Breed Standard :
The German Shepherd Breed Standard, which is published by the American Kennel Club, lay out the ideal qualities of a dog of a given breed, including the German Shepherd, for purposes of the United States. While certainly not all dogs comply with all or indeed many of the characteristics described in the breed standards, the guidelines nevertheless provide a useful set of expectations regarding the appearance, personality, and other characteristics of an animal belonging to a particular breed. Potential pet owners of a German Shepherd are encouraged to read up on the breed's standards in order to know what to expect – both in terms of their animal's appearance and personality, and in order to be prepared for any particular medical conditions common to a given breed. The AKC breed standard for the German Shepherd includes a detailed discussion of the following: General Appearance, Temperament, Size, Proportion, Substance, Head, Neck Topline, body, Forequarters, Hindquarters, Coat, Color, Gait, and Disqualifications.
Similarly, In Germany, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), the official club for the German Shepherd dog, also has in place a listing of standards, which include a detailed discussion of the following: Genera Appearance, Head, Ears, Neck, Body, Limbs Forehand, Hindquarters, Movement, Skin, Coat, Color, Size | Weight, and Dentition Faults
Breed Standards are used most commonly, however, not by the average pet owner but by judges in dog shows and competitions, who assess any given animal according to the standards and expectations laid out for its breed as a whole, rather than on its merits as a pet. Regardless of how the Breed Standards are used, however, they provide a wealth of useful information for the German Shepherd breed, or for any other breed for that matter.
In summary, breed standards are just that, merely standard by which to judge and assess the physical and emotional traits of your German Shepherd, but characteristics that should not be cause for concern if your dog falls outside the breed standard. Dogs are like humans and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. It's more important to have a healthy, happy, and sound dog than it is to have one that fits the exact German Shepherd breed standard.
The German Shepherd Breed Standard, which is published by the American Kennel Club, lay out the ideal qualities of a dog of a given breed, including the German Shepherd, for purposes of the United States. While certainly not all dogs comply with all or indeed many of the characteristics described in the breed standards, the guidelines nevertheless provide a useful set of expectations regarding the appearance, personality, and other characteristics of an animal belonging to a particular breed. Potential pet owners of a German Shepherd are encouraged to read up on the breed's standards in order to know what to expect – both in terms of their animal's appearance and personality, and in order to be prepared for any particular medical conditions common to a given breed. The AKC breed standard for the German Shepherd includes a detailed discussion of the following: General Appearance, Temperament, Size, Proportion, Substance, Head, Neck Topline, body, Forequarters, Hindquarters, Coat, Color, Gait, and Disqualifications.
Similarly, In Germany, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), the official club for the German Shepherd dog, also has in place a listing of standards, which include a detailed discussion of the following: Genera Appearance, Head, Ears, Neck, Body, Limbs Forehand, Hindquarters, Movement, Skin, Coat, Color, Size | Weight, and Dentition Faults
Breed Standards are used most commonly, however, not by the average pet owner but by judges in dog shows and competitions, who assess any given animal according to the standards and expectations laid out for its breed as a whole, rather than on its merits as a pet. Regardless of how the Breed Standards are used, however, they provide a wealth of useful information for the German Shepherd breed, or for any other breed for that matter.
In summary, breed standards are just that, merely standard by which to judge and assess the physical and emotional traits of your German Shepherd, but characteristics that should not be cause for concern if your dog falls outside the breed standard. Dogs are like humans and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. It's more important to have a healthy, happy, and sound dog than it is to have one that fits the exact German Shepherd breed standard.
Coloring and Markings :
German Shepherd colors and markings are wide and varied indeed, as witnessed by the myriad of color patterns seen in this canine throughout the world. And while the American Kennel Club is somewhat vague on breed standard colors, the the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), the official club for the German Shepherd dog in Germany, provides more detail into what is acceptable colors and markings.
Specifically, the AKC states the following:
"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"'
Additionally, the AKC states that 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. Moreover, some light markings on the chest or inside of the legs are deemed permissible, but are nevertheless denoted as “undesirable” according to ideal breed standards.
