Hello everyone and welcome to yet another interesting topic today about the German Shepherd Dog. I know looking at the topic, majority of us will be very interested. This topic has been overflogged so many times on the internet but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep an open mind to new things and we shouldn't just dwell on our residual knowledge without having interest in learning the more when there's an opportunity.

In my two previous post, I actually mentioned that we have five lines of the German Shepherd Dog and today we will be looking at these five major lines one after the other. Before we do that I'd like to clear a very popular misconception, there is nothing like a straight back or slant back GSD, if we are to look at the anatomy of the German Shepherd Dog, all German Shepherd Dogs have a straight back and none has a slant/sloppy back.

Why did I say this?...It's quite unfortunate I do not know how to attach pictures one after the other in the subtopic but I'll do my best to explain very well without a pictorial representation. We often think the working line is the straight back and the showline is the slant back. Now what we can say is sloppy or slant about any German Shepherd Dog is the topline and the croup.

The Topline:
The topline is the line formed by the withers, back loin and croup. It is the area from the base of the neck to the base of the tail on a dog.

The Croup:
The croup is that muscular area on the rump or buttocks of the dog, forward of the set-on of tail. Where there is a sharp decline in angle of the croup, it is can be referred to as droop.

These two mentioned above is what we see in some dogs, and often times the angulation also plays a major important role. In the angulation aspect we have the over, the deep, the moderate, and the under. The moderate angulation is simply the best any dog can have and please be reminded that when these things becomes obvious in a German Shepherd Dog is when they are stacked especially when they are being prepared for a photoshoot. A working line can be stacked and have a well constructed topline and a croup and the same goes for a showline too. The line your GSD belongs to is how he/she was bred not how he/she looks like and it is only the pedigree that can reveal this to you.

So going back to the major details of the topic, we have five major lines of the German Shepherd Dog and they are divided into two types which is the working line and the showline. Irrespective of the lines, a German Shepherd Dog still remains a German Shepherd Dog as long as you have a verifiable pedigree of up to at least 3 generations.

Showline GSD's are family-friendly and physically appealing version of the breed.

Working lines are the version of the breed that is fiercely loyal and unequalled in private security, police work, and even high-level military use.

Personality Difference

Working lines GSD are more aggressive and is very sensitive to any fast-moving persons or animals because they assumed it to be a prey. They also use their mouth to bite or attack rather than their paws. This aggressiveness is an effect of the severe training exposures. The training requires more special exercises that will develop its physical strength and intelligence in order to be prepared in hazardous field of work.

German Shepherd Show Lines are calm, more tamed and home-friendly but still requires cautions because they can be also dangerous when improperly handled. However, their aggressiveness are usually expressed when there is situation that they need to defend themselves.

For those who are planning to have a German Shepherd Dog, it is not enough that you know about their types of functions but it is also essential to be oriented about the major types of breeds of German Shepherd Lines. Below are some of the famous lines of the German Shepherd working and show lines.

American/Canadian Show Lines

The AKC officially recognized the GSD in 1908. Soldiers coming home to North America after World War I helped increase the popularity of the breed after seeing how effectively the Germans had utilized them as war dogs. However, the breed standard today has changed from the dogs employed during the war.

American/Canadian show lines differ from the German lines in several ways. The American/Canadian lines have focused more on the aesthetics of the dog, rather than working ability. Physical characteristics such as extreme rear angulation and the flying trot take precedence. Their bodies are taller, longer and narrower.


Bred for Appearance
Bodies are Taller and Longer
Extreme Rear Angulation
Often Lighter in Color
Softer Temperament
Great Family Dog

The AKC recognizes 11 different colorings, but most common are tan with black saddle, solid blacks and bi-colored. Their colors tend to be lighter than their European counterparts.

Dogs from the American/Canadian show lines have more laid back temperaments and are ordinarily lower-energy. These dogs can make excellent family dogs. Their softer temperament makes them less suitable for working dogs in police-type work.

AKC recognition depends solely on the dog being purebred. Further, during shows, dogs are judged on appearance alone. Testing does not take into account temperament, nor does it factor in protection work, tracking or herding abilities. In fact, protection work was shunned until recently. Good breeders select for temperament as well as the appearance of their GSD’s. However, some focus solely on appearance, creating dogs with potential personality and health defects.


West German Show Lines

The registration requirements for West German show lines are much more stringent than for the American/Canadian lines. The dog must be more than merely a purebred: its parents must have passed health and temperament evaluations, as well as conform to appearance standards.

Additionally, West German show lines are required to have Schutzhund and herding titles. Schutzhund, German for “protection dog,” has evolved into a sport for any dog, and it focuses on tracking, obedience, and protection. However, its original purpose was reserved for certifying the integrity of the GSD. West German show lines still must exhibit working abilities to compete. These qualities are also required to breed.


