Choosing German Shepherd Puppies

The German Shepherd puppies grow up to be a very good looking breed. To ensure that your puppy will have all of the physical attributes linked to the breed standard, keep the following in mind when you go puppy shopping.

The body of German Shepherds is well proportioned and strong. They have a deep chest, well developed shoulders and a smooth straight back. Their back extends into their bushy tail. Their short tail is never above the level of their back and has a curve to it.

The legs of German Shepherd puppies are well muscled. The front legs should appear straight and the back legs are well angulated. The feet of Shepherds are well rounded and have arched toes. The pads of the feet are strong and cushioned. The dewclaws in the hind legs should be removed.

German Shepherd puppies have a head that is well proportioned to the rest of their body. The head flows nicely into their powerful wedge-shaped muzzle that has a well defined stop. At the end of the muzzle is their black nose which has wide nostrils. The top of the muzzle is straight and the jaws strong. This breed should have a perfect and straight scissor bite. Puppies will have fewer teeth than adults.

The eyes of German Shepherd puppies are almond shaped and dark brown. They are medium sized and convey an expression that is confident, alert and intelligent. The ears are of a firm texture and are set high on their head. The ears are carried erect and taper to a perfect point.

The last, and likely the most prominent feature about German Shepherd puppies you will notice is their coat and its color. The coat is straight, dense and hard. It lies close to the body and features a thick undercoat. The hair on their back is longer and thicker than on any other part of their body. The color of the coat is usually black with tan markings. However, black saddle, gold or light grey markings are permissible.

All of these features come together to create the look of the German Shepherd. If any of these features are lacking, they are considered faults in the breed. That being said, if you don’t intend on showing your German Shepherd, a few faults (as long as they are not a health threat) shouldn’t matter to you when selecting from a litter of German Shepherd puppies.