The American King Shepherd's origin comes from several different breeds. Although there are some differences in opinion regarding the exact breed make-up, it is generally believed that the breed was developed by crossing German Shepherd Dogs of American lines with the Alaskan Malamute and flock guardian breeds such as the Great Pyrenees. These dogs were then bred back to German Shepherd Dogs of European descent. Folklore, myth, or speculation suggests the presence of other giant working breeds as well.  The American King Shepherd is a new comer to the dog world, a true American original. It was "Yankee ingenuity" that created the breed. If necessity is the mother of invention, then it was the need for a more modern guard dog, companion, and babysitter that birthed the American King Shepherd.

 

 

General Characteristics: The American King Shepherd is an impressive and noble dog. He is large and symmetrical. He should give the impression of strength, vigor, and agility. The expression is keen and intelligent.

 

The head is immense and well defined. The build is heavy bodied, heavy boned, and slightly long. He is robust and muscular. The shape of the dog is rectangular. The length of the dog from forechest to rump is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. The height of the dog should come from depth of body rather than from length of leg. The proportion between height and length, and the angulations of the skeleton must be in such a relationship as to guarantee a rugged, easy trot. The sexual characteristics should be well marked.

 

The general behavior of the dog and his movements should indicate complete physiological soundness; this makes him particularly fitted to carry out his tasks as a working dog continuously and willingly. His natural exuberance should be tempered by obedience and by the pleasure he takes in having a job. He will adapt to every situation with good will. 

 

In defense of his master and his master's property, he is relentless and courageous. At the same time,  an agreeable companion in familiar company, vigilant, faithful and friendly toward children. He is aloof, intuitive, and observant with strangers; self assured in new situations. He is ready to meet all overtures without himself making them.

 

Temperament: It is obvious from afar, he is dignified and courageous. The nervous system is well-balanced. He possess readiness, lack of inhibition, vigilance, faithfulness and incorruptibility. His loyal, intuitive nature and cleverness in defense make the American King Shepherd a fine working dog, particularly, a watch dog and companion. He is physically and mentally fit to carry out many jobs. This versatility is what excels him in the areas of service, tracking, search and rescue,  obedience and agility. Correct temperament is extremely important to the workability of the breed. A shy or viscous dog is to be severely faulted. An overly gay or excitable dog is also a fault. Judges should beware of putting a premium on showiness. ANY DOG THAT ATTEMPTS TO BITE THE JUDGE SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED.

 

 

Head: The head is one of the most important characteristics of the breed. The head should be immense and well defined when viewed from any angle. It is in good proportion to the body and moderately wide between the eyes. The forehead, seen from the furrow, is  well defined. The cheeks are not too full, moderately curved and when viewed from the top should be much in the form of a trapezoid, not triangular, and well filled in under the eyes. There should be plenty of substance in foreface, with a good depth from top to bottom. When seen in profile, the muzzle is a square shape rather than wedge shape. The nose should tend more toward blunt. Of great depth from the point of the nose to the underjaw. Underjaw should be broad, and well developed. Jaws are powerful with a scissors bite preferred. A black muzzle is most desirable. The muzzle is very powerful in proportion to the rest of the head, with a well defined stop.

 

The lips are well drawn and the teeth are very strong, with the incisors meeting in a scissors bite. Full dentition is not required; however, if two dogs are equal in every other respect the dog with full dentition is to be preferred. Severe Fault: Over or undershot bite.

 

 

Ears: Of medium size, moderately wide at the base, set on high and pointed. Ears are to be carried erect and slightly forward. They should be thick and firm and should not be too large or too small in proportion to the head. Ideally carried with the centerlines when viewed front on should be about 5-10 degrees parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.   Puppies up to the age of 4-6 months, and sometimes older, do not carry their ears completely erect, until teething is completed. Severe Fault: Wide or kite set ears.

 

 

Eyes: Of medium size and almond shaped set somewhat aslant and not protuberant. As nearly as possible, the eyes should match the surrounding coat in shades of brown, from very light to dark are acceptable. The expression is keen, lively and intelligent.

