King Shepherd

Three breeds of dog were used to develop the King Shepherd in the 1990’s by Shelly Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer, two dog breeders from America. This slightly muscular dog has a solid, robust body structure and looks long. The slightly rounded forehead, which has a good proportion to the body, is fairly wide between each eye. The moderately curved cheeks do not look too full when seen from top. The medium sized ears are thick, firm and a little wide at the base. The almond shaped eyes are of a medium size and can be many different shades of golden brown to nearly black.

The chest of the King Shepherd is deep and broad. The slightly curved tail, which is quite thickly feathered, reaches hocks. Docked tails cannot be admissible. The round paws are short and have an arch that is well closed, with very hard pads. The nails are dark in color. Dewclaws are removed. The King Shepherd comes in many colors: Gold, sable, cream, black saddle with tan, or silver markings.

Pale and faded colors are serious flaws. The undercoat of the King Shepherd is slightly colored except in the pure black dogs. Blue, white, or the liver colored dogs are not accepted in the show ring, and neither are dogs with noses that are not black. Until their final coat, the puppies can change color. The two coat varieties are: coarse-haired coat and long-haired coat.

The King Shepherd grows 64-74cm, or 25-30in tall and weighs 41-69kg, or90-150lbs. Because they grow larger than German Shepherds they are also called King-sized German Shepherds.

The King Shepherd has a personality that is well-balanced and is a self-confident dog with a healthy nervous system. They seldom exhibit any nervousness or shyness. They are extremely clever, easily trained and are very eager to please their owners. This faithful breed is a fine sheepherder and a good working dog.

As they are friendly to children and other animals, they make for great and fun companions. The King Shepherd has an easy gait, lots of stamina and is docile and obedient. Possessing great strength and courage, they make for very good watchdogs and easily slip into a protector’s role.

King Shepherds are big dogs and are not built for small apartments or tiny spaces. They are most comfortable in a large yard. They love strenuous activity which is combined with some kind of physical training and exercise. These intelligent dogs desire a good and stimulating challenge. King Shepherds need daily walks, or even a run beside a bicycle. Taking them out to the park for a long walk or a brisk run is highly recommended. This also helps in the owner bonding with his pet. Under-exercised, this wonderful breed can become restless and even destructive.

The King Shepherd's coat is very resistant to the weather and should be regularly brushed, but they should be bathed only when it is required. King Shepherds are expected to live up to 10 or 11 years and they are classified under the “herding” category. They are recognized by the WWKC, ERBDC, SKC, ARBA, APRI and the AKSC.