The long haired German Shepherd is quickly becoming more popular with dog owners. While this is not actually a pure bred German Shepherd, being mixed with collies and other long haired breeds, they make great pets. They have the same wonderful qualities as do other shepherds; keep reading to find out more about the similarities and differences between these dogs and pure German Shepherds.
The most important physical difference between a purebred German Shepherd and a long haired German Shepherd is their long, straight, smooth coats, which set them apart from standard issue shepherds. They also have straighter backs than purebred German Shepherds – and despite their long coats, they shed very little and actually require less grooming than pure bred shepherds.
Longhaired German Shepherds are known as pleasant, sweet tempered dogs which are welcoming of new people. Their sociability comes from the border collie side of the family, as does their fun-loving personality. As puppies, they are exceptionally active and energetic, which makes them a good match for active families and individuals.
The Long Haired German Shepherd is a very trainable dog which loves to please their people. While they are more common as pets than as working dogs, they are equally suited for both. They are great pets for families as well as companions for the disabled.
Generally speaking, there are two types of longhaired shepherd. There are smooth long coated German Shepherds, which have longer fur behind the ears, at the loins and on the back of their legs, along with a bushy, slightly feathered tail. There are also long coated German Shepherds with even longer, softer fur all over, rather than just in the areas mentioned above.
While the line is of course a close relative of pure bred German Shepherds, the American Kennel Club and other major dog organizations do not recognize them as a legitimate breeding line. One of the reasons they give for this decision is the breed’s lack of an undercoat, which makes them lack the waterproofing possessed by pure German Shepherds. The dog organizations also see their long fur as a defect, rather than an asset and as such, do not permit them to compete as show dogs.
However, the breed retains its popularity despite these objections from the AKC and other organizations and there are many breeders, especially in North America, who specialize in these dogs. European breeders have taken to calling the long haired German Shepherd the “Old German Shepherd” and have founded their own organizations to promote the breed.
