NMF Kennels · Working Breed
The German Shepherd Dog
The benchmark working dog — versatile, intelligent, and deeply loyal. Bred at NMF Kennels from proven German working and Czech DDR bloodlines.
Overview
Many types — one standard at NMF
The German Shepherd Dog has evolved into many breed types in many countries, and even many offshoot breeds all claiming to be improvements on their progenitor. For someone wanting to buy a German Shepherd Dog, the variety of similar dogs must be very confusing.
At NMF Kennels our breeding programme emphasises breeding and training of working-type German Shepherd Dogs. Our goal is to breed healthy and strong German Shepherds that are able to be used in Police, Security, Military and family/property protection roles.
We maintain German Working Lines and Czechoslovakian DDR lines — chosen for proven drive, structural soundness, and stable working temperament above all else.
Breed types explained
The six main GSD lines worldwide
West German Show Lines (High Lines)
This is the breed type most popular in Germany and in much of the world, and which at its best probably comes closest to the Breed Standard. Representatives of this family can be successful show and breeding dogs, and still perform as herding, service, SAR and guide dogs, as well as reliable companions and sport dogs. They are shown worldwide under the German SV system, which requires working titles of show and breeding dogs. They are predominantly black and red in colour, and exhibit a fluid, ground-eating trot.
German Working Lines
These dogs are bred primarily for sport and as service dogs. They excel as police, military and drug/bomb detection dogs. If you seriously want a working dog, or one that can be competitive in sport, these are the lines you would consider first. They are less likely to show the conformation typical of show lines, but many show excellent structure and are powerful and athletic. Sable, black and bicolour are typical, though black & tan also appears.
East German Lines (DDR)
This family was developed in East Germany from those dogs remaining in the East after World War 2. Those foundation dogs predated the show/working split of post-war West Germany, and were not extreme in either conformation or drive. The DDR dogs tend to show solid working structure with heavy bone and massive heads, and strong temperament. Overall, they tend to be very sound. Some breeders are preserving the pure DDR lines, but they are more commonly being bred into the German working lines with good success.
Czech / Slovak Lines
These dogs were bred in communist Czechoslovakia as state working dogs. They are essentially the same as the DDR lines, from which they were largely developed. Similarly, some breeders are attempting to preserve the pure Czech dogs, but they are more commonly being integrated into the German working lines with good success.
American Show Lines
This family has been the dominant type in North America since the 1970s. In general, they are bred for an extreme trotting structure showing excessive length of body and rear angulation, which cannot show the speed and jumping ability of a working dog. Temperament is typically soft, drive is variable and weak nerves have been a problem. The better breeders recognise the issues, and their dogs are participating in obedience, herding and agility. At their best, these dogs can be fine family companions.
Long Haired — Alt Deutsche Schäferhund
This is not a separate type or breed. The recessive gene for long hair is present in all families and types, and results in a longer than normal coat. Regarded for many years as a fault, the long coat is now accepted and can be shown in Germany, provided it has an undercoat. A coated dog bred to a dog that is free of the recessive will produce normal puppies who carry the recessive.
The GSDs you will find at NMF Kennels
German Working & Czech DDR lines
Our breeding programme emphasises breeding and training of working-type German Shepherd Dogs. Our goal is to breed healthy and strong German Shepherds able to be used in Police, Security, Military and family/property protection roles. We have German Working and Czechoslovakian DDR lines — both known for superior drive, structure and temperament over show-ring conformation.
NMF Kennels · In action
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