Long Haired German Shepherd: The Complete Guide From a Long Coat Breeder
A long haired German Shepherd is one of the most striking dogs you'll ever see. Same intelligence, same loyalty, same build as the German Shepherd everyone knows, but with a softer, fuller coat, feathered ears and a plumed tail that turns heads everywhere it goes.
It's also one of the most misunderstood versions of the breed. People ask us all the time if long coats are mixed breeds, if they shed more, if they're calmer, and why they cost what they do.
We raise West German Showline long coat German Shepherds here in Central Ohio, so this is a topic we live with every day. This guide covers everything: what a long haired German Shepherd actually is, how the genetics work, temperament, grooming, health, puppies, price and whether one is the right fit for your home.
What Is a Long Haired German Shepherd?
A long haired German Shepherd is a purebred German Shepherd that inherited two copies of a recessive long coat gene, one from each parent. It is not a separate breed, a mix or a designer dog. Long coat is simply a coat length, the same way black and red or sable are coat colors.
You'll hear a few names for the same dog: long haired German Shepherd, long coat German Shepherd, long stock coat German Shepherd, or LSC. In Germany, the SV (the breed's parent club) calls it the langstockhaar.
Long Haired German Shepherd Quick Facts
Breed: Purebred German Shepherd Dog
Coat: Longer outer coat with feathering on the ears, legs, chest and tail
Cause: A recessive gene. Both parents must carry it
Height: About 24 to 26 inches for males and 22 to 24 inches for females
Weight: About 65 to 90 pounds for males and 50 to 70 pounds for females
Lifespan: Typically 9 to 13 years
Temperament: Loyal, intelligent, protective and trainable, the same as a stock coat
Shedding: Year round, with two heavy coat blows each year
Grooming: Brushing 3 to 4 times a week, daily during shedding season
Long Coat vs. Stock Coat: What's the Difference?
German Shepherds come in two main coat lengths, and the long coat has a couple of variations worth knowing about.
Stock Coat
This is the standard German Shepherd coat most people picture. It's a medium length, dense outer coat with a thick undercoat. The fur lies close to the body and the ears are smooth.
Long Stock Coat
The long stock coat has a longer, softer outer coat and a full undercoat underneath. This is what most people mean when they say long haired German Shepherd today, and it's what we produce in our program. You'll see tufts of fur in the ears, a mane around the neck and chest, feathering behind the legs (often called pants) and a full, bushy tail.
Long Coat Without Undercoat
Some long coats have little or no undercoat. They can look sleek and flowing, but that coat offers less protection from cold and wet weather. You'll see these less often in modern, well-structured bloodlines.
The Genetics: How a Long Coat Puppy Happens
Coat length in dogs is controlled mainly by a gene called FGF5. The long coat version of that gene is recessive, which means a puppy needs two copies, one from mom and one from dad, to grow a long coat.
That's why two short coat parents can sometimes produce long coat puppies. If both parents carry one hidden copy of the long coat gene, each puppy has about a 1 in 4 chance of being a long coat. Here's how it breaks down:
Long coat x long coat: every puppy will be a long coat
Long coat x stock coat carrier: about half the puppies will be long coats
Stock coat carrier x stock coat carrier: about 1 in 4 puppies will be long coats
Any dog x stock coat non-carrier: no long coat puppies, although some may carry the gene
Today, a simple DNA test can tell a breeder whether a stock coat dog carries the long coat gene. If you're looking specifically for a long coat puppy, ask the breeder how they plan their pairings for coat.
Are Long Haired German Shepherds Purebred?
Yes. A long coat German Shepherd from two registered German Shepherd parents is 100 percent purebred. The long coat gene has been in the breed since its earliest days.
For years, long coats were considered a fault in the show ring. That's where the myth that they weren't real German Shepherds came from. The SV and FCI later recognized the long stock coat as its own official coat variety, and long coats now compete in their own classes in Germany.
In the United States, the AKC breed standard still lists a coat that's too long as a fault for conformation shows. That only affects the show ring. Long coat German Shepherds can be fully AKC registered and compete in obedience, rally, agility, tracking and other sports.
Long Haired German Shepherd Temperament
Coat length doesn't change a German Shepherd's personality. A long coat has the same core temperament as any other German Shepherd:
Deeply loyal and bonded to their family
Highly intelligent and eager to work
Naturally watchful and protective
Confident and steady when well bred and well raised
Affectionate at home, often reserved with strangers
You'll hear a lot of people say long coats are calmer or softer than stock coats. There's no genetic link between coat length and temperament. What does make a big difference is bloodline. West German Showlines, which is where most long coats are bred today, tend to be more settled in the home than high-drive working lines. If you want to go deeper on that, read our post on Showline vs. Working Line German Shepherds.
Like any German Shepherd, a long coat needs structure, training and a real job, even if that job is daily walks, obedience work and being part of the family. Early socialization matters a lot. Our guide to socializing your German Shepherd puppy covers what to focus on.
Size and Appearance
Long coats are built exactly like stock coat German Shepherds. The long coat can make them look bigger than they are, especially around the neck and chest.
Males: about 24 to 26 inches tall at the shoulder and 65 to 90 pounds
Females: about 22 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder and 50 to 70 pounds
Colors: black and red, black and tan, sable, bicolor and solid black are all common in long coats
If you're weighing a male against a female, our male vs. female German Shepherd guide breaks down the differences in size, energy and temperament.
Do Long Haired German Shepherds Shed More?
