naughty bathing dog

German Shepherds are medium to large-sized dogs.[6] The breed standard height at the withers is 60–65 cm (24–26 in) for males, and 55–60 cm (22–24 in) for females.[7][8][9] German Shepherds are longer than they are tall, with an ideal proportion of 10 to 8+1⁄2. The AKC official breed standard does not set a standard weight range.[10] They have a domed forehead, a long square-cut muzzle with strong jaws and a black nose. The eyes are medium-sized and brown. The ears are large and stand erect, open at the front and parallel, but they often are pulled back during movement. A German Shepherd has a long neck, which is raised when excited and lowered when moving at a fast pace as well as stalking. The tail is bushy and reaches to the hock.[8]


German Shepherd skeleton.
German Shepherds have a double coat which is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants: medium and long. The gene for long hair is recessive, Shepherds have a double coat which is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants: medium and long. The gene for long hair is recessive, and therefore the long-haired variety is rarer. Treatment of the long-haired variation differs across standards; it is accepted but does not compete against standard-coated dogs under the German and UK Kennel Clubs while it can compete with standard-coated dogs, but is considered a fault, in the American Kennel Club.[8][10][11] The FCI accepted the long-haired type in 2010, listing it as the variety b, while the short-haired type is listed as the variety a.[12]

Most commonly, German Shepherds are either tan/black or red/black. Most color varieties have black masks and black body markings which can range from a classic "saddle" to an overall "blanket". Rarer color variations include the sable, pure-black, pure-white, liver, silver, blue, and panda varieties. The all-black and sable varieties are acceptable according to most standards; however, the blue and liver are considered to be serious faults and the all-white is grounds for instant disqualification from showing in conformation at All Breed and Specialty Shows.[10]


Male German Shepherd dog with a saddle black-and-tan coat



German Shepherd dog with black mask and sable coat



Solid black German Shepherd dog



Bi-color military working German Shepherd dog



A male German Shepherd showing the long muzzle, black mask and nose and brown, medium-sized eyes



A black and tan long-haired German Shepherd



Black German Shepherd male ca. 6 months old

Intelligence Edit
German Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence.[13] In a list of breeds most likely to bark as watchdogs, Stanley Coren ranked the breed in second place.[3] Coupled with their strength, this trait makes the breed desirable as police, guard and search and rescue dogs, as they are able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other breeds.[1Black German Shepherd male ca. 6 months old

Intelligence Edit
German Shepherds were bred specifically for their intelligence.[13] In a list of breeds most likely to bark as watchdogs, Stanley Coren ranked the breed in second place.[3] Coupled with their strength, this trait makes the breed desirable as police, guard and search and rescue dogs, as they are able to quickly learn various tasks and interpret instructions better than other breeds.[14]

Temperament Edit

German Shepherds are well-known for their protectiveness over family members
German Shepherds are moderately active dogs and are described in breed standards as self assured.[10] The breed is marked by a willingness to learn and an eagerness to have a purpose. They are curious, which makes them excellent guard dogs and suitable for search missions. They can become overprotective of their family and territory, especially if not socialized correctly.[15] They are not inclined to become immediate friends with strangers.[16] German Shepherds are highly intelligent and obedient, as well as protective of their owners.[17]

Aggression and biting Edit
Further information: Dog bite prevention
While an Australian report from 1999 provides statistics showing that German Shepherds are the breed third most likely to attack a person in some Australian locales,[18] once their popularity is taken into account, the percentages of GSD attacks drops to 38th.[19]

According to the National Geographic Channel television show Dangerous Encounters, the bite of a German Shepherd has a force of over 1,060 newtons (238 lbf) (compared with that of a Rottweiler, over 1,180–1,460 newtons (265–328 lbf), a Pit bull, 1,050 newtons (235 lbf), a Labrador Retriever, of approximately 1,000 newtons (230 lbf), or a human, of approximatelyThe East-European Shepherd is a variety of the German Shepherd bred in the former Soviet Union with the purpose of creating a larger, more cold resistant version of the German Shepherd; it lacks the physical deformities bred into western show l