About
Five Peaks German Shepherds...
My name is Elaine Holt. As a dog sport aficionado and professional
all-breed canine trainer of 12 years, I have developed a high
regard for the courage and drive found in working line German
Shepherds. This passion is met with a sincere appreciation for
the beauty, correct structure and temperament of show line German
Shepherds. The success of the Five Peaks breeding program stems
from bringing together the best qualities found in both the
working and show lines. We take great pride in producing outstanding
family companions with exceptional temperaments.
Each breeding focuses on complying with internationally recognized
FCI standard for the German Shepherd breed. We do not succumb
to the latest trend or fad. It is our goal to maintain the workability
of the German Shepherd while keeping the conformational guidelines
in check as they were originally meant to be. Our standards
of quality are high and it shows in our puppies.
We are a member of Colorado Canine Club (CCC) in Denver,
Colorado. CCC is a full member club of DVG America - an all breed
Schutzhund organization. We are also a member of the German Shepherd
Dog Club of America – Working Dog Association (GSDCA–WDA),
an organization dedicated to excellence in the training, showing and
trialing of the German Shepherd Dog. The Colorado Police Canine
Association has made Elaine an honorary member for the volunteer work
done with their organization.
Five Peaks is located just outside of Denver on 35 rolling acres in Elizabeth, Colorado.
The aim of each Five Peaks breeding is to conform
to the internationally recognized FCI Breed Standard for
the German Shepherd Dog:
Brief Introduction
The following translation of the German Shepherd Dog F.C.I.
Standard, MO. 166/23.03.1991/D translated from the SV publication
1998 has been submitted by Johannes Grewe and is recommended
by the 1998 Breed Advisory Committee for approval by the Executive
Board at their meeting in 1998.
The following "Standard" has been approved by the Executive
Board at the meeting in Bangor, Maine, on May 6, 1998.
GERMAN SHEPHERD
F.C.I.-Standard-Mo. 166/23.03.1991/D
Edition 1993
Short Historical Overview
In accordance with the official provisions of the German Shepherd
Dog Club (SV) e.V., located in Augsburg, a member of the Federation
of Dog Clubs in Germany (VDH) is the founding organization
of the German Shepherd Dog and therefore, responsible for the
breed standard. Work on this document was begun at the first
membership meeting in Frankfurt/M on September 20, 1899 and
is based on proposals by A. Meyer and v. Stephanitz. Additions
and revisions to the standard were made as follows: membership
meeting on July 28, 1901; 23rd membership meeting on September
17, 1909 in Koln; Board and Executive Committee Meeting on
September 5, 1930 in Wiesbaden, and the Breeders Committee
and Board Meeting on March 25, 1961 in conjunction with the
WUSV (World Union of German Shepherd Clubs) and during the
WUSV Meeting on August 30, 1976 where the standard was agreed
upon, revised, and approved by the Board and Executive Committee
on March 23 and 24, 1991.
Planned breeding activities began after the inception of the
SV in 1899. The German Shepherd Dog was developed from herding
dogs in service during that time in Middle and Southern Germany.
The goal was to produce a high-performance working dog. To
accomplish this goal, the Breed Standard of the German Shepherd
Dog was created. This document addresses both physical qualities
as well as character attributes.
General Appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is medium sized, slightly longer than
tall, strong and well muscled, bone is dry, the whole dog presenting
a picture of firmness.
Important Measurements
Height at the withers for males: 60 - 65 cm, bitches: 55 -
60 cm. Length of torso exceeds height at the withers by 10
- 17%.
Character
The German Shepherd should appear poised, calm, self confident,
absolutely at ease, and (except when agitated) good natured,
but also attentive and willing to serve. He must have courage,
fighting drive, and hardness in order to serve as companion,
watchdog, protection dog, service dog, and herding dog.
Head
The head is wedge-shaped and in harmony with the dog’s
size (length app. 40% of height at the withers) without being
coarse or overly long. The head should appear dry, and moderately
wide between the ears. Seen from the front and side, the forehead
is only slightly domed, the center furrow is either absent
or only slightly visible. The length ratio of skull to face
is 50 : 50%. Skull width approximately equals skull length.
Seen from above, the skull slopes into a wedge-shaped muzzle.
The stop should not be pronounced. Upper and lower jaws are
strong, the bridge of the nose should be straight, not a Roman
nose or dish-faced nose. Lips are taut, well closed and of
dark color.
The Nose
The nose should be black.
Teeth
The teeth must be strong and complete in number (42 teeth
as per formula). The German Shepherd has a scissor bite, where
the upper incisors must meet the lower incisors in a scissor
grip. Level bite, overshot and undershot teeth are faulty,
as well as widely spaced teeth. A straight incisor tooth line
is also faulty. Jawbones must be well developed, to permit
deep rooting of the teeth in the gum.
The Eyes
The eyes are medium sized, almond-shaped, set slightly oblique
and not protruding. The color should be as dark as possible
Ears
The German Shepherd has medium-sized, upright ears which are
carried erect and perpendicular to one another, pointed and
open to the front. Tipped ears and hanging ears are faulty.
Laid-back ears are not faulty when the dog is in motion or
resting.
Neck
The neck is strong, well-muscled, and clean cut (without folds
of loose skin). The angle of neck to torso is approximately
45 degrees.
