| Pastoral The Kennel Club Breed Standard General Appearance Slightly long in comparison to height; of powerful, well muscled build with weather-resistant coat. Relation between height, length, position and structure of fore and hindquarters (angulation) producing far-reaching, enduring gait. Clear definition of masculinity and femininity essential, and working ability never sacrificed for mere beauty. Characteristics Versatile working dog, balanced and free from exaggeration. Attentive, alert, resilient and tireless with keen scenting ability. Temperament Steady of nerve, loyal, self-assured, courageous and tractable. Never nervous, over-aggressive or shy. Head and Skull Proportionate in size to body, never coarse, too fine or long. Clean cut; fairly broad between ears. Forehead slightly domed; little or no trace of central furrow. Cheeks forming softly rounded curve, never protruding. Skull from ears to bridge of nose tapering gradually and evenly, blending without too pronounced stop into wedge-shaped powerful muzzle. Skull approximately 50 per cent of overall length of head. Width of skull corresponding approximately to length, in males slightly greater, in females slightly less. Muzzle strong, lips firm, clean and closing tightly. Top of muzzle straight, almost parallel to forehead. Short, blunt, weak, pointed, overlong muzzle undesirable. Eyes Medium-sized, almond-shaped, never protruding. Dark brown preferred, lighter shade permissible, provided expression good and general harmony of head not destroyed. Expression lively, intelligent and self-assured. Ears Medium-sized, firm in texture, broad at base, set high, carried erect, almost parallel, never pulled inwards or tipped, tapering to a point, open at front. Never hanging. Folding back during movement permissible. Mouth Jaws strongly developed. With a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth healthy and strong. Full dentition desirable. Neck Fairly long, strong, with well developed muscles, free from throatiness. Carried at 45 degrees angle to horizontal, raised when excited, lowered at fast trot. Forequarters Shoulder blades long, set obliquely (45 degrees) laid flat to body. Upper arm strong, well muscled, joining shoulder blade at approximately 90 degrees. Forelegs straight from pasterns to elbows viewed from any angle, bone oval rather than round. Pasterns firm, supple and slightly angulated. Elbows neither tucked in nor turned out. Length of foreleg exceeding depth of chest. Body Length measured from point of breast bone to rear edge of pelvis, exceeding height at withers. Correct ratio 10 to 9 or 8 and a half. Undersized dogs, stunted growth, high-legged dogs, those too heavy or too light in build, over-loaded fronts, too short overall appearance, any feature detracting from reach or endurance of gait, undesirable. Chest deep (45-48 per cent) of height at shoulder, not too broad, brisket long, well developed. Ribs well formed and long; neither barrel-shaped nor too flat; allowing free movement of elbows when gaiting. Relatively short loin. Belly firm, only slightly drawn up. Back between withers and croup, straight, strongly developed, not too long. Overall length achieved by correct angle of well laid shoulders, correct length of croup and hindquarters. Withers long, of good height and well defined, joining back in a smooth line without disrupting flowing topline, slightly sloping from front to back. Weak, soft and roach backs undesirable and should be rejected. Loin broad, strong, well muscled. Croup long, gently curving downwards to tail without disrupting flowing topline. Short, steep or flat croups undesirable. Hindquarters Overall strong, broad and well muscled, enabling effortless forward propulsion of whole body. Upper thighbone, viewed from side, sloping to slightly longer lower thighbone. Hind angulation sufficient if imaginary line dropped from point of buttocks cuts through lower thigh just in front of hock, continuing down slightly in front of hindfeet. Angulations corresponding approximately with front angulation, without over-angulation, hock strong. Any tendency towards over-angulation of hindquarters reduces firmness and endurance. Feet Rounded toes well closed and arched. Pads well cushioned and durable. Nails short, strong and dark in colour. Dewclaws removed from hindlegs. Tail Bushy-haired, reaches at least to hock – ideal length reaching to middle of metatarsus. At rest tail hangs in slight sabre-like curve; when moving raised and curve increased, ideally never above level of back. Short, rolled, curled, generally carried badly or stumpy from birth, undesirable. Gait/Movement Sequence of step follows diagonal pattern, moving foreleg and opposite hindleg forward simultaneously; hindfoot thrust forward to midpoint of body and having equally long reach with forefeet without any noticeable change in backline. Coat Outer coat consisting of straight, hard, close-lying hair as dense