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This page is provided to disseminate general information regarding the German Shepherd Dog as it pertains
to anatomy, physical characteristics, established standards and some common translations(words and terms),
that one may encounter when reviewing German pedigrees or Kör reports.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The German Shepherd is medium size, slightly stretched, strong dry and well muscled, with strong bones, whilst the whole body
must appear compact.


IMPORTANT SIZE PROPORTIONS

At the point of the withers, the measurement must be between 60-65 cm(23.62-25.59 inches) in males and 55-60 cm(21.65-23.62
inches) in females. The body length must surpass the wither height by 10-17%.


CHARACTER

The German Shepherd must be self assured, balanced with strong nerves and absolutely impartial behavior, while maintaining a
good nature, until pushed to it's limit. The dog must be vibrant and easy going. Furthermore the dog must be courageous, have a
strong fighting instinct and possess firm nerves. These are essential requirements since the dog is to be used as a companion, guardian,
protector and a working sheepdog. This sheepdog has a high degree of versatility and usability that includes police dog guide and
rescue dog.


HEAD

It has to be wedge shaped and it should be proportionate in size to the rest of the body(the length of the head should be
approximately 40% that of the wither height), without appearing clumsy, shapeless or coarse or over-long. The general
appearance must be dry (no flabby, loose skin). The distance between the ears must be moderate. The forehead (whether seen
from the front or the side), should not appear to be domed.

The ratio between the forehead and the end of the muzzle must be almost 50/50. The forehead width must be the same as it's
length. The skull (as seen from the top), from the ears to the tip of the nose must consist of smooth lines, while having a defined
separation between the skull and the muzzle (stop).

Both the under and the upper jaw must be well developed. The muzzle must be straight, it is not desirable for it to be any other way.
The lips must be tight, well-knit and of dark color (indicates good correct pigmentation).


NOSE

Must be black.


MOUTH

Must be strong, well developed, healthy and complete(42 teeth total). The German Shepherd must have a scissor-like bite, in other
words the bottom teeth locking with the top teeth in a scissor-like formation. Further more, the upper jaw must overlap the bottom
jaw. The definition on the sides of the jaw, is positioned in such a way, so as the top and bottom layers of the front teeth (top and bottom)
must not shut level (directly on top of the other)-the top must over lap the bottom in a scissor-like close. The bones of the jaws must be well
developed as as the teeth are not prematurely worn.


EYES

The eyes are middle size, almond shaped and slightly angled, while they must not protrude. The eye color should be as DARK AS
POSSIBLE. Light eyes are not desirable as they spoil the expression of the dog.


EARS

The German Shepherd has ears which are middle sized, firm textured, broad at the base, set high on the skull, are carried
erect(almost parallel and not pulled inwards), taper to a point and open towards the front. Tipped ears are faulty. Hanging ears
are a very serious fault. During movement the ears may be folded back.


NECK

The neck must be strong, well muscled and without excessive, loose skin at the throat. It should be at a 45 degree angle to
the body.


BODY

A smooth top line beginning from the back of the neck and continuing in a straight line over a well developed wither and
sloping slightly toward the croup-without any visible disturbance. The back is firm, strong and well muscled. The loin is broad,
well developed and well muscled. The croup must be long and slightly angled (about 23 degrees to the horizontal), without
any disturbance to the topline-it must continue toward the beginning of the tail.


CHEST

Must be moderately broad and the brisket should be long and pronounced. The depth of the chest should not be more than
45-48% of the wither height.


RIBS

The ribs must show a moderate curve. It is faulty for the ribs to be either barrel shaped(too round) or slab sided(too flat).


TAIL

The tail is bushy haired on the underside, should reach at least to the hock joint. The ideal length-being to the middle of the hock bones.
When at rest the tail should hang in a slight curve like a sabre. When moving it is raised and the curve is increased. Surgical corrections
are not permitted.


FOREHAND

The forelimbs when seen from all sides must be absolutely straight. Viewed from the front, they must be parallel. The shoulder
blade and the upper arm must have the same length, be well muscled and be tightly knit to the body. the angle of the shoulder
blade to the upperarm-ideally should be at 90 degrees, but usually it is acceptable around 110 degrees. The elbows must be
close to the body-both in stance and in movement.

The pastern must be 1/3 of the length of the foreleg and an angle of about 20 degrees-22 degrees to foreleg. Further more
the pastern should be neither too straight nor too angled(20-22 degrees) so as not to deter the dog's stamina.


FEET

Should be rounded, toes well closed and arched. Pads should be well cushioned and durable but not brittle surfaced. Nails
short, strong and dark in color(indicates good correct pigmentation).


HINDQUARTERS

The position of the hindquarter bones are rounded toward the back. When viewed from the back, they are parallel to each other.
The upper and lower thigh bones are almost of the same length and create an angle of approximately 120 degrees. The
thighs must be strong and well muscled. The hock joint must be strong and tight, while on a vertical line to the rear feet.


GAIT

The German Shepherd Dog is a trotting dog. To achieve this, the limbs must be in such balance to one another so that the hind
quarter may be thrusted well forward to the mid-point of the body and have an equally long reach with the forefoot and without
any noticeable change in the back line.

The correct proportion of height to corresponding length of limbs will produce a ground covering stride, giving the impression
of effortless movement. The head thrust forward and tail slightly raised-balanced and even trotting is seen with a flowing line, running from
the tips of the ears over the neck, back and the tip of the tail.


SKIN

Tight without any wrinkles.


COAT

The consistency of the hair: The correct hair type for the German Shepherd consist of the undercoat and a topcoat. The topcoat
must be made up of dense, straight-hard and close-lying hairs. The hair on the head, ears, paws and legs must be longer and even denser.
The hair at the back of the hind legs form a moderate, "trouser".


COLOR

Base color should be black with markings of brown, red-brown, blonde and light gray. Alternatively a gray base color with
"clouds" of black markings and a black "saddle" and "mask". Inconspicuous white markings on the chest and '"brighter" shades
on the under and inner sides of the dog are permitted but not desirable. The nostrils must in all casses be black(indicates
good correct pigmentation). Non-existence of a "mask", bright-until piercing eye color as well as light/white nails and are
colored tail top are considered as a lack pigmentation, the undercoat is a slight gray tone. White is not permitted.


HEIGHT/WEIGHT

Male: witherheight is 60 cm(23.62 inches) to 65 cm(25.59 inches)/weight is 30 kg(66 lbs) to 40 kg(88 lbs).

Female: witherheight is 55 cm(21.65 inches) to 60 cm(23.62 inches)/weight is 22 kg(48.4 lbs) to 32 kg(70.4 lbs).


TESTICLES

Males must have two, apparently normal testicles fully developed in the scrotum.


FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded in exact proportion to it's degree.


SERIOUS FAULTS

Departure from the breed standard which has been stated in this context and which affects the usefulness and appearance
of the dog is considered a serious fault. Lack of pigmentation, heavy and loose dogs, missing or faulty dentition and/or
jaw formation.


FAULTS OF THE EARS

Ears set too low on the side of the skull, soft and tipping at the tops.


EXCLUSION FAULTS

The origin of the above information is the Germany FCI classification of the German Shepherd Dog.

If you have any questions or translations that you feel need to be added that would enhance this page and edify others, email me.