German Shepherds - Pictures

German Shepherds Breeders Pictures - Description

German Shepherds have strikingly intelligent facial expression. Displayed on their face is a never-flagging loyalty, burning desire to follow the master through all sorts of calamities, should any occur and defend their owners to the last drop of blood.

Head is wedge-shaped if viewed from above, muzzle tapering moderately toward the nose. Forehead is moderately broad, without a lengthwise furrow. The bridge of the muzzle runs parallel to the plane of the forehead. Eyes are dark, almond-shaped and slanting. Ears are erect, wide at the base and held face forward. When running, some species draw their ears back, and this feature is not a fault.

Dentition must be complete (42 teeth). There should not be missing teeth or noticeable gaps between them. Jaws must be strong and well developed. Teeth occlude in a scissors-bite. Level bite is a fault as overshot and undershot jaws is a fault.

Neck must be well muscled and moving. It slopes at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal, and the neck carries higher when the dog is excited and lower in a calm state or when trotting. There must not be loose skin on the throat.

The length of the body should exceed the height at the withers. The ribcage is well sprung, but not barrel-shaped. The underline tucks up, and the back is straight and not very long. Loins are also straight and well muscled. The tail is bushy, and it should reach at least the hock joints of the hind legs.

Height: males - 60-65 cm at the withers; females - 55-60 cm
Weight: males - 30-40 kg; females - 22-32 kg

German Shepherds are trotters. When they run, their paws work in a peculiar criss-crossing pattern. For example, the right hind leg works in unison with the left front paw. This manner of trotting provides for easy and light movement.

The coat is coarse and close lying to the body. It is short on the head, muzzle and toes yet long on the neck. It is also long on the rear side of the front and the hind legs down to the hock joint. German Shepherd dogs occur in black with tan, brown or gray markings. White German Shepherds are out of the show ring, but there are talks about their re-entry into the show status.

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