What kinds of coats do German Shepherds come in? They can be longhaired, right?
Yes, German Shepherds can have short hair or long hair. Both coats are the same breed. But short hair is much more common. In some countries, longcoated German Shepherds are considered fine for showing and breeding, but in the U.S., long coats are frowned upon by the official clubs and show-dog breeders. Only the short coats are considered “correct.” Actually, to be completely accurate, there are FOUR kinds of coats in German Shepherds, not just two. The short coat, you see, can be very short, or it can be a little longer and thicker and then it’s called (informally) a plush coat. Show-dog purists prefer these plush coats. Either way, short coats are always double coats, consisting of a short outer coat (harsh to the touch), plus a woolly undercoat (for insulation). The long coat also comes in two types — with an undercoat, and without an undercoat. The long coat without an undercoat is considered the worst coat of all because German Shepherds are really supposed to have an insulating
