Long-haired German Shepherds are already popular but now seem to be more in demand than ever. Long-haired GSD are precisely the same breed as the short-haired German Shepherd, but they have a different length coat. So character trait wise they are the same dog, almost.

What Is The Long-Haired German Shepherd?

Long-haired German Shepherds come along because of a recessive gene the dog's parents carry. Both parents can even be short-haired and still produce a long-haired puppy providing both parents carry this gene; however, if only one parent has the gene, all puppies born will be short-haired.

This demand, to some extent, reveals why the long-haired GSD is highly sought after because they are pretty rare. German Shepherds having long hair has always been thought of as a fault, even by the breed’s founder all those years ago in the 1880s, Max von Stephanitz.

The AKC (American Kennel Club) certainly doesn't recognize the long-haired variety of German Shepherds. So breeders cannot sell puppies for show, which you would expect means their value is lower.

However, many dog breeders are nothing if not resourceful. Because long-haired German Shepherds are pretty rare, only about 12% of all German Shepherd puppies born have long hair, breeders charge a premium if you want to buy a long-haired version.

Long Haired German Shepherd Grooming And Living Conditions

Should you be thinking about bringing a long-haired German Shepherd home to your family, at least one person needs to prepare themselves for a lot of grooming work. Long-haired GSD shed all year round and twice each year when the seasons change; the dog sheds profusely.

You're going to need lots of time and patience because their coat takes some care. The coat mats and clumps together constantly, so if you leave it for even a few days, it's a nightmare dematting the coat; daily brushing is highly recommended.

A pet vacuum won't go amiss, either, because the dog's hair will be on everything, including your clothes. But, what's a little bit of hair when you have a magnificent dog like the long-haired GSD.

These are powerful dogs, and while they are very intelligent and not difficult to train, if you're a timid owner or very inexperienced with big dogs, you might be better choosing a different dog breed.

Early socialization and obedience classes are essential. You need a dog of this nature to be extremely well socialized and behaved.

Long-Haired German Shepherd Temperament

As we mentioned, German Shepherds must be socialized from an early age. The dog tends to be very devoted to their family; they are intelligent and not difficult to train.

A long-haired German Shepherd is typically wary around people they don't know, and they possess a strong guarding instinct. But this can be addressed when they attend socialization and obedience classes.

The dog is okay around children of the family, and generally, they make excellent family pets. But the breeders you buy from need to be reputable because bad breeding lines can create anxious and nervous GSDs, which can sometimes lead to fear aggression.

Long-haired tend to have a more mellow personality than short-haired, and they are less work motivated, preferring to spend as much time with their family. Long-haired German Shepherds, once they bond, stay loyal for the rest of their life.

Long-Haired German Shepherd Exercise Needs

If you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle enjoy hiking or jogging trails, you'll have a perfect fur partner to take with you. Long-haired German Shepherds were bred to work all day, so they have plenty of energy; they enjoy having jobs to do where they can think. Perhaps you should not consider a German Shepherd if you dislike the outdoors and prefer watching TV and relaxing at home.

Final Thoughts Long-Haired German Shepherd

Ever since Max von Stephanitz created the German Shepherd, they have been trying to breed the recessive gene out of the German Shepherd. It looks like they have failed, and the Long-haired version is becoming exceptionally popular.

Suppose you're interested in a loving, loyal, and genuinely magnificent-looking dog. In that case, you don’t object to the daily brushing routine, and you can provide at least two hours of exercise each day, then you could do far worse than the Long-haired German Shepherd.

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