Compan.htm LongCoat.htm Puppies.htm  Titles.htm Education.htm GSDHealth.htm Buying_a_GSD.htm     Foundation bitch Echo.htm Echo's progeny Dlitter.htm Elitter.htm Ellie.htm Flitter.htm Friedal.htm Hlitter.htm Heiko.htm Hester.htm     Echo's Grandchildren Pedigreg.htm Gretchen.htm   I_litter.htm J litter.htm

The Long Coated German Shepherd as Companion Dog    Not all German Shepherds are show dogs and not all of them have the short coat usually associated with the German Shepherd. The following pictures are of purebred, registered, GSD, from pure bred, registered parents.  Vonderbrink's Ekstase aka "Tassie"  One variation of the purebred German Shepherd is the "long coat" which may occur in a litter of otherwise normal coated puppies. It is a genetic throwback to the original breeds from which the German Shepherd was developed. People who don't know very much about the German Shepherd Dog will commonly mistake the long coat for a mixed breed dog. The dog is, however, a pure bred, and exists in both Germany and North America. I am told, in fact, that the long coat was preferred by the military when dogs had to work in harsh brush country where their coats protected them better. The "long coat" can compete in any AKC/CKC sponsored event. The long coat is considered a "fault" in the show ring and for that reason is seldom seen in conformation. Many consider the long coat to have the better disposition, better structure and better health that their short coated siblings. People who own long coats become undying fans.   Xena is also a "long coat." with the most cheerful disposition, intelligence and beautiful body. She lives with the Chue family in Edmonton.     Xena, the "Warrior Princess" is also an experienced couch potatoe Here we seen Xena being loved by "her boys" as she takes her place in the car for a family vacation. Note the long hair on the ears.