as possible; thick undercoat. Hair on head, ears, front of legs, paws and toes short; on back, longer and thicker; in some males forming slight ruff. Hair longer on back of legs as far down as pasterns and stifles and forming fairly thick trousers on hindquarters. No hard and fast rule for length of hair; mole-type coats undesirable. Colour Black or black saddle with tan, or gold to light grey markings. All black, all grey, with lighter or brown markings referred to as Sables. Nose black. Light markings on chest or very pale colour on inside of legs permissible but undesirable, as are whitish nails, red-tipped tails or wishy-washy faded colours defined as lacking in pigmentation. Blues, livers, albinos, whites (i.e. almost pure white dogs with black noses) and near whites highly undesirable. Undercoat, except in all black dogs, usually grey or fawn. Colour in itself is of secondary importance having no effect on character or fitness for work. Final colour of a young dog only ascertained when outer coat has developed. Size Ideal height (from withers and just touching elbows): dogs: 63 cms (25 ins); bitches: 58 cms (23 ins). 2.5 cms (1 in) either above or below ideal permissible. Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. September 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Browse our selected list of related publications: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional information can be obtained from the breed clubs and societies ALLERTONSHIRE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs T Hunter. Tel No: 01748 812251 BIRMINGHAM & DISTRICT GSD ASSOC. Sec. Mrs Hood. Tel No: 01992 457615 BOLTON & DISTRICT GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs C Morrison. Tel No. 0161 368 4928 BRITISH ASSOC FOR GSDS. Sec. Mrs Lacey. Tel No: 01869 253229 BRITISH GSD TRAINING CLUB. Sec. Mr S Wright. Tel No: 01253 868430 CLYDE VALLEY GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs J Swan. Tel No: 01555 860389 CREWE & NORTH STAFFS GSD CLUB. Sec. Ms A Doran. Tel No: 01782 388402 DERBYSHIRE GSD CLUB. Sec. Miss P Roe. Tel No: 01142 336262 FIFE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs H Christie. Tel No: 01307 466373 GSD CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. Sec. Miss Hassall. Tel No: 01302 751743 GSD CLUB OF BRISTOL. Sec. Mrs P Harvey. Tel No: 0117 965 7761 GSD CLUB OF DEVON. Sec. Miss S Tucker. Tel No: 01626 833260 GSD CLUB OF ESSEX. Sec. Mrs S Rankin. Tel No: 01708 342194 GSD CLUB OF HERTFORDSHIRE. Sec. Mrs J Green. Tel No: 01438 832525 GSD CLUB OF KENT. Sec. Mrs S Briggs. Tel No: 01622 746762 GSD CLUB OF NORTHERN IRELAND. Sec. Mrs P Mathews. Tel No: 02890 729363 GSD CLUB OF SCOTLAND. Sec. Mrs E Young. Tel No: 01292 521129 GSD CLUB OF SUFFOLK. Sec. Mrs M McCrae. Tel No: 01473 719514 GSD CLUB OF WALES. Sec. Mrs Jeffries. Tel No: 01685 876147 GSD LEAGUE OF GB. Sec. Miss C Lister. Tel No: 01630 638540 GRAMPIAN GSD ASSOC. Ms P Macfarlane. Tel No: 01330 811687 HEADS OF THE VALLEY GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs M Davies. Tel No: 01443 412975 HUMBERSIDE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs O Hickson. Tel No: 01430 422091 ICENI GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs Tidy. Tel No: 01473 310461 LEICESTERSHIRE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs D Walgate. Tel No: 0116 222970 LINCOLNSHIRE GSD & ALL BREEDS TRAINING SOC. Sec. Mrs Halford. Tel No: 01522 543806 LOWLAND COUNTIES ALSATIAN TRAINING CLUB. Sec. Mrs E Port. Tel No: 01698 843555 MIDLAND COUNTIES GSD ASSOC. Sec. Mrs Fahay-Newlands. Tel No: 0115 937 5165 NORFOLK GSD CLUB. Sec. Ms Howells. Tel No: 01603 754713 NORTH EASTERN GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs Charlton. Tel No: 0191 241 2374 NORTH WALES ALSATIAN CLUB. Sec. Mrs Collins. Tel No: 01745 823981 NORTH YORKSHIRE & SOUTH DURHAM GSD CLUB. Sec Ms Ingham. Tel No: Contact the Kennel Club for further information NORTHERN ALSATIAN AND ALL BREEDS TRAINING SOC. Sec. Mrs J Cookson. Tel No: 01457 872376 NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM GSD TRAINING CLUB. Sec. Mrs A Newsham. Tel No: 01325 300686 PRESTON & FYLDE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mr J E Horsfield. Tel No: 01254 261446 REEDYFORD DOG TRAINING AND GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs J Foster, 21, Wellhead, Vinehall, Trawder, Nr Colne, Lancashire BB8 8BW SHEFFIELD GSD SOC. Sec. Mrs A Hardy. Tel No: 01777 703417 SOUTH OF SCOTLAND GSD AND ALL BREEDS TRAINING CLUB. Sec. Miss E Bonthron. Tel No: 0131 334 3938 SOUTH WESTERN GSD CLUB. Sec. Miss S J Kozhevar. Tel No: 01963 362699 SOUTH YORKSHIRE ALSATIAN ASSOC. Sec. Mr R Brandon. Tel No. 01302 721015 SOUTHERN GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG CLUB. Sec. Mrs V Kimber. Tel No: 01992 301585 TYNE VALLEY GSD CLUB. Mrs L Whales. Tel No: 01207 282801 WEST YORKSHIRE GSD CLUB. Sec. Mrs B Trafford. Tel No: 0113 2572067 • The Pastoral Group |