
German Shepherd Coat Types
- Short Coat (Stock) This coat is short and great for working dogs who need clear vision and less interference when on the run.
- Medium Coat (Plush) This coat is much fuller and plush than the short coat. ...
- Long Coat. German Shepherds with long coats do the best in winter time. The extra long hair helps this breed stay warm during the cold months.
What is the best collar for a German Shepherd?
What to Look for in German Shepherd Collars
- Reflective or Light Up. German Shepherds are usually pretty hard to spot in the dark, since they are usually sable, tan, black, or a combination of these.
- Sturdy. German Shepherds are powerful dogs, often weighing in at close to 100 lbs. ...
- Stylish. ...
- Comfortable. ...
- Good for Work or Training. ...
What type of coat does a German Shepherd have?
The most popular German Shepherd colors are black and tan, black and red, black and cream and black and silver. German Shepherds will have one of two coats, either a medium coat or long coat. They are both double coats, having a more dense guard layer with a softer undercoat.
Is the coat on a German Sheperd dominant or recessive?
When you think of a German Shepherd, the black and tan coat is the most common of all combinations. And, while it may be the most iconic fur pattern of the German Shepherd dog, it’s a recessive gene. That’s right, the classic saddle pattern and black face mask are recessive and utterly dependent upon gene inheritance from the parents.
How do you adopt a German Shepherd?
Where to Find an Older German Shepherd
- Fill Out an Adoption Form. The first thing you have to do is fill out an adoption application. ...
- Meet Up with The Dogs. After this initial screening process, you’ll then be invited to meet the dogs in person. ...
- Wait on Waiting List. ...
- Introduce You to The Dog. ...
- Complete The Paperwork. ...

What are the different types of German Shepherd coats?
The German shepherd is available in four coats -- short with an undercoat (stock), medium with an undercoat (Plush - German) long with an undercoat and long without an undercoat. The short and medium-length coats are the preferred show coats. The short coat is as described, short.
Which coat of German Shepherd is best?
A double coat with medium length is considered the most desirable. This type of coat may be fairly wiry, depending on the dog. A shorter coat is sometimes considered acceptable by breed standard.
What is the difference between a plush coat and a long coat German Shepherd?
The Plush Coat is an American term and is not an official term to describe coat length in a German Shepherd Dog. It means a coat is 'plushier' than the short coat, and is preferred more in the show ring. It's basically is a longer, fuller coat.
What is the rarest German Shepherd coat?
The rarest color of German Shepherd is the isabella due to the recessive combination of liver and blue.
How can you tell if a German Shepherd is full blooded?
To determine whether a German Shepherd is purebred, you can use DNA test kits, observe their physical characteristics like erected ears, examine the dog's coat, look for their behavioral traits, check the registration certificate, consult an expert like a vet, or even use dog scanning apps.
How can you tell if a German Shepherd is a double coat?
This is the most frequent type of coat that you'll see on a German Shepherd and is considered the most desirable for show lines. This coat will usually be between one and two inches. A longer coat with an undercoat. These coats are at least two inches long, and generally quite thick.
What does a plush coat German Shepherd look like?
A plush coat German Shepherd is one with a medium-length coat, fluffier than short-haired German Shepherds and fuller than the long-haired variety. The lengthwise edge they have over short coats makes them look better, and their undercoats improve their fullness compared to long coats.
What is a long stock coat?
Long Stock Coat (Long Stockhaar) comprises a thick undercoat, with an outercoat that is long and soft, whilst is distinctly longer behind the ears and on the back of all the legs.
How can I tell if my German Shepherd puppy is long haired?
Spotting A Long Haired GSD You've likely seen a short-haired Shepherd so, it'll be easy to compare the two. They have tufts of fur around their ears, back of legs, hindquarters, around the tail, and between their paws. Most long-haired Shepherds don't have an undercoat and as a result, look shiny.
Are black German Shepherds more expensive?
