The Long Coat

 German Shepherd Dog

The long coat gene has been within the breed since the beginning. By using various local shepherd dogs with different coat types from Württemberg, Thurginia and Bavaria, dedicated breeders were able to produce a responsive, obedient and handsome German Shepherd Dog. In April 1899, Captain Max von Stephanitz registered a dog named Horand as the first Deutsche Schaferhund which means German Shepherd Dog in English.

It is known that long coat shepherds were shown in Hanover in 1882 and the short coat variety was presented in Berlin in 1889. Until 1915, both long and standard coat varieties were exhibited . Most of the top dogs of the present day still carry the long coat gene as have most of the top dogs throughout the breed's history.

Strange then isn't it that standard coat lovers are so against the long coat and only the standard coat can be shown in breed shows these days!!

Discrimination against the long coat in breeding has been practised for may years but has failed to eliminate the gene or even reduce the frequency in which it occurs. Why discriminate against the long coat when there are far more serious issues to deal with within the breed?

If a dog is of outstanding physical and mental soundness then does it not seem trivial to discard that dog merely because it's coat is a bit too long? There are also so many major physical and mental traits within today's breed that need to be improved upon. Until breeders consistently produce dogs that are to a greater degree free of mental and physical unsoundness including hip, elbow, digestive and temperament problem, then the trivial issues of coat and colour should not be given as high a priority as they are in the discriminative process.

Long coat GSD's are beautiful dogs to behold. They have bushy tufts behind the ears, big bushy tales, long fringes along the backs of the legs and longer hair between the toes. If you do not intend to show your dog in conformation shows ,there is no reason to avoid the long coat GSD. These dogs can and do compete in Obedience and other working disciplines. Some owners say that the long coat's character and temperament is also different than the short coated dog.

Although this has nothing to do with the length of the coat as far as the dog is concerned, the only thing that may contribute towards this could be all the cuddles they get as pups!!