Bred for Appearance, Health, & Working Ability
Stockier Build & Larger Head
Back Curved rather than Sloped
Often Redder in Color
Few Health Problems
High Energy / High Drive
Good Family Dog

Aesthetically speaking, West German show lines are bigger overall than the American/Canadian GSD’s: they are thicker, big boned dogs with larger heads and a stockier build. These GSD’s also have a curved back, unlike the sloped back of the American/Canadian GSD.

Their colors tend to be redder than their North American counterparts and come in the saddle pattern almost exclusively. The texture of their coat is plusher, with this branch of the breed carrying the recessive gene for long coats.

The West German show lines have stronger personalities and have fewer health problems because of the health evaluations breeding dogs must endure. Their energy levels are high, as well as their drive, and they can make excellent family pets.

While most GSD’s from this line can be competent in Schutzhund (as they must be to compete in conformation), they are probably not the best choice for protection work (although they are a better choice than the American/Canadian GSD).


West German Working Lines

With the division of Germany, a West German working line emerged. West Germany was less concerned with using their dogs for military purposes. The West German working line still retained its working ability but also was bred for its appearance.


Bred Less for Appearance
Selected for Health & Working Ability
More Sloped Back than Eastern Lines
Very High Energy and Drive
More Variance in Body Shape than Show Lines
More Demanding Exercise / Training Requirements

The West Germans valued perfect colors and a calmer demeanor. Additionally, the physique of the West German working lines is more sloped than the DDR/East German working lines. They are still as energetic as the DDR/East German working lines and need adequate exercise. Health evaluations were not as stringent in West Germany, so they could have slightly more health problems than their East German counterparts. However, West German working lines tend to yield healthy dogs.


DDR/East German Working Lines

After World War II, the Berlin Wall separated West Germany and East Germany. Trade with the outside ceased for East Germany, preserving the lineage of the DDR/East German working lines. Because these dogs would be used for military purposes, the government took control of the line and was able to keep it insulated from outside influence.

The standards for the DDR/East German working lines were extremely high. These dogs had strong bones, broad shoulders, and large heads. Dogs could only be bred if they were completely free of hip dysplasia. Entire litters were inspected for proper temperament, bone structure, coat quality, etc.


Bred for Military Purposes
Very High Breeding Standards
Fewer Health Problems
Larger Heads and Strong Bodies
Exceptional Endurance & Athleticism
Tend to be more Aloof and Defensive
Less Suitable for Family Dog
Demanding Exercise / Training Requirements

Physical tests included being able to scale a straight wall of 1.5 and 1.8 meters, walking a balance beam, searching ten blinds (as opposed to six blinds that West German dogs searched) and completing rigorous tracking tests. They were bred to withstand harsh weather conditions and long days.

The primary purpose of the DDR/East German working lines was border patrol, but they were also used for tracking and as attack dogs. They had to have both endurance and athleticism. They also tend to be more aloof and defensive.



Czech Working Lines

Very Similar to East German Lines
Bred for Military Purposes
Very High Energy and Drive
Exceptional Endurance & Athleticism
Less Suitable for Family Dog
Demanding Exercise / Training Requirements

Originating in Czechoslovakia post-World War II, the Czech working lines arose in similar circumstances as the DDR/East German lines. The communist countries shared a border after the war, and thus the two lines are very alike. In fact, their titles are often combined as “DDR/Czech working lines” to refer to the eastern European branch of GSDs. The Czech working lines were also used in border patrol and for protection, and have been described as being intense and agile.


Mixing Different Types of German Shepherds

Each line has its own qualities that differentiate it from the others. Breeding multiple lines can add desirable traits to a line that might otherwise not contain them.

For instance, a dog from the American/Canadian show lines, while aesthetically pleasing, may lack in working ability. To compensate, breeding an American show line with a German working line could yield a dog that physically maintains the integrity of that line and may have a little more drive than you would typically find. A DDR/East German working line bred with a West German working line may produce a dog with all the athleticism of the DDR but without as much intensity. A strong, powerful and driven dog may be derived from mixing the DDR and Czech working lines.

Qualities are derived more from the individual dogs themselves. However, genetics also play a role, and by knowing the tendencies of each line, one would be able to select for the qualities most appealing to them.

A Note on Training German Shepherds

No matter which of the types of German shepherds you have, training is essential. It must not be forgotten that German shepherds are large working dogs with more drive than most breeds.

On my next post I'll be talking on the line of the perfect German Shepherd Dog for you as a breeder and as a dog lover.

For more questions/enquiries, please do not hesitate to reach me via the provided contact details. I'll be more than willing to help.

Contact Details:

Twitter: @ignite_GSD
Instagram: @ignitegsd
Facebook: @ignitegsd
Tel/Whatsapp: +2348062682135.

With love from IGNITE German Shepherds.