Breed standard amendment in terms of Hair types in German Shepherd Dogs

New German Shepherd Dog breed standard related to the type of hair “Long Straight Topcoat with Under-coat”

The resolution in the 2008 -2009 Federal Assembly, the SV filed a motion with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) for adopting the coat type “Long Straight Topcoat with Undercoat” as a distinctive variety in the GSD breed standard. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) has approved the motion filed by the SV with effect from January 1, 2011. This news about German Shepherd Dog has created a buzz amongst the German Shepherd Dog lovers community.

By approving this motion of the SV, the FCI has allowed the specific variety of German Shepherd Dog breed with the type of hair “Long Straight Topcoat with Undercoat”: 

• To participate in breed surveys across the globe
• To participate in the breed specialty shows across the globe. The organisers of such breed shows can set up separate classes for dogs with this type of hair. It is not possible to install mixed classes with "straight-haired" variety and "Long Straight Topcoat with Undercoat" variety.
• For breeding officially. However, the most important thing to be noted here is that matings are approved only between dogs with the same type of hair (e.g. StraightTopcoat Hair with Straight Topcoat Hair, Long Straight Topcoat with Long Straight Topcoat). Combination between the two hair types has not been permitted.

So here goes the amended version of breed standard insofar the hair types:

1) Coat of hair, sub-item “quality of hair”

For New version:
a) German Shepherd Dog varieties based on hair types: As far as the hair type is concerned the German Shepherd Dog has been officially categorized into two approved varieties, viz. Straight Topcoat Hair with undercoat and Long Straight Topcoat with undercoat.
b) German Shepherd Dog Breeding within varieties: Breeding by combining two varieties are not allowed, despite both these varieties being approved by SV and FCI.  Matings permitted only within the same varieties, for  instance, either both animals are of Straight Topcoat Hair with undercoat variety OR both animals are of Long Straight Topcoat with undercoat variety.


Description of the varieties according to types of hair:


Straight Topcoat Hair - The guard hair should be as dense as possible, particularly harsh and close fitting. The hair should be short on the head and interior part of the ears. The hair should be short on the front part of the legs, paws and toes. The hair, in a Straight Topcoat Hair with undercoat variety, must be some-what longer and more densely covered in the neck region. On the back side of the legs the hair extends to the carpal joint or the region of hock, thereby forming moderate ‘trousers’ on the back side of the dog's haunches.

Long Straight Topcoat - The guard hair shall be long, soft and more or less silky and not close fitting. The ears and legs should have tufts. Head region should have short hair. Ears, front side of the legs, on the paws and toes should have somewhat longer hair, with silky texture. The Hair on the neck region should be longer and more strongly covered, forming mane. The  tail should be more bushy, with thicker appearence as compared to Straight Topcoat Hair variety. The tail must have downward formation of tuft. The back parts of the legs must have longer hair. Th hair on the back parts of the legs should extend to the carpal joint or the hock and forms clear trousers on the back side of the dog's haunches.

2. Disqualification or Undesirable Feature with this Hair types in German Shepherd Dogs

For New version:

Long Straight Topcoat without Undercoat is strongly disapproved and are severe faults and considered as disqualifying feature.