AMERICAN KING SHEPHERD CLUB STANDARD OF THE BREED
General Appearance:
The King Shepherd possesses size; thick, dense bone; a well-muscled torso and a strong impressive head. He is large, rugged, powerful and impressive, possessing great endurance and agility. Developed through a set of demanding circumstances for a purely utilitarian purpose, he is a working guard dog without equal, with a unique ability to protect livestock. He possesses a keen intelligence and a kindly, while regal, expression. Exhibiting a unique elegance of bearing and movement with purpose; his soundness and coordination embodies the unmistakable intent for which he has been bred.
Size, Proportion,
Substance
Size:
The height at the highest point of the withers should
be a minimum of 27 inches for dogs, and a minimum of 25 inches for
bitches.
The
minimum weight for a dog is 110 pounds with the ideal weight being
120-145 pounds. The
minimum weight for a bitch is 80 pounds with an ideal weight being
90-110 pounds. Weight is in proportion to the overall size and
structure with preference given to the larger. A dog or bitch
measuring under the minimum height and weight limits specified shall
be disqualified. The dog's appearance is more
massive throughout than the bitch's. Large size is desirable, but
never at the expense of balance and structure.
Proportion--The King Shepherd is a balanced dog
with the height measured at the withers being somewhat less than the
length of the body measured from the point of the shoulder to the
rearmost projection of the upper thigh (buttocks). The proportions
of 10-11.5 create a slightly rectangular dog. Front and rear
angulations are balanced.
Substance--
He is a dog of considerable substance
which is determined by spring of rib, strong muscle, and heavy bone.
Serious Faults: Slight or weak bones,
narrow or hollow chest, lacking in substance.
Head
The King Shepherd is distinguished by his
immense, square and well defined head. The large square head is a
key essence of breed type.
The head: is broad and deep, not coarse or
clumsy, but in proportion to the size of the dog, planes of the
skull and muzzle are parallel. The muzzle is square, blunt, with
level and parallel planes, and is in equal proportion to the back
skull; when measured from the tip of the nose to insertion of the
stop. Demonstrating a strong well developed underjaw. The
skull: is measured from the point of stop to the far most
point of the occiput. The furrow is moderately defined with slightly
arched frontal bones lending to a well defined stop. The
skull: is broad and moderately rounded between the ears,
gradually narrowing and flattening on top as it approaches the eyes,
rounding off to cheeks that are moderately curved, and when viewed
from the top should be much in the form of a trapezoid, and well
filled in under the eyes. The expression: keen,
intelligent and composed. Eyes: of medium size, almond
shaped, set a little obliquely and not protruding. The color is as
dark as possible ranging through shades of brown. On lighter colored
dogs lighter eyes are permissible but not desired. Ears:
are moderately pointed, in proportion to the skull, open toward the
front, and carried erect when at attention, the ideal carriage being
one in which the center lines of the ears, viewed from the front,
are parallel to each
other, high set, and perpendicular to the ground. A dog with cropped
or hanging ears must be disqualified.
Severe Faults: Wide or Kite like ears set off to the
side of the head; long snippy muzzle; extremely light eyes; small
refined head; insufficient stop; domed skull; low set ears; weak
underjaw.
A dog with a nose that is
not predominantly black must be disqualified.
The lighter-streaked "snow nose" is acceptable and may be
present during winter months. The lips are firmly fitted. Jaws are
strongly developed. Teeth --42 in numbers--20
upper and 22 lower--are strongly developed and meet in a scissors
bite in which part of the inner surface of the upper incisors meet
and engage part of the outer surface of the lower incisors. An
overshot jaw or a level bite is undesirable. An undershot jaw is a
disqualifying fault. Complete dentition is to
be preferred. Serious
fault: Any missing teeth other than first premolars.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--Robust,
strongly muscled, of medium length, well set on the shoulders and is
long enough for proud head carriage with no evidence of dewlap or
throatiness. The neck is carried erect when excited and typically
above the horizontal aspect of the topline when gaiting.
Topline--The backline is level. The back is
strong, broad, and muscular and is level from just behind the
withers to the croup. The chest is full and deep with the brisket
reaching at least down to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung, with the
anterior third of the rib cage tapered to allow elbow clearance.
Body--The chest is moderately broad. The rib
cage is well sprung, oval in shape, and of sufficient depth to reach
the elbows. Back and loin are broad and strongly coupled with some
tuck-up.
The croup is gently sloping with the tail set on just below
the level of the back.
Tail--The
tail is well plumed, carried low in repose and may not be carried
over the back. The tail
is broad at the base and strong. It has no kinks, and the distal
bone reaches to the hock. When standing relaxed, the tail hangs
straight or with a slight curve at the end. In motion the tail is
down and slightly curved or out when gaiting.
If the dog becomes excited it may raise the tail, and it will
become more curved without going beyond the vertical aspect of the
back, but it does not curl or lie over the back. Severe Faults:
Roached topline, steep croup, shallow chest not extending to elbow,
tail that curls or lies over the back. Curled or hook tail.