This is the question we get most. The honest answer is that long coats and stock coats both shed a lot. Long coat German Shepherds shed year round and blow their undercoat twice a year, usually in spring and fall.
The difference is in the type of hair. Stock coats drop a steady layer of short hair that works into carpet and furniture. Long coat hair is longer and more visible, but many owners find it easier to pick up and vacuum. Long coats with a lighter undercoat may even shed a bit less overall.
For a full breakdown, see Do German Shepherds Shed? Long Coat vs. Stock Coat Grooming Guide.
Grooming a Long Haired German Shepherd
A long coat takes more upkeep than a stock coat, but not as much as people expect. The biggest difference is that long coats can tangle and mat if you skip brushing, especially behind the ears, in the pants and around the collar.
A Simple Weekly Routine
Brush 3 to 4 times a week with a slicker or pin brush
Comb through the feathering behind the ears, on the legs and on the tail with a wide-tooth comb
Check behind the ears and in the armpits for mats
Trim the fur between the paw pads to keep feet clean and prevent slipping
During a coat blow, brush daily with an undercoat rake
Bathing
Bathe every couple of months or when your dog is dirty. Use a dog shampoo and conditioner, and make sure the coat is dried all the way to the skin. A high-velocity dryer is worth the money for a long coat. It dries the dense coat faster and blows out loose undercoat at the same time.
Never Shave a Long Coat
Shaving doesn't reduce shedding and doesn't keep a German Shepherd cooler. The coat insulates against heat and cold and protects the skin from sunburn. Shaving can also damage the way the coat grows back.
Health and Lifespan
A long haired German Shepherd typically lives 9 to 13 years. The long coat gene itself isn't linked to health problems. Long coats face the same health concerns as the rest of the breed, including:
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), a progressive spinal disease
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), which is an emergency
Allergies and skin issues
Digestive sensitivities
The best thing you can do for your puppy's long-term health is to choose a breeder who health tests. At minimum, ask to see hip and elbow results and DM testing for both parents. After that, keep your dog lean, feed a quality diet and avoid heavy exercise on growing joints during the first year.
Long Haired German Shepherd Puppies
Long coat puppies are some of the fluffiest puppies you'll ever see. Most experienced breeders can tell which puppies will be long coats by around 3 to 6 weeks old. Signs include:
Tufts of fur inside and around the ears
Longer, softer fur overall that looks fluffier than littermates
Longer fur between the toes
A fuller, bushier tail
Their full adult coat usually takes 1 to 2 years to come in. Many long coats go through an awkward, scruffy stage as teenagers before the adult coat fills in.
When you bring your puppy home, get them used to brushing, ear handling and nail trims right away. A long coat that learns to enjoy grooming as a puppy is much easier to care for as an adult.
How Much Does a Long Haired German Shepherd Cost?
From a reputable breeder, expect a long coat German Shepherd puppy to cost roughly $2,500 to $5,000 or more. Price depends on:
Bloodlines and pedigree, especially imported West German lines
Health testing on both parents
The breeder's socialization and raising program
Coat type and demand in your area
Registration, contracts and breeder support after the sale
Long coats are sometimes priced higher because of demand and because producing them consistently takes careful planning. Be cautious of puppies priced far below the market. Missing health testing and poor socialization usually cost far more down the road. Our German Shepherd puppy price guide for Ohio goes into more detail.
Is a Long Haired German Shepherd Right for You?
A long coat is a great fit if you:
Want a loyal, protective family companion
Enjoy brushing and don't mind dog hair
Can commit to daily exercise and ongoing training
Want the German Shepherd temperament with a softer, fuller look
A long coat may not be the best fit if you:
Want a low-shedding or low-maintenance dog
Can't commit time to grooming a few times a week
Are away from home most of the day with little time for training
Live somewhere very hot with little shade or air conditioning
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a long haired German Shepherd a mix?
No. A long haired German Shepherd is a purebred German Shepherd with a recessive long coat gene from both parents.
Are long haired German Shepherds rare?
They're less common than stock coats because both parents need to carry the gene. They've become much easier to find as more breeders focus on them, but a well-bred long coat from health tested parents still usually means getting on a waitlist.
Can a long haired German Shepherd be AKC registered?
Yes. Long coats can be fully AKC registered. The AKC standard treats a coat that's too long as a fault in conformation shows, but long coats can compete in obedience, rally, agility, tracking and other AKC sports.
Are long haired German Shepherds good family dogs?
Yes, when they're well bred, socialized and trained. See our guide on whether German Shepherds are good with kids for what to expect.
Do long haired German Shepherds do well in cold weather?
Long stock coats with a full undercoat handle cold weather very well. Long coats with little undercoat have less protection and may need more care in winter. Our Ohio seasonal care guide covers what to watch for year round.
At what age can you tell if a German Shepherd puppy is long haired?
Most breeders can tell between 3 and 6 weeks old by looking at the ear tufts, the fluffiness of the coat and the fur between the toes.
Long Haired German Shepherd Puppies in Ohio
At PAK Shepherds, we breed West German Showline German Shepherds with a focus on long coats, stable temperament and correct structure. Our dogs are raised in our home program in Central Ohio, and every puppy is matched to a family based on lifestyle, not just who applied first.
If a long haired German Shepherd sounds like the right dog for your family, here's where to start:
For more reading, see The Ultimate Guide to Long Coat German Shepherds and The Long Coat German Shepherd: History and Unique Traits.
