GSD bloodlines

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The debate about the American and Continental bred German Shepherd Dogs seems to be one of the biggest since the founding of the breed. Breeders are split up, each region or nation breeding and reproducing their own style. On the European continent, the famous German sires are still producing the tough, strong German offspring while over on the other side of the Atlantic native bred dogs are passing on totally different genes. So what is the difference? I'm not going to support either of them on this page, I'm just going to name the different facts about them.

The original style was, of course, the German. The dogs have a solid, stable structure which is not too heavy and at the same time substantial and powerful. The German working lines are a little heavier boned, darker in pigment and said to be tougher and better suited for working than the show lines, which are literally bred for exhibiting. Many argue about the working ability of both bloodline types. Show lines are bred by structure, appearance and temperament. The most common color is the black/brown which can vary from black/tan to a deep black/mahogany or even a black/sandy yellow. Both working and show bloodlines have the same scructure and standard, set by the SV. It gives a very close description of the perfect build but basically and to cut a long story short it demands for a well balanced dog which shows the capability of working and presents a picture of endurance and intelligence.

German show bloodline: VA1 Quando von Arminius SchH3 FH IPO Kkl1. World Sieger VA1 1986, 1987. Courtesy GSD-Infoline.com

When it comes to the actual structure, the main difference between American and German dogs is really the topline and hip angulation. The German dogs have a much flatter backline than the Americans. From the observer's point of view, an American dog's back is straighter and falls much more steeply, while a contenental dog's topline is more rounded and only really tilts at the hocks. Also, it's whole body looks much less chizzled and sculptured than the that of the USA dogs. The American dog on the left is a very high quality male who makes a perfect example for a typical American build. You can compare him with Quando.

The head of an American dog is much longer and narrower than that of a German bred German Shepherd. The ears are larger, the nose longer and the head is carried higher and at a higher angle than the big, powerful and musculer skull of a European dog.

As in the head, the body a German dog looks heavier boned than that of an American dog. In the German dogs the back and topline is nearer the level, the hips less angulated and the front legs appear shorter, making the back legs look taller. All in all the German GSDs body looks much more square. The hind legs aren't placed as far back behind and in front of the tale line when standing still and the whole structure of the American dogs body looks much more showy in its shape. The American dogs also seem to stand taller than the German dogs, although they aren't really bigger.

There isn't much difference in color. The black/brown can vary from black and tan to nearly black and yellow. Sable, totall black, black with markings etc. are also permitted. The AKC (American Kennel Club) and SV (Schaeferhund Verein) call for the black saddle to be distincively dark and for the nose leather to be black. Other color faults such as extensive lack of pigment can be regarded as little to serious faults.

Although I cannot confirm this as I have never met an American GSD, they are generally regarded as being more suited as family pets. They tend to have a little less instinctive drive than the working European lines. The German dogs are said to have a harder and somewhat tougher temperament. Of course, each dog is an individual example and I feel that we can learn from both. It wouldn't be fair for the individual dogs if I would say, German lines have too much drive to be pets and that American lines are softies, because it's literally not true. Each can make a great pet and each can quickly turn into a problem dog. With the right care, the right training and the right degree of dedication and devotion from the owner, both make great pets, working dogs and companions.