Coated or Stock Coat? - Page 1

Stock Coat

Thank you Rantino. I have never posted to a forum before and I was having trouble on my iPad attaching the photo and then writing after it.
I am flying to Europe to pick up my pup next month. This pup is from a very reputable breeder whose dogs compete in SHZS and all are bred to SV standard. The parents are top placers in the Sieger show. I respect his opinion and he breeds great dogs. These pups are not for sale because he will keep them, but I had reserved a female from this particular litter (courtesy because no female was born to another litter I had previously paid for and I was waiting for the perfect mating) and only one was born and he is a man of his word to allow me to take the only female, even though he would want to keep her himself. It is my goal also to show her, so this is important to get it right. He thinks with high degree of certainty that she will be LC. Her brothers he said are Stock. He had another litter born around the same time from good parents too and suggested that I pick a female from that litter, but the choice is mine. 

I have had four GSDs, two imported, two SV standard from the USA from imported parents and this one coming, but I've never had a LC and honestly aside from being fluffy, I don't know what to look for and I have to make a decision soon. I will be flying next month and the paperwork needs to be done. 

So if anyone has glanced at this and would please weigh in if you are experienced in knowing LC vs Stock, that would be very much appreciated. Thank you!

I am almost sure this is a LC, need a clearer picture

I am not entirely convinced, either about this pup growing up to
be a long coat, or about the story attached to it, frankly.  I could
of course be wrong - but something about that does not seem
kosher.  When you imported before, was it from the same breeder
or is this person 'new' to you ?

How many weeks is the pup when that photo was taken - looks at
least 5 weeks to me.  Some ppl on here reckon there is an interval
at about 2 - 3 weeks when they can tell by looking, but once the
puppy gets beyond that, you have to wait quite a long while to be
sure, sometimes until the adult coat starts coming through properly.
Personally I have seen many pups at young ages and been wrong
about the final coat length just as often as I have got it right.

Not over fond of longcoats myself;  I know a lot of ppl think it is
pretty, and it isn't regarded as unwanted anymore from a conformation
point of view.  But I don't like the extras in grooming, drying time, etc
it brings with it - and I worked with lots of longcoats so I had a bellyfull
of that !  Each to their own ...

When you get to hold the puppy next month, take a look and see if there
are lots of hairs INSIDE its ears.  That is the best clue I know of at eight
or so weeks - but it's not 100% guaranteed.  Also, are either of the parents
longcoated ?  If there are 'coats' in the near ancestors, obviously the chances
of a puppy being  one are increased.

Breeder may not know for sure, not their fault. Pups change.  First glance solely on eye set and face without age nor pics of the sire and dam, I thought LC.

I´d say plush, but it´s difficult to tell out of one picture - sorry.
You need to ask yourself : would it be okay for you IF this pup ends up coated or would this be a no-go for you?
She seems to be a pretty, but for breeding or showing I´d not go with a coat although they are allowed now ( sorry, old school ).
For myself I wouldn´t care, the character is important, not the coat.

Thanks to all who replied. Handmutter, you are correct. She is five weeks (way to go!). Attached is a picture at two weeks with a sibling, since you said that between 2-3 weeks is a window that you can see this more clearly. There are no coats in either of the parents direct pedigree - mother, father, grand and greats. No, this is the first time dealing with this breeder, but my regular breeder definitely endorses him and is on a friendly basis with him. Since I want to show her, I do agree although LC is accepted now, I would prefer for her to be standard coat. Thanks for the tip on looking inside the ears!

Based on that 2nd picture and the family history, I'd
guess at 'plush', ie standard but very good thick double
coat, lots of furnishings, just what judges want (!),
rather than 'langstockhaar' / medium long coated.
Definitely not a full length long open coat.
But like I said above, I get it wrong sometimes !
Good luck.