You can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2,000 for a high-quality, completely black puppy. This is significantly more expensive than the $500 to $1,500 you can expect to pay for a usual German Shepherd. However, this is still much cheaper than you might expect for a large dog.
Do purebred German Shepherds have white on them?
Purebred German Shepherds can have white on them. This is known as “white spotting.” It's common for puppies to have small white markings on their chest, paws, or the tip of the tail, but they often disappear when they get their first adult coat. On rare occasions, the white markings will remain.
How can I tell what kind of German Shepherd I have?
The most popular distinction that separates them among their different types is the color of their coats. German Shepherd is also sometimes differentiated by the length of their hair and coat, but that is generally done only for purebred German Shepherds.
Which German Shepherd is better long coat or double coat?
There isn't a particularly big difference between the temperament of the Long and Short Haired versions. The biggest difference is that the Short Haired German Shepherd is more suited to working than the Long Haired. This means they may be more aloof with strangers and have a more focused mind.
What is the best color for a German Shepherd?
1) Black and Tan Black and tan is the most common color combination for the German Shepherd and is probably what you think of when you picture a German Shepherd. The black and tan coloration is actually caused by a recessive gene.
What is medium coat German Shepherd?
If you're looking to get a German Shepherd and need to decide on coat length, then getting a medium-haired German Shepherd is the best option if you love plush, pettable fur. They have fairly long topcoat hair that is usually shorter than 2 inches, and their undercoat props up the topcoat to give the dog a fuller look.
What is the price of long coat German Shepherd?
Price also varies with location factors. German Shepherd price in India ranges between Rs 18,000 to Rs 40,000 and can go up to Rs 80,000 for a double-coated dog.
What Kind Of Coat Does A Bolognese Have
The Bolognese takes his name from the north Italian city, Bologna, where he first gained popularity. His coat of white flocks is set off by dark pigmentation and he should be shown in a natural untrimmed state. The Bolognese is sturdy and square and with great beauty and character in head and expression.
German Shepherd Long Stock Coat
This coat is most often referred to as a coat coated or long coat. A long coat has longer, fluffier fur with a thick undercoat.
Medium Stock Coat Plush
Somewhere in between short stock-coated dog and the long stock-coated dogs lies the medium stock-coat or plush coat. This medium stock coat is most preferred by the American Kennel Club standards and is now appearing more frequently in West German show rings.
How Do You Know If A German Shepherd Puppy Is A Longhair
Youve probably seen a short-haired shepherd, so it will be easy to compare the two. They have tufts of fur around the ears, behind the legs, hindquarters, around the tail, and between the legs. Most long-haired shepherds do not have an undercoat and, as a result, have a shiny appearance.
What Type Of Brush Do I Need For A German Shepherd
While it is possible to use one type of brush for a German Shepherd dog, it is better to use a variety. Slicker brushes have little balls on the end of their bristles. These are ideal for the top coat and guard hair. It helps to keep the hair in condition and the dog will often enjoy being brushed with them as they feel therapeutic.
What Kind Of Personality Does A Miniature German Shepherd Have
When it comes to your mini German Shepherds personality, however, theyll probably lean more toward a purebred German Shepherd. Miniature German Shepherds tend to be very intelligent, loyal dogs great for support, family dogs, and tasks. These dogs tend to inherit the German Shepherds innate loyalty and excellent trainability.
Single Coat Vs Double Coat Whats The Difference
The German Shepherd dogs are primarily seen in 2 variation or types of coats: a single or short coat and a double or long coat. Double coat or long coat breeds will have a second coated coat. This is often referred to as a guard coat, which is primarily useful for the dog to protect itself from dirt and water.
Short-Haired German Shepherd
Short-haired German Shepherds make up a significant majority of the modern breed because their short topcoats are functional and abundant. They also have undercoats, which assist in temperature regulation and protect the dog’s skin from exposure to the elements.
