The American Kennel Club (AKC) establishes the standard of every dog breed recognized in the United States. The standards of the German Shepherd breed specify what makes a German Shepherd a competition grade German Shepherd. The closer a dog comes to matching the standards of any particular breed, the greater chance that dog has of winning a dog show or becoming an American Kennel Club champion.

The standards of the German Shepherd breed include these categories: general appearance, temperament, size and proportion, coat and color and gait. The general appearance standard of a good German Shepherd calls for an agile, alert animal with a look of quality and nobility. A German Shepherd’s size and proportion requires that it should be longer than it is tall, and the dog should look solid and fit.

The breed is self confident and direct and friendship with a German Shepherd must be earned. German Shepherds are eager and alert, ready to serve at a moment’s notice as a watchdog, guide dog, herding dog or companion.
According to the AKC standards, the proper size for German Shepherd males is twenty four to twenty six inches tall at the shoulder; the proper size for German Shepherd females is twenty two to twenty four inches tall at the shoulder. The German Shepherd head should have a noble, strong appearance, in good proportion to the body. Sex should be obvious, with males looking masculine, and females looking feminine. The German Shepherd face features very dark eyes, moderately pointed ears (never cropped or hanging) and a long, strong muzzle. The nose must be predominantly black or the dog will be disqualified from competition. The German Shepherd’s neck should be relatively long, very strong and muscular, carrying the noble head high and facing forward. The body should be deeper than it is long, with long ribs, a taut abdomen, and a high, bushy tail. The forequarters are strong and well muscled, ending in short, compact feet. The upper thigh and the shoulder blade are parallel, and the lower thigh bone and the upper arm are parallel. The hindquarters are broad, and under the American Kennel Club standard, dewclaws removed from the hind legs.
The German Shepherd standard of the breed calls for a short, double coat with an extremely dense outer coat on the main body and a short coat on the head, legs and paws. German Shepherds with soft, silky, wooly and curly coats are disqualified. Variations in color are permissible, although a white dog must always be disqualified. Rich colors are preferred, and a tan face with black body is a commonly accepted color combination. A good German Shepherd, according to the American Kennel Club, trots without effort while smoothly covering territory with minimal effort. Faults of the gait are serious and can lead to disqualification.

These are the American Kennel Club standards of the German Shepherd breed against which show dogs are judged. Many of these traits have no bearing whatsoever on what kind of pet a German Shepherd will make. Usually, German Shepherds who don’t meet American Kennel Club standards make excellent pets and working dogs.

The American Kennel Club standards for a German Shepherd promote good breeding practices that produce healthy dogs. 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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