Long Hair vs Short Hair German Shepherds: Coat, Grooming, and Genetics

A German Shepherd with a long coat and one with a short coat are the same breed, and the difference is in the fur. The German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) breed standard describes the ideal coat as a double coat of medium length. A long coat is a separate trait, and the standard lists a "too long outer coat" as a fault. Below is what the breed standard, the American Kennel Club (AKC), and a genetics paper say about the two coats, how much brushing each dog needs, and how to pick between them. If you are shopping for toys while you decide, here are the best balls for German Shepherds for either coat.

The Two Coats at a Glance

Breed Overview

Originating in Germany, the breed was standardized from 1889 by Captain Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, and the AKC says it was created to herd sheep. The AKC recognized the German Shepherd Dog in 1908. The AKC says the breed is the preferred choice for police and military K-9 units, and in the United Kingdom it is also called the Alsatian.

The GSDCA standard gives a male's height as 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and a female's as 22 to 24 inches. The AKC lists weight at 65 to 90 pounds for males and 50 to 70 pounds for females. The standard gives one height range and does not set a separate range for a long coat. It also describes a noble, cleanly chiseled head and a body that is longer than it is tall.

Coat Types and Colors

The GSDCA standard says "the ideal dog has a double coat of medium length," with an outer coat that is "as dense as possible, hair straight, harsh and lying close to the body." The head, legs, and paws are covered with short hair, the neck has longer and thicker hair, and the backs of the legs carry somewhat longer hair down to the pastern and hock. A long coat runs past this description. The standard names "soft, silky, too long outer coat, woolly, curly, and open coat" as coat faults.

The short-haired German Shepherds, on the other hand, have a denser double coat, with a coarse outer layer to protect them from the elements. For color, the standard says most colors are permissible, strong rich colors are preferred, and pale, washed-out colors, blues, and livers are serious faults. The standard also says a white dog must be disqualified.

Why a Litter Can Have Both Coats

A 2026 genetics paper in the journal Animals describes the long-hair trait in dogs in general as recessive, caused by variants in a gene called FGF5. Because the trait is recessive, a puppy needs two long-hair variants to grow a long coat, one from each parent. A short-haired parent can carry one variant without showing it, so two short-haired German Shepherds can have a long-haired puppy.

The same paper lists the German Shepherd among the breeds where it found the long-hair variant called Lh1, in a set of 739 dogs. That is a finding about a genotyping data set, not a count of long-haired German Shepherds.

Temperament and Behavior

The breed standard describes a dog with a direct, fearless expression, self-confidence, and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate friendships. The AKC calls the breed loyal, confident, courageous, and steady, and says a German Shepherd is "extremely bonded to his people" and happiest living with his family. Neither the standard nor the AKC page splits temperament by coat length. The AKC calls early socialization and puppy training classes vital. Long-haired and short-haired German Shepherds both are energetic: the AKC calls the breed very active and athletic and says it needs lots of exercise for its physical and mental well-being.

Grooming and Shedding

The AKC describes the German Shepherd coat as a dense, harsh, close-lying outer coat over a softer undercoat. It says the breed usually needs "just a quick brushing every few days or so" to remove loose hair, and that dogs shed "more profusely once or twice a year," when more frequent brushing helps control the hair around the house. The AKC also says a German Shepherd only needs an occasional bath, and that nails need trimming or grinding every month if they do not wear down on their own. For nails, see our guide to the best dog nail grinders. For baths, see our best shampoos for German Shepherds.

The AKC page is written for the breed as a whole and gives no separate schedule for a long coat. If your dog's fur tangles behind the ears or on the back of the legs, ask your vet or a groomer how often to brush. Pet parents thinking about a salmon oil supplement for coat condition should ask a vet first.

Health

The AKC says most German Shepherds are healthy and that a responsible breeder screens breeding stock for degenerative myelopathy and for elbow and hip dysplasia. A paper on the genetics of that condition in the breed is titled "Novel protective and risk loci in hip dysplasia in German Shepherds." The AKC also says the breed can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening swelling of the abdomen, so pet parents should learn its symptoms and what to do. The sources read do not link either health problem to coat length. Ask a breeder for hip and elbow evaluation results before you buy, for either coat.

Training and Exercise

The AKC calls the German Shepherd a highly intelligent companion and an extraordinary worker, and says consistency and positive, reward-based training give excellent results. The breed is also trained as service dogs. On exercise, the AKC says the breed "requires lots of exercise for his physical and mental well-being" and that a dog who is not exercised enough "will become frustrated and likely to develop undesirable behaviors." It names agility, herding, tracking, and dock diving as good outlets. An activity tracker for dogs can help you see how much your dog really moves in a day.

Which Coat Should You Choose

Choose a short coat if you want the coat the breed standard describes. The standard lists a too-long outer coat as a fault, which matters if you plan to show your dog in conformation. The AKC says this coat needs a quick brushing every few days and a heavier effort during the once or twice a year shed.

Choose a long coat if you like the look. Neither the breed standard nor the AKC page gives a long coat different shedding, exercise, or training advice. Put health testing, breeder quality, and temperament ahead of coat length when you choose a puppy.

Sources

• German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Breed Standard (height, coat, coat faults, color, temperament)
• American Kennel Club, German Shepherd Dog (recognition year, weight, grooming, health, training, exercise, history, Alsatian name)
• German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Breed History (Captain Max von Stephanitz, 1889)
• Everts et al., Discovery of Four New FGF5 Variants Causing Long Hair in the Dog, Animals, 2026 (long hair is recessive, FGF5, Lh1 table)
• Novel protective and risk loci in hip dysplasia in German Shepherds (PubMed Central)