General Appearance:  Strong, agile, muscular, alert, longer than tall.

Size, Proportion, and Substance:  Height-males, 24 to 26 inches; females 22 to 24 inches.

Background:  Loyal and courageous, the German Shepherd is the total working dog.  Shepherds have been used for search and rescue, police work, guarding, herding and seeing eye dogs.  His versatility makes him a great companion for adults and children alike.  The German Shepherd's intelligence makes him easy to train.  With a moderate activity level, the Shepherd enjoys a variety of outdoor activities.  His medium length coat sheds profusely and requires frequent brushing.