Long Haired German Shepherd: An AKC Fault?

Five years ago, a fluffy little bundle of joy became a part of the family. When I first saw her, she just looked like a massive ball of fur. She eventually lost her puppy coat but still looked a lot furrier than her brothers and sisters.

Although you can't truly put a price on a dog, we ended up getting Abby because she wasn't as expensive as her siblings. At the time, I thought (and I still think) that as a long haired German Shepherd, Abby was an exceptionally beautiful dog, and arguably, much prettier than her siblings. I didn't understand why she would sell for less than the other German Shepherds.

Turns out, the American Kennel Club (AKC) considers the long haired German Shepherd a fault. Other common faults seen in German Shepherd dogs are white fur, tails that stick up and expose the anus, and floppy ears that can't stand up completely. These traits are not considered desirable for German Shepherd dogs in the competition circuit.

The long haired German Shepherd carries a recessive gene. This usually results from two short haired German Shepherd dogs reproducing, as long haired German Shepherds are rarely allowed to breed. In order to produce a long coat German Shepherd, both the male and female must carry the recessive gene.

According to the AKC, the main reason that the long coat German Shepherd is considered a fault is that it lacks an undercoat. This limits the weatherproofing ability of German Shepherd dogs and can make them sensitive to the elements. I have not seen this in Abby, who enjoys frolicking in the snow and doesn't particularly mind rainy weather.

Other than this occasional sensitivity to inclement weather, long haired German Shepherds are perfectly capable of performing the same tasks as their short haired counterparts. In fact, Europeans frequently use long haired German Shepherds as police dogs, as they are less expensive than short haired dogs. While dogs with faults are not allowed at most conformation trials, there are plenty of other shows that will allow them to perform.

While I was initially offended at having the term "fault" applied to my beautiful dog, I've learned that it is not intended as an insult. Abby may not be considered ideal for breeding or showing, but she is still a beautiful dog and a valuable member of the family. As far as I'm concerned, she has no faults whatsoever!