Source: American Kennel Club | http://www.akc.org/breeds/german_shepherd_dog/
And as for the SV, they consider acceptable colors and markings to be the following:
• Black with reddish-brown, brown, tan, and/or light gray markings.
• Solid-black. Sable with dark overcast.
• Black saddle and mask.
Additionally, the SV allows inconspicuous, small white chest markings, with light color on the insides being allowed, but not necessarily desirable.
Seems quite a bit to take in regarding the colors, almost so that it seems German Shepherds can really exude almost any imaginable combination of the core colors for this breed. And with that said, the general breed consensus (amongst breeders, sanctioning bodies, breed enthusiasts, etc.)
consists of the following core colors and combinations:
(1). Black with red, tan, cream, and silver.
(2). Sable (i.e., dark brown, almost black) with red, silver, cream, blue, and liver.
(3). Various forms of solid colors, such as white, black, blue.
(4). Various other color miscellaneous color combination.
As for the patterns of the colors of the German Shepherd dog, many describe them as "saddle" like, solid, bi-color, tri-color and even patterns that "swirl". Keep in mind that though the AKC and the SV have stated their own respective German Shepherd colors and markings, this subject has taken a life of its own, with many breeders and other dog enthusiasts coining their own terms and phrases. And while it may not technically match the breed standard language of organizations such as the AKS, SV and others, its nevertheless accepted by the German Shepherd community as a whole when describing colors and patterns for these dogs.
However, color is less important from a showing perspective than many other traits; as the American Kennel Club (AKC) points out, “color in itself is of secondary importance having no effect on character or fitness for work.” The exception to this is, of course, the nose – often lighter-colored noses in dogs are indicative of either major or minor health defects.
Lastly, the coat of the German Shepherd dog, according to the AKC should be that of a double-coat, medium length, with the outer coat being dense, and hair that is straight and harsh. The AKC does allow for a wavy outer coat and even a wiry texture. As for the SV, the coat is to be a straight harsh topcoat with an undercoat, with the back of the legs having longer hair.
In summary, German Shepherd colors and markings vary greatly, as one can clearly see, but remember that the dog's temperament-its ability to be a sound and stable canine-is much more important than whatever color your dog ultimately ends up being. In the words of breed found Max von Stephanitz, "No Good Dog can be a Bad Color"
German Shepherd Facts, Physical Characteristics and Features | Head | Skull | Teeth | Eyes | Nose | Lips | Jaw
Additional German Shepherd facts include a description of the physical characteristics of the head, skull, teeth, eyes, nose and jaw. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the head should be noble and strong, while the skull should be proportionate to the size of its body, with a slightly domed, unfurrowed forehead and a reasonable amount of space between the dog's ears. The skull should taper gradually, and symmetrically, from the dog's ears to the bridge of its nose; the line of the muzzle should in turn be smooth and even, rather than excessively pronounced. In males, the width of the skull should correspond to the dog's width; this is less the case in females. Undesirable qualities in a dog's skull and head include an excessively short or long muzzle, or a muzzle that is either too pointed or too blunt; as with many characteristics of the German Shepherd, balance is key to finding the ideal specimen.
The eyes of the German Shepherd should generally be dark brown in color, although the AKC specifies that lighter shades of brown are permissible. The eyes should be almost-shaped and balanced in the head – neither inset nor protruding. Perhaps most important is the expression; the dog should appear alert and intelligent, interested in and aware of his surroundings. Furthermore, the German Shepherd's ears should likewise be high and erect – almost to the point of being parallel, tapering slowly to a point. Like the dog's general proportions, this specification too is ergonomic, rather than merely aesthetic; erect, tapered ears reflect a keen sense of hearing on the part of the dog, a trait historically useful to its traditional role as shepherd and work-dog.
Additionally, the nose should be black, as a German Shepherd without a black nose is to be disqualified. As for the lips, they are to be firmly fitted, with strongly developed jaws that have 42 teeth (20 upper and 22 lower) that are well-developed, as any missing teeth is a serious default in the German Shepherd.
Specifically, the AKC states the following:
"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"'
Additionally, the AKC states that 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. Moreover, some light markings on the chest or inside of the legs are deemed permissible, but are nevertheless denoted as “undesirable” according to ideal breed standards.
