Coat Types at a Glance
All three coat types below are purebred German Shepherds. The difference is in how the hair grows and how the coat behaves — not in intelligence, loyalty, or working character.
Stock Coat
Length & Texture: Short to medium, dense and close-fitting.
Undercoat: Full, functional undercoat.
Grooming: Low to moderate; quickest to dry.
Weather Resistance: Excellent, very practical.
Best For: Working homes, very active families, all-weather use.
Plush Coat
Length & Texture: Fuller stock coat with more feathering.
Undercoat: Yes — genetically a stock coat.
Grooming: Moderate; benefits from regular brushing.
Weather Resistance: Very good.
Best For: Families who enjoy a fuller, “teddy bear” look with manageable grooming.
Long Coat
Length & Texture: Clearly long hair with feathering.
Undercoat: Usually yes — correct long coat has undercoat.
Grooming: Moderate to high; more coat to brush.
Weather Resistance: Excellent when undercoat is present.
Best For: Families who love a dramatic, flowing coat and don’t mind extra grooming.
Stock Coat German Shepherds
The stock coat (often called “short coat”) is the standard German Shepherd coat described in the official breed standards.
How a stock coat looks
- Short to medium dense outer coat that lies close to the body
- Weather-resistant undercoat
- Modest feathering on tail and back legs
Why many homes prefer stock coats
- Dries quickly after rain or swimming
- Lowest grooming maintenance
- Ideal for active and working homes
Plush Coat German Shepherds
Plush coat is a fuller, slightly longer expression of the stock coat — but still genetically a stock coat.
- More feathering on chest, legs, and tail
- Softer, “teddy bear” outline
- Very popular for families who love a fuller look
Plush is a phenotype (how the coat looks), not a separate gene. These dogs are L/L or L/l stock coats that simply grow a bit more coat.
Long Coat German Shepherds
The long coat German Shepherd has distinct feathering and visibly longer hair across the body, ears, chest, legs, and tail.
How a long coat looks
- Flowing hair with dramatic feathering
- Long, full tail coat and soft “pants”
- Softer, more majestic outline in motion
Maintenance
- Requires brushing 3–4 times per week
- Longer hairs are more visible around the home
- Excellent cold-weather comfort when undercoat is present
True Long Coat Without Undercoat
Not all long coats are the same. A correct long coat German Shepherd has both long hair and a functional undercoat. A smaller subset are what breeders call a true long coat without undercoat.
What this means
- Very soft, silky, flowing outer coat
- Little to no undercoat
- Less protection in rain, snow, and wind
- More “open,” airy, flat-looking coat
Why undercoat matters
The undercoat provides insulation, temperature regulation, and true weather resistance. Without it, the dog loses much of the functional protection the breed is known for, so the coat is considered incorrect in structure and purpose.
How they typically appear
- Silky coat that hangs rather than fills out
- Gets wet quickly and stays wet longer
- Lacks bulk, density, and the typical “mane” around neck and chest
- Overall flatter outline without true fullness
Many families still enjoy the look, but as breeders we prefer long coats with undercoat — they better represent correct German Shepherd type and function.
Coat Genetics Made Simple
Coat length in German Shepherds is primarily controlled by a single pair of genes:
- L = short hair (stock coat)
- l = long hair
Each dog gets one copy from each parent:
- L/L – Stock coat
- L/l – Stock coat, long-coat carrier
- l/l – Long coat
Plush is simply a fuller-looking stock coat, not a separate genetic type.
Still Unsure Which Coat Type Fits Your Lifestyle?
We help match you with the best puppy for your home — temperament first, coat type second.