Medium Hair (Plush Coat) German Shepherd
Medium-haired German Shepherds are also referred to as plush coats because of their coats’ plushness. They have a fuller look, and they combine the most desirable traits of both the short-haired and long-haired types. Longer topcoat fur makes a dog look aesthetic. My German Shepherd is medium coated, as you can see in the below photo.
Long-Haired German Shepherd
Long-haired German Shepherds have the longest hair across all coat types. However, their undercoat is often missing, which makes them unfit for AKC conformation events. When this occurs, we refer to them as being “open coated.”
German Shepherd Double Coat
A double coat is the preferred type among German Shepherds as per the American Kennel Club standards for the breed. It is also closer to the dog’s wolf ancestors. Over 90% of the breed has two coats, both of which undergo high shedding.
Single Coat (Open Coat) Confusion and Controversy
Sometimes a breeder might tell you that the German Shepherd has two coats and is “open coated.” As far as the AKC is concerned, such a dog has only the topcoat, which means he cannot enter a conformation event.
Things To Keep In Mind When Getting an Open Coat GSD
Because your German Shepherd doesn’t have much of an undercoat, the hair he sheds will be finer. This is further complicated if the dog is a lighter color and the hair isn’t clearly visible.
Standard German Shepherd Colors
If you head to your local breeder armed with the knowledge above, you still might end up getting a German Shepherd unfit for show or one with recessive traits. It is crucial to know about all the German Shepherd colors, so you know you’re paying the right price for the dog you’re getting.
German Shepherd Coat Types
Each German Shepherd has their own unique colored fur and slightly different patterns. There are an array of coat types and dozens of colors associated with GSD’s coats. But no matter what they look like or what flaws they may have, German Shepherds are loved, no matter what.
German Shepherd Coat Colors
When we think of the dog breed German Shepherd, the color we often first associate them with is black and tan. But in reality their are dozens of different colors they can be. There are also unique and rare patterns such as Panda German Shepherds, and uncommon colors you may have never thought a GSD could be such as red or pure white.
Rare Colors
Have you ever seen a dog that’s coloring shocked you with their unusual appearance? There are all kinds of strange color combinations. Being rare often means they are more expensive and are a top choice for dog breeders around the world.
Which Coat is The Best?
Every type of coat length from short to long has their advantages and positives. For example some owners prefer long because they like to travel in harsh snowy environments and longer fur so that they can cuddle with their soft pets.
Conclusion
There are so many wonderful German Shepherd coat types and colors. These tones and fur lengths make them special in their own ways. German Shepherds luscious coats are one of the many traits that make them so beautiful. If you have this breed of dog as your own then you are aware of their true beauty: inside and out.
How many coat lengths are there in a German Shepherd?
There are technically only TWO coat lengths in the German Shepherd. STOCK COAT (short) and LONG STOCK COAT (long coat). Both coat lengths have an undercoat that makes the German shepherd weather proof. LONG HAIR GSD that does not have an undercoat is a fault. We will also cover "PLUSH",
What is a long stock coat?
The Long Stock Coat is a long coat that has fringe and an undercoat. The undercoat will be thinner in the summer and thicker in winter. As a puppy, you can not tell how long it will be. Long and full is desired with sort of a lions mane. It will not grow as long or thick in hotter climates.
What is a short coat dog?
The short coat is just what it sounds like - short. The hair length is short and the coat lays flat against the body. West German Show Dogs usually have a fuller, slightly longer, luxurious coat then the American Shepherd Stock Coat, which as as short as a Labrador.
What determines the length of a dog's coat?
Only these two genes determine the length of the animal's coat. A puppy inherits only one gene form each parent. . L (short stock) is dominant to l (long coat). A long coat has been considered undesirable for many decades, and historically there were just short stock dogs used in breeding and selection.
What is a plush coat?
The Plush Coat is an American term and is not an official term to describe coat length in a German Shepherd Dog. It means a coat is 'plushier' than the short coat, and is preferred more in the show ring. It's basically is a longer, fuller coat.
Is a German Shepherd dog homozygous?