Source: American Kennel Club | http://www.akc.org/breeds/german_shepherd_dog/
And as for the SV, they consider acceptable colors and markings to be the following:
• Black with reddish-brown, brown, tan, and/or light gray markings.
• Solid-black. Sable with dark overcast.
• Black saddle and mask.
Additionally, the SV allows inconspicuous, small white chest markings, with light color on the insides being allowed, but not necessarily desirable.
Seems quite a bit to take in regarding the colors, almost so that it seems German Shepherds can really exude almost any imaginable combination of the core colors for this breed. And with that said, the general breed consensus (amongst breeders, sanctioning bodies, breed enthusiasts, etc.)
consists of the following core colors and combinations:
(1). Black with red, tan, cream, and silver.
(2). Sable (i.e., dark brown, almost black) with red, silver, cream, blue, and liver.
(3). Various forms of solid colors, such as white, black, blue.
(4). Various other color miscellaneous color combination.
As for the patterns of the colors of the German Shepherd dog, many describe them as "saddle" like, solid, bi-color, tri-color and even patterns that "swirl". Keep in mind that though the AKC and the SV have stated their own respective German Shepherd colors and markings, this subject has taken a life of its own, with many breeders and other dog enthusiasts coining their own terms and phrases. And while it may not technically match the breed standard language of organizations such as the AKS, SV and others, its nevertheless accepted by the German Shepherd community as a whole when describing colors and patterns for these dogs.
However, color is less important from a showing perspective than many other traits; as the American Kennel Club (AKC) points out, “color in itself is of secondary importance having no effect on character or fitness for work.” The exception to this is, of course, the nose – often lighter-colored noses in dogs are indicative of either major or minor health defects.
Lastly, the coat of the German Shepherd dog, according to the AKC should be that of a double-coat, medium length, with the outer coat being dense, and hair that is straight and harsh. The AKC does allow for a wavy outer coat and even a wiry texture. As for the SV, the coat is to be a straight harsh topcoat with an undercoat, with the back of the legs having longer hair.
In summary, German Shepherd colors and markings vary greatly, as one can clearly see, but remember that the dog's temperament-its ability to be a sound and stable canine-is much more important than whatever color your dog ultimately ends up being. In the words of breed found Max von Stephanitz, "No Good Dog can be a Bad Color"
German Shepherd Facts, Physical Characteristics and Features | Head | Skull | Teeth | Eyes | Nose | Lips | Jaw
Additional German Shepherd facts include a description of the physical characteristics of the head, skull, teeth, eyes, nose and jaw. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the head should be noble and strong, while the skull should be proportionate to the size of its body, with a slightly domed, unfurrowed forehead and a reasonable amount of space between the dog's ears. The skull should taper gradually, and symmetrically, from the dog's ears to the bridge of its nose; the line of the muzzle should in turn be smooth and even, rather than excessively pronounced. In males, the width of the skull should correspond to the dog's width; this is less the case in females. Undesirable qualities in a dog's skull and head include an excessively short or long muzzle, or a muzzle that is either too pointed or too blunt; as with many characteristics of the German Shepherd, balance is key to finding the ideal specimen.
The eyes of the German Shepherd should generally be dark brown in color, although the AKC specifies that lighter shades of brown are permissible. The eyes should be almost-shaped and balanced in the head – neither inset nor protruding. Perhaps most important is the expression; the dog should appear alert and intelligent, interested in and aware of his surroundings. Furthermore, the German Shepherd's ears should likewise be high and erect – almost to the point of being parallel, tapering slowly to a point. Like the dog's general proportions, this specification too is ergonomic, rather than merely aesthetic; erect, tapered ears reflect a keen sense of hearing on the part of the dog, a trait historically useful to its traditional role as shepherd and work-dog.
Additionally, the nose should be black, as a German Shepherd without a black nose is to be disqualified. As for the lips, they are to be firmly fitted, with strongly developed jaws that have 42 teeth (20 upper and 22 lower) that are well-developed, as any missing teeth is a serious default in the German Shepherd.