Long-haired German Shepherds have a long tradition as herding dogs. They are attentive, extremely capable of learning and often have a powerful temperament. Thanks to their high level of fitness and great skill, they are suitable for much more than simple guard dogs on the pasture.
They protect the livestock, drive the animals to their next location, put attackers to flight and drive runaways back into the fold of their herd. Many species prove to be multi-talented, but not all of them are suitable as house dogs. Some are stubborn, specialize in hunting and are not always adapted to the life of modern people – and there are over 30 breeds in total, which we will introduce to you with pictures in this article.
Overview of all German Shepherd breeds with long hair:
- Berger de Picardy
- Bobtail
- Chodsky Pes
- Basque Shepherd Dog
- Gos d'Atura Català
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Bearded Collie
- English Shepherd
- Groenendael
- Australian Shepherd
- Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
- Greek Shepherd Dog
- Berger des Pyrénées
- Ciobănesc Românesc Carpatin
- Border collie
- Hrvatski Ovčar
- German top
- Laekenois
- Finnish Lapphund
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Maremma-Abruzzo Shepherd Dog
- Komondor
- South Russian Ovcharka
- Tervueren
- Kuvasz
- Miniature American Shepherd
- Long-haired collie
- Polski Owczarek Nizinny
- Mastín del Pirineo
- Perro de Agua Español
- Puli
- Caucasian Ovcharka
- Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog
- Schapendoes
- Icelandic dog
- Pumi
Berger de Picardy
The Berger de Picardie has had to bear a difficult fate in the past. The number of the animal, which comes from the French province of Picard, reached its lowest point during the First World War. Only a small group of dog lovers of the long-haired German Shepherd continues to owe its existence. Today there are said to be around 35,000 known copies. Berger is French and means German Shepherd – the German Shepherd from Picard.
What is striking are his very pointed ears and the shaggy strands of hair on his ears, eyes and snout. Its coat color ranges from darker shades of gray to a mix of gray and lighter yellow. He has extremely well-developed social behavior and, despite his excellent suitability as a herding dog, is not prone to aggression. In fact, his friendly eyes demonstrate a lovable and bright character.
Bobtail
One of the supposedly coziest dogs on earth: the Bobtail seems like a completely casual and relaxed companion. In fact, the long-haired German Shepherd has a very sporty streak with a strong instinct for herding the animals entrusted to it. His disposition is patient, attentive and friendly and is therefore often kept as a family dog.
Its origin is still unclear today. The bobtail gets its name from English. His tail used to be shortened to a bob. He is also known by the more traditional name “Old English Sheepdog”, (OES) or in German usage as “Altenglischer Schäferhund”.
Despite her hair being a clearly separated mix of dark and lighter shades, the bobtail keeps its hair to itself. On top of that, they usually get along well with other dogs and animals – perfect for private households.
Chodsky Pes
Bohemian Shepherd Dog, Chodský Pes Dog – the Chodský Pes has many names. He originally comes from the Czech Republic. The coat of the Chodský Pes shines in a shiny, deep shade of black, but has red-yellow markings on some parts of the body.
This long-haired German Shepherd is an animal that is very willing to work, has a great urge to move and therefore needs plenty of space. It gets along excellently with families, children and other animals, but is less suitable for small apartments.
In addition to his duties as a sheepdog, he is used as a search dog for rescue services thanks to his good sense of smell and high alertness. He also confirms that he is a reliable and loyal companion to the border guards.
It is obvious: This type of dog needs full exercise and therefore a daily workload that he has to perform. His great curiosity also enables him to spend some time with himself.
Basque Shepherd Dog
The Perro Pastor Vasco – a true Spaniard from the Basque Country, used primarily as a guard dog and light shepherd dog. Unlike other breeding breeds, it is considered a less selective landrace. Its light fur in medium to light brown tones is often smooth, but can also be a little rougher. The animal, which is very eager to learn, remains dependent on guidance and instruction in order to fully develop its talents.
Typically, the long-haired German Shepherd is more independent – but for the Basque Shepherd, nothing beats work, friends and family. He forms close social bonds, learns quickly and purposefully, but shuns loneliness.
Constant attention and a challenging task are two things that dog owners should definitely give him. It is definitely suitable for large families with a correspondingly large house, yard and garden. There he has enough company, walking partners and entertainment – and he can also fulfill one or two obligations there.
