Recognize a long hair puppy - Page 3

1. There are longcoats that never have ear tuffs. The coat gene has a very wide expression in the breed from dogs that only have ear tuffs and nothing else to dogs that would make a full grown collie blush. I do not think that the inheritance is as simple as some posit - i.e. one gene that at this point can be tested for. By the way Blitzen that test was not developed primarily for GSDs or with the input of GSD breeders. It was designed for other breeds and as we all know that similiar traits (ex. the color black) can have widely different inheritance patterns and modes in different breeds.  Old time breeders used to refer to studs as carrying a "light" or "heavy"coat factor. Light meaning the dog produced a very occasional coat  the numbers nowhere near what a simple recessive gene would suggest. Heavy meaning you would likely get some in every litter (and yes I do know it takes two to tango). Again practical breeding experience suggests there may be more to this factor than a simple recessive.  I personally believe that some coats are a syndrome or matrix which is a throw back to some of the old "farm collies" used in the early days of the breed. A syndrome brings together certain genes which when expressed give a unique appearance independent of the normal racial features. Examples are Down syndrome and pygoria. The long coats that I have seen that fit this profile have a long stock haircoat ( ie w/ undercoat), a somewhat shorter nose with deeper stop giving a more blocky look to the head especially when they are 8-12 weeks old, are usually a bit cobby ( shorter in ratio of length to height) and generally speaking have a great willingness in their character. It doesn't matter if they are show/working/English/American/Czech they all look and act very much alike.

2. A long coat with out undercoat has always been a disqualification in the breed. A  longcoat with undercoat ( long stockhair) could get a KKL1 to sometime in the 60s when the standard was changed and then they could  only get a KKL2. Bob-O  the SV standard was changed again 1999(?) and you can no longer koer a long stockhair. They are considered a disqualification under the SV standard and thus not breedable. The SV is faced with some problems as a result of this decision - discussed in other threads- because coat owners simply created their own organizations plus there appears to be some winking and nodding that goes on with marginal coats. The AKC standard was not changed in the U.S. and coats are considered merely a fault and are often bred.

3. Even in AKC coats are not shown in conformation as it is designated a fault. ShepherdWoman once again failed to qualify her answer - "He does compete in conformation and so far has not been turned down by a judge.". She shows in UKC which is NOT an FCI recognized registry , does allow longcoats in their standard and is considered by most in the US as merely a fun place for owners who love their dogs regardless of their faults.

4. Coats can compete in any working venue they have the talent for. I have known coats who have been outstanding in herding, obedience, schutzhund, tracking and others who have been working police and SAR dogs. Many obedience people prefer a coat because ot the willingness I mentioned.

"and generally speaking have a great willingness in their character."

Do you believe that is a bloodline characteristic, or genetically linked?

My personal opinion is that it is genetically linked at least in the dogs that fit the "syndrome" I described.  I have personally seen coats that fit this profile from American, WG show and working lines and crosses - all totally unrelated individuals that all seemed to have that extra willingness. I have also seen other coats that do not fit the "syndrome" - typically they only had ear tufts or leg feathers etc that did not appear to have any special difference in their character and temperament so I think if it is linked it is part of a multifactored affect.

I would like to know if any other board members have had similiar experience.

I have bred 3 litters and not had 1 long coat but I am concerned that I may have one or 2 in my current litter. What is the opinion of people here ? These puppies are 2 weeks old

post some more pics at 4 weeks its a bit early to tell yet

 Dogshome9,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Two of the pups posted are not coats, the one that is pictured from the side I can't tell, I need a picture from the front.

Bea

Thank you for your comments, I will repost in a couple of weeks

What do you guys think, this puppy is 5 weeks old, will be 6 weeks on Wed, was wondering if its gonna have long hair its father is a full breed pug, and the mother is a beagle/terrier mix, so i guess it could be considered a puggle. Anyway i wanna pick it up but im kinda worried it may have a long coat and i im not fond about long haired dogs, please let me know what you guys think!

The long coat stems from the old mountan(sp) shepherds.

Trenium,  With those breeds in the mix, the puppy won't be longhaired.  Looks like it is wirehaired.  And if you DO get the puppy, Please wait at lest 2 more weeks to take it home.