Body
The top line extends from the point where the neck meets the
skull past the well developed withers and the gently downward
sloping back to the slightly sloping croup without a visible
break. The back is firm, strong, and well muscled. The loin
is broad, well developed, and strongly muscled. The croup should
be long and have a slight downward slope (approximately 23
degrees from horizontal) and should merge smoothly into the
tail set.
Chest
The chest should be of moderate width, the underchest long
and pronounced. Chest depth should be approximately 45 to 48%
of height at the withers. The ribs should be moderately sprung.
Barrel shaped or flat ribs are faulty.
Tail
The tail reaches at least to the hock joint, but not past
the halfway point of the hock itself. The coat is slightly
longer on the underside of the tail. The tail hangs in a soft,
saber-like curve. When the dog is excited or in motion, the
tail is somewhat raised, but should not reach past the horizontal
line. Surgical corrections are not permitted.
Limbs
Forelegs
Seen from all sides, the forelegs are straight and absolutely
parallel when viewed from the front.
Shoulder and upper arms are of equal length. Both are held
snugly to the body by strong muscles. Angulation of shoulder
blade to the upper arm ideally is 90 degrees, but up to 110
degrees is permissible.
Elbows may not turn out when the dog is standing or in motion
or be pinched inward. The lower legs viewed from all sides
are straight and absolutely parallel, dry, and well muscled.
The pastern measures about 1/3 of the forearm length and is
angled 20-22 degrees to the foreleg. Pasterns with an angle
of more than 22 degrees or very steep pasterns (less than 20
degrees) reduce working capability especially, endurance.
Paws
The paws are rounded, tight, and arched. The soles are hard,
but not brittle. The nails are strong and dark.
Hind Legs
The rear legs have a pronounced rounded knee or turn of stifle
which projects the dog's rear quarter well behind the point
of the pelvis. Seen from the rear, the hind legs are parallel
to one another. Upper and lower thighs are of approximately
the same length and form an angle of 120 degrees. Thighs are
strong and well muscled.
The hock joint is strong and dry and the hock stands upright
under the joint.
Paws
The paws are tight, slightly arched, the balls of the feet
are hard and dark, nails strong, arched, and dark.
Gait
The German Shepherd is a trotting dog. Length and angulation
of front and rear legs must be in proper proportion to one
another to permit the dog to move the rear leg underneath the
body, matching the reach of the rear legs with that of the
front legs and at the same time, keeping the topline over the
back relatively undisturbed. Any tendency for over-angulation
of the rear reduces firmness and endurance of the dog and therefore,
working capability. Correct body proportions and angulation
result in a ground-covering gait which moves close to the ground
and conveys the impression of effortless movement. With the
head held slightly forward and the tail slightly lifted, the
dog trotting evenly and smoothly, we see a softly moving topline
which flows without interruption from neck to tail tip.
Skin
The skin covers the body loosely, but without folds.
Coat
Coat Characteristics
The correct coat for the German Shepherd is a stock coat (outer
and under coat). The top coat should be as tight as possible,
straight, coarse, and clinging closely to the undercoat. The
head, including the inside of the ears, the front of the legs,
the paws, and toes have short hair. Neck hair is longer and
thicker. On the rear side of the legs, hair length increases
downward to the pastern and hock. The rear of the thighs is
covered show moderate "pants".
Pigment
Black with reddish brown, brown, tan to light-grey markings.
Solid black, grey with darker overcast, black saddle and mask.
Inconspicuous small white chest markings, as well as lighter
pigment on the inside of the legs is permitted, but not desirable.
All dogs, no matter what their color, must have black noses.
Missing mask, light to white markings on the chest and inner
leg sides, light toenails, and a red tail tip are signs of
faulty pigmentation. Undercoat has a slight grey cast. White
is not permissible.
Size/Weight
Males: Height at the wither 60 cm to 65 cm
Weight 30 kg to 40 kg.
Females: Height at the wither 55 cm to 60 cm
Weight 22 kg - 32 kg
Testicles
Visual inspection must show two normally developed testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
Faults
Any deviations from the above listed points are considered
faults. Points deducted must be in accordance with severity
of the deviation.
Severe Faults
Deviations from the breed characteristics described above
which compromise the working ability of the animal.
Ear Faults: ears set too low, tipped ears, overset ears, and
soft ears.
Considerable lack of pigment.
Firmness strongly compromised.
Faults of Dentition:
All deviation from scissor bite and number of teeth, unless
they are disqualifying faults.
Disqualifying Faults
a) Character weakness, nervous biters, and dogs with a weak
nervous system;
b) Dogs with documented "severe hip dysplasia";
c) Monorchids and cryptorchids as well as dogs with testicles
of visibly uneven size or shrunken testicles;
d) Dogs with disfiguring ears and/or tails;
e) Malformed dogs;
f) Tooth faults as follows:
1. Missing 1 #3 premolar and one additional tooth;
2. Missing 1 canine tooth or
3. Missing 1 #4 premolar, or
4. Missing 1 molar #1 or #2 or
5. Missing a total number of 3 teeth and/or more;
g) Dogs with bite faults: overbite of 2 mm or more, or undershot;
level bite;
h) Dogs that measure more than 1 cm over or under regulation
size;
i) Albinism;
j) White coat (incl. those with dark eyes and nails);
k) Long stock coat (long, soft loosely fitting outer coat
with undercoat, flags on ears and legs, bushy pants and bushy
tail with flag on underside);
l) Long coat (long, soft outer coat without undercoat). This
coat type frequently is parted along the center line of the
back, has flags on ears, legs, and tail
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