THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GERMAN AND AMERICAN GERMAN SHEPHERDS

One of the most common question asked is what is the difference between a German line and an American-line German Shepherd. There is a vast difference between the two. Below I will explain some of the differences between the German Show lines, American Show lines, and the European Working lines then I will show you a picture of all three.

Let’s start with how German Standards began.

The German shepherd breed was created in 1899 by Captain Max von Stephanitz, in Germany. The captain wished to create a single breed that could serve instead of the several different highly specialized breeds farmers were using to work their flocks of sheep. He dreamt of a single, multi-purposed dog that could herd sheep, protect boundaries, defend against predators, protect the shepherd, his property and his family and still lie down in the house to play with the children at the end of the day. He set out with determination to select the best dogs exhibiting the desired traits and started building his breeding program. He was a very methodical man with a plan, and he produced some very detailed documents to guide breeders in their efforts.

The standard and breed worthiness requirements are recognized internationally and most countries in the world abide by the German standards. So basically, the German shepherd dogs we find worldwide are pretty much the same and compete side by side in local shows and at the World Sieger Show in Germany once a year.

There are two major different types of German Shepherds in the World Standard: The Working Lines and the Show Lines

The information below was used with permission from the author, Jackie Athon and any reprint must list her as author at www.4germanshep.com.

The working lines are usually smaller, have very little angulation, are usually only KKL2 (permitted to breed, but not recommended to breed). All German Shepherds in Germany must get Schutzhund titles before they are permitted to breed, so obviously both types can do the work, but not necessarily with the same amount of intensity.

Working lines are usually bred to have a very high pain tolerance. This means they do not respond very much to pain. This helps a Police dog when a crazy man on drugs is trying to kick the s**t out of him so he won’t give up the fight. It also means he will not respond to normal corrections and requires much harder discipline to get the dog to obey you.

Working dogs have more ‘hair trigger’ aggression, and generally a higher Prey drive. Because of this, they must be monitored carefully around people, especially children. Anything that moves fast becomes Prey (like a rabbit) to be chased down and caught. If a jogger runs by, or a child zips by running, or is on a bicycle or on skates, the Working dog may react to them as if they are Prey. They can’t grab with their paws, so they use their mouth to grab (bite) to stop their Prey.

So what is best for you will depend on how you intend to live with your dog (kennel dog or house companion), how experienced of a dog handler you are with aggressive dogs, and how far you want to go in SchH competition. With the higher pain tolerance, higher aggression, and higher Prey drive, you had better know what you are doing and how to handle the dog in a safe manner if you want a working line shepherd.

If you intend to compete in SchH 3 Nationals, you will find the working dog is more likely to get you to that level. If you want a really nice quality dog with a relatively easygoing temperament that does have natural (but sensible) protection drives, that can make its SchH titles with proper training, and is easier to live with and control than the Working line dog, then you will do better with the German Show line shepherd.

The show lines were developed by breeders who are very focused on the structure and appearance of the dog. Although these dogs do have to obtain working titles in order to qualify for breeding, their working drives are usually lower than those of the working lines. The conformation lines are dogs that are generally easy to live with, trainable, stable, and calm, yet possessing enough drive to work and protect. The structure of these dogs is excellent, balanced, harmonious, and efficient, and their general appearance is quite homogenous. They are mainly black and red, black and tan or occasionally sable. Working and show lines are still similar in temperament, with the working line exhibiting a higher drive and more intensity, making the show lines a better choice for children when placing them in a family environment.

In North America, we find American / Canadian shepherds. They are very different from the original German shepherds. Although these dogs have common ancestry to the German shepherd, they have become almost a breed onto themselves. These dogs are bred for show purposes, the breeders focusing almost exclusively on looks and movement. They have adapted the standard to their own preference; the result is that these dogs differ greatly from German shepherds found in the rest of the world.

They are generally larger, softer, heavier, and have a lighter bone structure. There is often less differentiation between the two sexes, the males having less masculine heads and bodies, their angulations being quite extreme and their very structure being different from German shepherds. Aside from their appearance being quite different, the major distinction is the temperament; The Canadian / American shepherd is not a working dog. Most of these dogs do not have the required temperament to do any sort of work, with the exception of an occasional herding dog. They have gone a long way off from the temperament described in the breed standard.

The American / Canadian shepherds are not required to pass any temperament test, or to do Schutzhund, to undergo the endurance test, to acquire a breed survey or any other requirement. They are not even required to be free of dysplasia. The only registry is the CKC or the AKC, which do not control the quality of the animals being bred. These animals retain a potential for protective behavior and responses, but without the courage, stability and clear headedness to temper their actions. They are often fear-biters, nervous and stressed, showing inappropriate aggressive tendencies. They lack the courage for true protection work, their aggressive behavior being a result of defensiveness and fear for themselves and not an instinct to protect their master. This can be confusing to a novice, but the end result is very different; you cannot count on this type of dog to protect and defend you in a threatening situation.

American Back-yard Bred

There is a subset of the American dogs, and that would be the “Back-yard Bred” dog (BYB). These are dogs that descend from American show lines, occasionally with some European lines mixed in, but are a generation or two, or more, removed from responsible American show line breeding. They are bred by people in their homes and backyards (hence the name) who have all the wrong reasons for breeding; puppies would be fun, the kids could experience the miracle of life, an easy way to make a few dollars, and the list goes on. Not only do they usually not title or health screen their breeding stock, but in most cases, they aren’t even aware these things exist, much less their importance. They know nothing about bloodlines or pedigrees and don’t care to, though they’ll often advertise their puppies in the newspaper as “champion lines”. They will breed to a dog owned by a friend, family member, neighbor, or someone they meet on the street because it is easy, cheap, and convenient.

Most of these breeders aren’t bad people, and they don’t set out to produce substandard dogs. They do so out of complete ignorance of what it takes to be a responsible breeder, the importance of thoroughly testing the health and temperament of breeding stock, and a lack of interest in educating themselves on those issues. Many actually believe that being AKC registered or having a champion or two several generations back in the pedigree makes for a quality, breed-worthy animal. But while they may not intend to produce dogs with poor health and temperament, that is generally the result.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of German Shepherds in North America are this type. And this is the single greatest reason for the poor reputation the German Shepherd had gained in recent years. Dogs bred by people who do not understand the breed, don’t test their dogs’ health and temperament, and are breeding only for themselves instead of for the betterment of the breed, are an accident waiting to happen. Many of these dogs are soft, nervous, spooky, prone to separation anxiety and other behavioral problems, and weak in character. Some so much so that they are dangerous fear-biters.

Never get a dog from a Backyard Breeder. This is nothing but a game of Russian Roulette. Dogs from responsible breeders may cost more initially, but that is minimal compared to the vet and training fees that can accumulate due to health and temperament problems, a lawsuit caused by a dangerous dog, and the heartache that accompanies both. Below is a picture of both breeds.