Disqualification: A docked tail.
Forequarters
Shoulders--The shoulders are well laid back, well
muscled, and lie close to the body. The upper arm meets the shoulder
blade at approximately a right angle. The upper arm angles backward
from the point of the shoulder to the elbow and is never
perpendicular to the ground. The length of the shoulder blade and
the upper arm is approximately equal. The height from the ground to
the elbow appears approximately equal to the height from the elbow
to the withers. Forelegs--The legs are of thick, dense
bone and muscle to provide a balance with the frame. The elbows are
close to the body and point directly to the rear when standing and
gaiting. The forelegs, when viewed from the side, are located
directly under the withers and are straight and vertical to the
ground. The elbows, when viewed from the front, are set in a
straight line from the point of shoulder to the wrist. Front
pasterns are strong and flexible. Each foreleg may carry a single
dewclaw. Front Feet--Rounded, close-cupped, well
cushioned pads, toes well arched. . There is a protective growth of
hair between the toes. The pads are thick and tough; toenails short
and strong. Serious Faults: Pinched
elbows; feet pointed east or west; lacking bone density; appearing
straight in shoulder; lacking proper forefront angulation; weak
pasterns; paddling of the front feet.
Hindquarters
The rear assembly is powerful, muscular, and
heavily boned. Viewed from the rear, the legs are straight and
parallel. Viewed from the side, the thighs are broad and fairly
long. Stifles and hocks are well bent and the line from hock to
ground is perpendicular. Hocks are well let down. Hind feet--
are similar to the front feet. Rear legs-- are broad
and heavily muscled through the thighs; when viewed from the rear,
the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front
legs, not too close or too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are
undesirable and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
Severe Faults: Any evidence of
cow hocks, when standing or in motion; lack of heavy bone in tarsus
or metatarsus; lack of rear angulation; straight stifles; sickle
hock; long hocks.
Coat
The ideal dog has a rough coat of moderate length,
a smooth coated type of King Shepherds exist, and is equally
acceptable A slightly wavy outer coat should be as dense as
possible, hair straight, harsh and lying close to the body. The
head, including the inner ear and foreface, and the legs and paws
are covered with short hair, and the neck with longer and thicker
hair. The rear of the forelegs and hind legs has somewhat longer
hair extending to the pastern and hock, respectively. Serious
Faults: in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat
giving the appearance of a long haired Shepherd, woolly, curly, and
open coat.
Color and Markings
The King Shepherd Dog varies in color, and many
colors are permissible. Strong rich colors are preferred. Colors are
as follows: Sable (a brown/red with black markings or a tan/cream
with black markings); bi-colored (predominantly black with red, tan
or cream); black saddle with red, tan, gold or cream, and solid
black. Markings:
Small areas of white, the smaller the better, are
permissible on the chest, toes, tail.
Serious Faults:
Pale, washed-out colors, i.e. black and grey and black and silver;
blues or livers. Disqualification: A
predominantly or solid white dog must be disqualified.
Gait
The gait of the King Shepherd
in motion has strong reach and drive, and gives the impression of
effortless power. He moves with a purpose.
He is a trotter; He is agile for his size and build. When
viewed from the side, the hindquarters exhibit strong rear drive
that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the forequarters.
The forequarters receive the drive from the rear with a smooth
reaching stride. When viewed from the front or from the rear,
forelegs and hind legs travel straight forward, neither too close
nor too wide. His gait is powerful, pronounced, demanding and
rhythmic, covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum
number of steps. As the dog's speed increases, the legs tend toward
single tracking. When moving, a slight roll may be present in
the larger animals and should not be penalized.
Essential to good movement is the balance of correct front
and rear assemblies.
Serious Faults: A stilted gait, paddling, any
interference front or rear (crossing over); or any gait that is not
completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalized.
Temperament
The breed has a distinct personality marked by
direct and fearless, but not hostile, expression, self-confidence
and a certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and
indiscriminate friendships. The dog must be approachable, quietly
standing its ground and showing confidence and willingness to meet
overtures without itself making them. It is poised, but when the
occasion demands, eager and alert; both fit and willing to serve in
its capacity as companion, watchdog, herding dog, or guardian,
whichever the circumstances may demand. The dog must not be timid,
shrinking behind its master or handler; it should not be nervous,
looking about or upward with anxious expression or showing nervous
reactions, to strange sounds or sights, such as tucking of tail.
Lack of confidence under any surroundings is not typical of good
character. Any of the above deficiencies in character which indicate
shyness must be penalized as very serious faults and
any dog exhibiting pronounced indications of these must be excused
from the ring. It must be possible for the judge to observe the
teeth and to determine that both testicles are descended. Any dog
that attempts to bite the judge must be disqualified.
The ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character
combined with body and gait suitable for the arduous work that
constitutes its primary purpose.
Disqualifications
Any dog measuring under the minimum specified height and weightCropped
or hanging ears
Dogs with noses not predominantly black
Undershot jaw
Docked tail
Predominantly white ore solid white dogs
Any dog that attempts to bite the judge