Monday, April 21, 2008

AKC Standards For German Shepherds

The body that establishes standards of dog breeds in the United States is the American Kennel Club (AKC). The American Kennel Club decides what qualities make a dog a show quality German Shepherd. German Shepherds in dog shows are judged against these standards, and the dog that comes the closest to matching all the standards of the breed wins the dog show. German Shepherds that win certain prizes in American Kennel Club dog shows can earn the rank of American Kennel Club champion, a designation that appears on a dog's pedigree.

The categories that make up the standard of the German Shepherd breed include: appearance, temperament, size and proportion, coat and color and gait, the way the dog moves. A German Shepherd who meets the appearance standard of the breed gives the impression of a strong animal, alert and full of life. A good German Shepherd looks substantial and muscular, with an expression of nobility and quality breeding. The standard of the German Shepherd breed calls for a confident personality, slow to make friends. German Shepherds are alert and eager, ready to be report for duty as guide dogs, guard dogs, police dogs, herding dogs or loyal family companions.
American Kennel Club standards require German Shepherd males to stand twenty four to twenty six inches tall at the shoulder. Females should stand twenty two to twenty four inches tall at the shoulder. A strong appearance of nobility marks the German Shepherd head. The appearance of the head should communicate the sex of the animal, masculine for males and feminine for females. The head must be proportional to the body. The eyes should be almond shaped and dark, American Kennel Club judges score the most points for the darkest possible eye color. The ears should be moderately pointed and the muzzle long, strong, and pronounced. The nose must be predominantly black. The standard for the German Shepherd's neck is long and strong, with the head held high and proud. The rib cage is deep, with long ribs, a firm underbelly and a full tail held high in the air. The shoulders and forearms show muscular strength, with short, compact feet carrying the German Shepherd in its signature trotting gait. The upper thigh should run parallel to the shoulder blade and the lower thigh should run parallel to the upper arm are parallel. Hindquarters should be broad, with dewclaws absent from the back legs.
German Shepherds that win American Kennel Club championships have double coats that are short with a very thick coat on the outside, covering most of the body, and shorter hair on the head, legs and paws. Faults of the coat that lead to disqualification in a dog show include a soft, silky, wooly and curly coat. Surprisingly, a variety of color combinations are permitted. White dogs, however, are instantly disqualified. Judges prefer rich colors; virtually any combination of black and tan is favored. Faults of the gate are grounds for disqualification, and for good cause. A dog with a faulty gait may have a skeletal disorder that could be passed on to its puppies, and an American Kennel Club champion will inevitably be used for breeding. A German Shepherd that meets the standard trots smoothly, with seemingly little effort, covering territory with ease.

If you are looking for a loving canine companion who will offer unsurpassed loyalty and love, then a German Shepherd is for you, whether it meets these standards are not. These are standards of the breed that are used in dog shows. These qualities are optimal but not required for a pet.

American Kennel Club standards for a German Shepherd cover a dog's appearance and temperament. Maintaining high standards requires breeders to follow practices that promote healthy German Shepherds. Breeders are always looking for German Shepherd information that will help them maintain the standards of this noble breed. To talk to a breeder or see German Shepherds that meet the standards, go to a dog show and see these dogs first hand.

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German Shepherd