General Appearance: The first impression of a good German Shepherd Dog is that of a strong, agile, well muscled animal, alert and full of life. It is well balanced, with harmonious development of the forequarter and hindquarter. The dog is longer than tall, deep bodied, and presents an outline of smooth curves rather than angles. It looks substantial and not spindly, giving the impression, both at rest and in motion, of muscular fitness and nimbleness without any look of clumsiness or soft living. The ideal dog is stamped with a look of quality and nobility, difficult to define, but unmistakable when present. Secondary characteristics are strongly marked and every animal gives a definite impression of masculinity or femininity, according to its sex.

Character: The breed has a distinct personality marked by direct and fearless, but not hostile expression, self confidence and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet overtures without itself making them. It is poised but when the occasion demands, eager and alert, both fit and willing to serve in its capacity as companion, watchdog, blind leader, herding dog or guardian, whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be timid, shrinking behind its master or handler; it should not be nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous reactions, such as tucking of tail, to strange sounds or sights. Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good character. Any of the above deficiencies in character which indicate shyness must be penalized as very serious faults.

Head: The head is noble, cleanly chiselled, strong without coarseness, but above all not fine, and in proportion to the body. The head of the male is distinctly masculine and that of the bitch distinctly feminine. The muzzle is long and strong with the lips firmly fitted and its topline is parallel to the topline of the skull. Seen from the front, the forehead is only moderately arched and the skull slopes into the long wedge shaped muzzle without abrupt stop. Jaws are strongly developed.

Ears: Ears are moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the front and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front, are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Eyes Of medium size, almond shaped, set a little obliquely and not protuding. The colour is as dark as possible. The expression keen, intelligent and composed. Teeth 42 in number, 20 upper and 22 lower - are strongly developed and meet in a scissors bite in which part of the inner surface of the upper incisors meet and engage part of the outer surface of the lower incisors. An overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a disqualifying fault. Any missing teeth other than first premolars is a serious fault.

Neck: Neck is strong amd muscular, clean cut and relatively long, proportionate in size to the head and without loose folds of skin. When the dog is at attention or excited, the head is raised and the neck carried high; otherwise typical carriage of the head is forward rather than up and but little higher than the top of the shoulders, particularly in motion.

Forequarters: The shoulder blades are long and obliquely angled, laid on flat and not placed forward. The upper arm joins the shoulder blade at about a right angle. Both the upper arm and the shoulder blade are well muscled. The forelegs, viewed from all sides are straight and the bone oval rather than round. Pasterns are strong and springy and angulated at approximately a 25 degree angle from the vertical.

Feet: Feet are short, compact, with toes well arched, pads thick and firm. Dewclaws on hind legs should be removed, dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed, but are normally left on.

Proportion: The German Shepherd Dog is longer than tall, with the most desirable proportion as 10 to 8 1/2. Desired height for males at the top of the highest point of the shoulder blade is 24 - 26 inches and for bitches 22 - 24 inches.

Body: The whole structure of the body gives an impression of depth and solidity without bulkiness. Chest: It is well filled and carried well down between the legs. It is deep and capacious, never shallow, with ample room for lungs and heart, carried well forward with the prosternum showing ahead of the shoulder in profile. Ribs: Welll sprung and long, neither barrel shaped nor too flat and carried down to a sternum which reaches to the elbows. Correct ribbing allows the elbows to move back freely when the dog is at a trot. Too round causes interference and throws the elbows out, too flat or short causes pinched elbows.

Topline: Withers: The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back. Back: The back is straight, very strongly developed without sag or roach and relatively short. Loin: Viewed from the top, broad and strong. Undue length between the last rib and the thigh, when viewed from the side is undesirable. Croup: Long and gradually sloping.

Tail: Bushy with the last vertebra extended at least to the hock joint. It is set smoothly into the croup and low rather than high. At rest, the tail hangs in a slight curve like a sabre. A slight hook, sometimes carried to one side, is faulty only to the extent that it mars general appearance. Tail too short is a serious fault.

Gait: A German Shepherd Dog is a trotting dog and its structure has been developed to meet the requirements of its work. - The gait should be outreaching, elastic, seemingly without effort, smooth and rhythmic, cover the maximum amount of ground with the minimum number of steps. At a walk it covers a great deal of ground, with long stride of both hind legs and forelegs. At a trot the dog covers still more ground with even longer stride and moves powerfully but easily, with co-ordination and balance so that the gait appears to be the steady motion of a well lubricated machine. The feet travel close to the ground on both forward reach and backward push. In order to achieve ideal movement of this kind, there must be good muscular development and ligamentation.

Colour:The German Shepherd Dog varies in colour and most colours are permissible. Strong rich colours are preferred. Nose black. Pale washed out colours and blue or livers are serious faults. A white dog, or a dog with a nose that is not predominantly black must be disqualified.

Coat: The ideal dog has a double coat of medium length. The outer coat should be as dense as possible, hair straight, harsh and lying close to the body. A slightly wavy outer coat, often of wiry texture is permissible. The head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws are covered with short hair and the neck with longer and thicker hair. The rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat longer hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat, woolly, curly and open coat.