ears must be disqualified.
Seen
from the front the forehead is only moderately arched, and the skull slopes into the long, wedge-shaped muzzle without abrupt
stop. The muzzle is long and strong, and its topline is parallel to the topline of the skull. Nose black. A
dog with a nose that is not predominantly black must be disqualified. The lips are firmly fitted. Jaws are
strongly developed. Teeth --42 in number--20 upper and 22 lower--are strongly developed and meet in a scissors bite
in which part of the inner surface of the upper incisors meet and engage part of the outer surface of the lower incisors.
An overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a disqualifying fault. Complete dentition is to
be preferred. Any missing teeth other than first premolars is a serious fault.
Neck, Topline, Body
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 shoulders, particularly in motion.
Topline--
The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back. The back is straight, very strongly developed without
sag or roach, and relatively short.
The whole structure of the body gives an impression of depth and solidity
without bulkiness.
Chest--Commencing at the prosternum, it is well filled and carried well down between the
legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample room for lungs and heart, carried well forward, with the prosternum
showing ahead of the shoulder in profile. Ribs well sprung and long, neither barrel-shaped nor too flat, and carried
down to a sternum which reaches to the elbows. Correct ribbing allows the elbows to move back freely when the dog is at a
trot. Too round causes interference and throws the elbows out; too flat or short causes pinched elbows. Ribbing is carried
well back so that the loin is relatively short. Abdomen firmly held and not paunchy. The bottom line is only moderately
tucked up in the loin.
Loin Viewed from the top, broad and strong. Undue length between the last rib and the
thigh, when viewed from the side, is undesirable. Croup long and gradually sloping.
Tail bushy, with
the last vertebra extended at least to the hock joint. It is set smoothly into the croup and low rather than high. At rest,
the tail hangs in a slight curve like a saber. 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 curled forward beyond a vertical line. Tails too short, or with clumpy ends due to ankylosis, are serious faults.
A dog with a docked tail must be disqualified.
Forequarters
The shoulder blades are long and obliquely
angled, laid on flat and not placed forward. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade at about a right angle. Both the upper
arm and the shoulder blade are well muscled. The forelegs, viewed from all sides, are straight and the bone oval rather than
round. The pasterns are strong and springy and angulated at approximately a 25-degree angle from the vertical. Dewclaws on
the forelegs may be removed, but are normally left on.
The feet are short, compact with toes well arched, pads
thick and firm, nails short and dark.
Hindquarters
The
whole assembly of the thigh, viewed from the side, is broad, with both upper and lower thigh well muscled, forming as nearly
as possible a right angle. The upper thigh bone parallels the shoulder blade while the lower thigh bone parallels the upper
arm. The metatarsus (the unit between the hock joint and the foot) is short, strong and tightly articulated. The dewclaws,
if any, should be removed from the hind legs. Feet as in front.
Coat
The ideal dog has a double coat of
medium length. 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 permissible. The head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws
are covered with short hair, and the neck with longer and thicker hair. The rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat
longer hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat,
woolly, curly, and open coat.
Color
The German Shepherd Dog varies in color, and most colors are permissible. Strong
rich colors are preferred. Pale, washed-out colors and blues or livers are serious faults. A white dog must be disqualified.
Gait
A German Shepherd Dog is a trotting dog, and its structure has been developed to meet the requirements
of its work. General Impression-- The gait is outreaching, elastic, seemingly without effort, smooth and rhythmic,
covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. At a walk it covers a great deal of ground, with long
stride of both hind legs and forelegs. At a trot the dog covers still more ground with even longer stride, and moves powerfully
but easily, with coordination and balance so that the gait appears to be the steady motion of a well-lubricated machine. The
feet travel close to the ground on both forward reach and backward push. In order to achieve ideal movement of this kind,
there must be good muscular development and ligamentation. The hindquarters deliver, 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 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.
Transmission The typical smooth, flowing gait is maintained with great strength and firmness of back.
The whole effort of the hindquarter is transmitted to the forequarter through the loin, back and withers. At full trot, the
back must remain firm and level without sway, roll, whip or roach. Unlevel topline with withers lower than the hip is a fault.
To compensate for the forward motion imparted by the hindquarters, the shoulder should open to its full extent. The forelegs
should reach out close to the ground in a long stride in harmony with that of the hindquarters. The dog does not track on
widely separated parallel lines, but brings the feet inward toward the middle line of the body when trotting, in order to
maintain balance. The feet track closely but do not strike or cross over. Viewed from the front, the front legs function from
the shoulder joint to the pad in a straight line. Viewed from the rear, the hind legs function from the hip joint to the pad
in a straight line. Faults of gait, whether from front, rear or side, are to be considered very serious faults.
Disqualifications
Cropped
or hanging ears.
Dogs with noses not predominantly black.
Undershot jaw.
Docked tail.
White dogs.
Any dog
that attempts to bite the judge.
Source Cited - "American Kennel Club"
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