a definitive ‘look’ that marks the breed with worldwide recognition. In Figure 5 we can see how the breed evolved in this country with the beautiful Mystique garnering top honors repeatedly with the young Jim Moses. Figure 6 shows that in 2016 in Germany the top honors were given to the equally beautiful Oililly bred and owned by the Piste Trophe Kennels. In 2011 the SV in Germany held the first classes for the previously disallowed “Lang- stockhaar” (long coat) which has grown steadi- ly in entrants since that time. In America, the long coat has always been allowed but rarely was awarded a high placing. Today, these long coats are finishing their AKC Championship certificates as judges recognize their virtues. My home-bred long coat female, Piper Hill’s Kodachrome ROM, was the dam of five AKC Champions including the 1988 United States Grand Victor and Best of Breed at the GSDCA National Specialty Show. Years ago the long coats were almost never seen except in Obe- dience competition and in fact, many breeders excluded them completely from their pedi- grees. Long coat is a recessive gene and there can be long coat and normal coat in the same litter as is the case of Leonardo and DaVinci from my kennel as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Currently, a DNA test is available that reveals if a normal coated dog is carrying the long coat recessive gene. As a show specimen, the German Shepherd should present himself to the judge an impres- sion of strength without bulk; of nobleness without refinement; of balance without exag- geration and above all, soundness of character and movement. Every judge should expect a German Shep- herd to be examined in a calm manner. Under no circumstances should a dog act nervous in the ring, although puppies can be given some leniency due to inexperience. In the past, many judges asked the handlers to exhibit the dogs in two phases: the slow and steady trot with the handler at a walk; and the extended trot with the handler at a run. Today, sadly, it seems to be an accepted practice to only “race” around the ring with the purpose of showing the judge how extended is the trot and especially how far the front ‘reach’ can be shown to the judge. A GSD with correct structure will have the bones of the shoulder and upper arm be relatively equal in length with the bones of the thigh and lower leg. This structure will show the judge a beautiful moving machine at either a slow trot or an extended trot. A German Shep- herd Dog that has an overly long bone structure in the rear coupled with a shorter upper arm and straighter shoulder, will not exhibit the same balance at the slow trot and will, in fact, hide this imbalance in a faster trot. So judges
Figure 6 VA1 Oililly von der Piste Trophe SV Siegerin 2016
Figure 1
Figure 7 DaVinci - long coat puppy
Figure 2 Smooth-coated Shepherd Dog around 1900
Figure 8 Leonardo - normal coat puppy
Figure 3 Long-coated Shepherd Dog – Northern Germany around 1900
Figure 9 Awkward Hand- Set Pose
Figure 4 Horand v. GrafrathFigure 1 Wire-coated Shepherd Dog around 1830
Figure 11 Ch. Lockenhaus Rumor Has It v Kenlyn, 2017 Westminster Best In Show
Figure 5 Multiple BIS Select Champion Altana’s Mystique in April 1993
Figure 10 Natural Standing Pose
CONTINUED ON PAGE 263
S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2017 • 261
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