Gos d'Atura Català
The origins of the Gos d'Atura Català, also called the Catalan Shepherd Dog, lie in the Catalan Pyrenees. The Catalans value it as a universal herding and driving dog for sheep, horses, cows, goats and even pigs.
In the past, he was an extremely important helper to the farmers living there, especially because of the particularly closed and hilly region there. The animals, which are only average-sized with a maximum shoulder height of 55 cm, work very self-sufficiently and hardly need any guidance from their masters.
A good educational concept is therefore particularly important to him. The cooperation between humans and animals is based more on trust, i.e. simple obedience. Its impressive, strong coat ranges from slightly curly to straight hair texture.
Many describe his disposition as patient, family-friendly and attentive – he quickly gets bored without exercise. There is also a special feature when changing fur: the front half of the body goes first, only then does the rest follow.
Bouvier des Flandres
He is a very demanding and equally clever type of long-haired German Shepherd. Inexperienced dog owners should think carefully about their purchase. The Bouvier des Flandres comes from the northern region of Belgium, Flanders. Thanks to his high learning potential, he is more than just a herding and driving dog. The long-haired German Shepherd can also be found in the police service as a guard and sniffer dog.
Good training provides owners with a well-behaved and useful companion. However, he needs strong leadership to guide his dominant basic behavior into the right direction. Otherwise he can appear aggressive towards other animals. He also quickly shows territorial behavior towards other dogs. The long, semicircular beard hairs that hang down from his snout are striking. The animal also demonstrates strength: Bouvier des Flandres used to serve as a draft dog and drove carts to the market to transport goods.
Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie is of Scottish origin, but exact details about its origins are unclear. A mix of long-haired shepherd dogs from Asia and the Polish cattle dog Polski Oqszarek Nizinny (PON) are believed to form the genetic family tree of the Bearded Collie.
The Beared Collie is characterized by attentive, spirited and, above all, high self-confidence. As a family-friendly resident, he is particularly popular today because he has a less quick-tempered and more casual character.
He seeks the closeness of his human roommates and likes to show his social, sensitive traits. Warm greetings are often the order of the day. He feels the same way about other pets and other pets.
However, this breed sheds heavily and requires a lot of exercise, which increases the need for care. As a long-haired sheepdog, farmers knew how to use him for herding, herding and as a guard dog.
English Shepherd
A master of routine and extremely agile and quick to boot: the English Shepherd is an agile speedster and a real bundle of energy. As a very teachable and expressive character, he makes his displeasure heard when the rules change unexpectedly by barking loudly. Traditionally, its area of application is guarding and driving herds of cattle and has its origins in the USA.
Thanks to his great endurance, he can perform consistently. Today he is primarily found as a family dog, although he is not an easy-care companion. The long-haired German Shepherd demands a lot of exercise – if he lacks activity, he becomes impatient.
He cannot survive without intensive training. He has a friendly, activating nature, but he also needs to be shown his limits. He also loves games of catch more than anything and retrieving objects is one of his favorite activities.
Groenendael
The Greonendael, one of the four Belgian sheepdog species, impresses with its imposing stature, which is reminiscent of a tall wolf. Your long, glossy, deep black hair hangs down his body like a silk cloak. Every now and then the pretty fur can show a few reddish brown markings. This long-haired German Shepherd dog earns its living not only as a herding and herding dog. The beautiful animals can be seen again and again in the military and police service, as well as as rescue dogs.
Their excellent instinct, great attentiveness and good trainability give them the necessary characteristics. Even if their external appearance doesn't suggest it, many animals of this breed have a more shy character. However, they quickly lose their reserve and skepticism when their strong hunting instinct fires them up. His strong memory has a significant influence on his socialization. He always remembers experiences, both good and bad.
Australian Shepherd
Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd does not come from Australia. On the contrary: the homeland of the long-haired German Shepherd is in North America. As an extremely intelligent representative of his species, he is very docile.
He is one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. He also radiates inner peace and serenity, which in turn makes him very popular as a family dog. He also takes his position within the pack very seriously and protects his friends from potential dangers.
The Australian Shepherd is not a quiet walker and prefers long walks – even accompanied by a bicycle. Sporty…