K9 Training Center

With the following information we hope to inform you and help you understand the complicated process involved in breeding German Shepherd Dogs (GSD's). All of the following must be met for SV breedings:.

Hip Ratings

The Breed Survey (Körung, Kkl)

SV Classifications for Breeding

HD Zuchtwert (Breed Value Assessment Number)

DNA Testing

SCHUTZHUND (SchH) (pronounced "shoots hooned")

Hip Ratings

To ensure the structural quality their German Shepherd Dogs, reputable breeders must have the hips of all breeding dogs rated.  Hip ratings can be done by several organizations throughout the world.  Because Raben's German Shepherd Dog's import most if not all of our breeding males and females, ours are primarily done by the German, a-stamp, standard (below).  The information below provides an overview of each of these standards.  Raben's German Shepherd Dogs recommends that our clients have a preliminary x-ray done on or before the dog's six-month birth date and again at the age of 24 months.

German Evaluation

In Germany the dog must be at least 12 months old at the time of the test.  Only an SV-certified veterinarian can take a hip x-ray.  Before the test, the veterinarian must certify the dog's tattoo number in the space provided on the dog's pedigree, which the dog owner must surrender to the veterinarian before the x-ray can be taken.  This process cannot be repeated.  The dog's x-ray and registration certificate must then be forwarded to the SV for evaluation.  If the dog has severe hip dysplasia, the SV will permanently disqualify this dog from breeding and will publish the dog's name, parents, line breeding, owner, and breeder in the SV magazine.

Hip certification for Schutzhund USA.

Only German Shepherd Dogs may apply for the “a” stamp evaluation.  On the day the x-ray is taken, the dog must be at least 12 months old.  Only German Shepherd Dogs with registration papers/pedigree recognized by the SV can participate.  All German Shepherd Dogs x-rayed for the “a” stamp program must be visibly tattooed, and the following information must be exposed on the plate of the x-ray:

• Complete registered name of the dog
• Registration number
• Tattoo number
• Date of birth
• Name of owner
• Date x-ray is taken
• Veterinarian name and business address

Hip certification for OFA.

The dog must be at least two years old to have its hips certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).  Preliminary evaluations can be done before that time. 

The Breed Survey ( Körung )

According to the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) before a German Shepherd can be breed surveyed it must turn two years within the breed survey year and must meet all  basic SV breed requirements .  It must also have passed an endurance test (AD - running 20 km without tiring).

A "breed master" (Körmeister: an experienced and specially trained SV judge) will assess the dog's breed worthiness by giving it a very thorough examination.  This includes a temperament test (ongoing throughout the breed survey), a gun test (at least two gunshots at a distance of about 15 paces), and a courage test.

The two parts of the courage test are identical to the courage tests in a  Schutzhund trial.  In the first part, the dog must prevent an attack on its master by a stick-wielding attacker coming out of a hiding place about 15 paces away by placing a single but firm bite on the padded sleeve and holding it for as long as there is action.  When the attacker stops, the dog must "out" (release) either on its own or on a single command from the owner.  For the second part (this time at a distance of about 50 paces away from its master), the dog must prevent an attack by a stick-wielding and loudly screaming attacker, bite only once and hold, and must "out" either on its own when the attacker stops or on a single command from the owner.

Conformation and other checks include:  height at the withers, chest depth, chest circumference, weight, pigmentation, coat, color, disposition, alertness, nerves, self confidence, hardness, courage, fighting instinct, secondary sex characteristics, constitution, expression, structure, bones, musculature, firmness of back and ligaments, top line, elbow lay-on, pasterns, legs gait, outreach, rear drive, toe nails, paws, head, eye color, upper and lower jaw, and dentition.

The initial breed survey is good for two years. At the end of the two-year period, the dog must be breed surveyed again, this time for life.  Failure to breed survey again within the two-year period will require a new initial breed survey good for only two years.

SV Classifications for Breeding

• Dogs recommended for breeding are  breed surveyed in classification 1 (Körklasse1, or KKL 1)
• Dogs suitable for breeding are breed surveyed in classification 2 (Körklasse 2, or KKL 2)
• Dogs allowed for breeding are all dogs registered with the SV and have at least a SchH1 or IPO1 or an HGH training title, and a minimum SV show rating "G" (good).
• Dogs not allowed to breed may have one or more of the following faults:
  • Do not meet the above basic requirements or classifications
  • Bad nerves or bad temperament, gun shy, fear biters, unstable, or simply shy dogs
  • Long-coated dogs without undercoat
  • Faulty pigment, blues, albinos, or whites with black noses
  • Males under 59 cm (23 in.) or over 66 cm (26 in.), females under 54 cm (21 in.) or over 61 cm (24 in.)
  • Missing or visibly underdeveloped testis
  • Any obvious structural fault
  • Missing teeth: one p3 and any other tooth, or one fang (canine), or one p4, or one m1 (1st molar), or one m2, or a total of any three teeth
  • Dogs with an under bite or more than 2-mm (3/32-in.) overbites
  • Females after their third C-section

Every time a German Shepherd comes before an official of the SV, be it a judge before a trial, a breed warden during breeding, a breed master before being breed surveyed, a veterinarian, or a tattooist, the dog's original registration certificate (Rasse-Echtheitszertifikat) must be presented and the tattoo number must be checked against it and then recorded on a form appropriate for the current event.  In handling the dog to check the tattoo number, the dog is being temperament tested, as all SV officials are required to disqualify a dog on the spot for any type of temperament fault.  A disqualified dog then will have its registration certificate marked accordingly.

DNA Testing 

This is a blood sample sent to the Laboratory in Germany that submits the results to the SV. The SV requires each and every GSD that is used for breeding have their DNA results stored in their data base.