Differences Between German Shepherds and Long-Haired German Shepherds

German shepherds are well known as police, military and guard dogs. As a family pet, the breed is known for its ability to protect its owner and his family. Owners find their German shepherds guarding the front door of their home. German shepherds are a popular and common breed. The long-haired German shepherd differs from its short-haired counterpart and is not so well known.

  1. Recognized Breed

    • The American Kennel Club, or AKC, is the governing body in the United States that recognizes breeds. It lists the German shepherd as a breed. The description of a German shepherd in the AKC standard breed lists a double coat of medium length. Under faults in the coat, the AKC denotes a "too long outer coat." That fault refers to the long-haired German shepherd. The AKC does not recognize the long-haired variety, and considers it to be a German shepherd with a fault.

    Coat Length

    • The main difference between a German shepherd and a long-haired German shepherd is the length of the hair. The long-haired, also referred to a long coat, is the original Old World shepherd. At the time the breed became recognized in Germany by Rittmeister von Stephanitz in the late 19th century, there were both long- and short-haired dogs. The decision was made to recognize only the short-haired dogs. This decision led breeders to produce short-haired dogs. The AKC followed in the United States and the shorter-haired dogs became the standard German shepherd.

    Undercoat

    • German shepherds possess an undercoat. This feature provides the breed with waterproofing. Long-haired German shepherds lack the undercoat. The AKC cites this lack of an undercoat as one reason to not recognize the long-haired. It was also a factor in the original decision by von Stephanitz to favor the short-haired variety of German shepherd. He considered the waterproofing feature to be an important element in the breed, as he wanted a dog that would fare well in adverse weather.

    Temperament/Appearance

    • Long-haired German shepherds have a more even temperament than the short-haired; this may explain why they are more likely to be pets than working dogs. Owners state that the long-haired variety is easier to get along with than their AKC-approved relatives. Long-haired German shepherds have a straighter back and are less prone to hip problems that plague German shepherds.