Some lines of German Shepherd Dog are pure at the L Loc us (homozygous on gene "L") and only have Short Stock puppies. Many short stock dogs were heterozygous - carriers for a long coat and there would have been an occasional long coat puppy born in a pair of two short stock parents (both must be carriers).
Can a short stock dog be mated?
A Short Stock dog must be mated with a Short Stock Dog only. This is done to have more predictability in breeding, as mating between heterozygous dogs is highly unpredictable and has a large variety of possible outcome (from producing puppies of pure short stock (LL), to carriers (Ll) and Pure Long Coat (ll).
Do German Shepherds have fur or hair?
German Shepherds have a double coat that consists of a thick undercoat and a dense outer coat that can be straight or a little wavy. Their coats are medium to long, although longer hair is less common since it is passed on through a recessive gene. The outer coat sheds year-round and requires regular brushing.
What type of coat does a GSD have?
The German Shepherd Dog has a medium-length, double coat consisting of a dense, harsh, and close-lying outer coat with a softer undercoat. The breed is easy to maintain, usually requiring just a quick brushing every few days or so to help remove loose hairs, but they do shed more profusely once or twice a year.
Is a German Shepherd a long coat?
Long haired German Shepherds are a unique variant of the ever-popular short to medium length coated Shepherds. The difference between the breed’s coat has little effect on the breed. Rough coated dogs are considered special due to the rarity and beauty of their fur.
Which coat of German Shepherd is best?
German Shepherd Coat Types A double coat with medium length is considered the most desirable. This type of coat may be fairly wiry, depending on the dog. A shorter coat is sometimes considered acceptable by breed standard.
Are German Shepherd double coat?
German Shepherds have a double coat which is close and dense with a thick undercoat. The coat is accepted in two variants: medium and long. The gene for long hair is recessive, and therefore the long-haired variety is rarer. Most commonly, German Shepherds are either tan/black or red/black.
How many types of coat are there in German Shepherd?
The German shepherd is available in four coats — short with an undercoat (stock), medium with an undercoat (Plush – German) long with an undercoat and long without an undercoat.
What is the rarest German Shepherd color?
The rarest color of German Shepherd is the isabella due to the recessive combination of liver and blue. You will have to search for a long time to get such a puppy – and his price will likely be high as well!
What is a plush coat German Shepherd?
Plush-Coated German Shepherds. Considered to be the most stereotypical kind of German Shepherd coat, the plush coat German Shepherd (or medium coat) is quite famous in a dog show world. Overall, they are closer in appearance to short-haired GSDs. They are double-coated meaning they have an outer and an undercoat.
Why do German Shepherds have double coats?
The double coat of a German Shepherd is said to be the most important feature of the breed. It protects them from both heat and cold. What is even more interesting, though their hairs may be shorter they have more actual hairs than longer-haired German Shepherds. The short-hair or called the stock coat German Shepherds are the only type ...
What is the difference between a long haired German Shepherd and a double coat German Shepherd?
In long-haired German Shepherds, the topcoat is heavier than the undercoat. They have longer and silkier hair (2 inches or longer) around their ears and on the chest, back, face, tail, and behind the back of their legs.
What is a long haired German Shepherd called?
Long-haired German Shepherds are essentially German Shepherd dogs with longer hair. They are technically called a long coat German Shepherd. In the breeding world, they are also referred to as “coat,” “coated,” “long coat,” “long stock hair,” or “Coaties.”
Is a GSD a long hair dog?
To know the difference between plush-coated German Shepherds and short and long-haired German Shepherds, let’s take a look at each coat type.
Do GSDs shed more when mopping?
While it is true that the short-haired and plush-haired GSDs appear to shed more as the hair they lose is more visible when you mop your floor. In reality, the long-haired GSDs shed as much. Because of the long hairs, the hairs that are shed tend to get matted and stuck together.
Do German Shepherds shed?
The fact, regardless of the coat length, all German Shepherds are heavy shedders. They shed all year round, particularly when the weather gets warmer and they don’t need their double coat just as much as in winter.