 

 

Neck: The neck is powerful and robust and joins the head in sharp angles.  The muscles are well developed, fitting gracefully into the body. The neck gradually increases in circumference as it approaches the shoulder. The neck is carried erect when excited, otherwise, it is carried horizontally.

 

 

Trunk: The chest should be extremely deep, broad, and wide. When viewed from the side, the chest should drop below the elbow. The forechest should be deep and well defined with the breastbone extending in front of the foremost point of the shoulders. The back (including the lumbar region) is straight and well developed; it must not be too long between withers and croup. Again the dog is rectangular, and therefore; the length of trunk is greater than height at the withers. Dogs with a square body outline or high on their legs should be rejected. The underline of the animal should have reasonable tuck up but not exaggerated.

 

 

Forequarters: The forequarters are very heavily boned. Overly heavy bone like that of the Newfoundland or of a Great Pyrenees , not a Kuvasz is desirable. The shoulders are moderately long, sloping flat, close to the body and not thrown forward. The shoulder and the upper arm form nearly a right angle, both should be well muscled and powerful. The degree of angulation to match correct rear angulation. Legs are straight, strong and set wide apart. The forearm viewed from any side should be straight.   Elbows are parallel to the body neither pinched in nor turned out. Pasterns are solid, strong and slightly bent.  Faults: Weak or down pasterns. Severe faults: toes or feet that point east and west, too narrow and pinched elbows. Any dog or bitch whose forequarters are not heavily boned.

 

 

Hindquarters: The hindquarters have very dense bone and are moderately angulated. When viewed from the rear, they are broad , wide, and muscular. The thighs are to be very broad. The second thigh is well developed leading to a strong hock joint. The femur is rather long and seen from the side, is oblique in relation to the tibia, which should be of proportional length. The tarsus and metatarsus are solid and robust. Rear legs are wide apart and parallel when viewed from behind. When the rear pastern is correctly set back, it should be perpendicular to the ground. A vertical line drawn from the rear most point of the hindquarters (the ischiac tuber or butt bone), down to the ground should pass in front of the foot. Severe Faults: Cow hocked, bowed/bandy hocked, or narrow rear. Any dog or bitch who lacks heavy bone. Straight stifles. EXCESSIVE ANGULATION IN THE PASTERNS OR THE HINDQUARTERS IS A VERY SEVERE FAULT.   

 

 

Tail: The tail is set on moderately high.Thickly feathered, the tail reaches at least to the hocks. The tail is carried down and slightly curved in repose. When excited or moving, the dog raises the tail, which becomes more curved. However, the tail should never break the horizontal plane of the topline. The tail should never lie on or curl up on the back. Severe Faults: Curled or hooked tail when stacked (i.e. tip of tail curling up when in a relaxed state), DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: TAIL CURLING ABOVE THE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF THE TOPLINE WHILE GAITING. DOCKED TAILS.

 

 

Feet:   Feet are large, round, and compact with well arched toes. The nails are short and strong. Black nails are preferred. Front dewclaws are neither a fault nor a virtue. Since hind dewclaws may hamper the gait, it is recommended that they should be removed at three days old.

Gait: The gait should be very strong and powerful; not a flying trot. He is a trotter, and consequently his gait is diagonal (two diagonally opposite feet on the ground while the other two diagonally opposite feet are off the ground). The hind legs should move as far forward as the midpoint of the trunk, and to extend the forelegs to the same degree, without noticeable displacement of the topline.

 

The correct proportion between height and length along with proportionate length of limb so to permit a trot that stays close to the ground, and covers the maximum amount of ground with minimum effort. The head is pushed forward with the tail slightly raised as he gaits. The movement is tranquil and homogenous. Severe Faults: paddling when moving forward and the tail curling over the horizontal plane of the topline while gaiting

 

 

 

Coat: The American King Shepherd comes in two equally desirable coat types, smooth and plush. Both are very durable and weather resistant and a great asset to the working dog. In the smooth variety, the topcoat is as dense as possible. Each single hair should stand straight and close to the body. On the head, the hair is short, as is the inside of the ear, front side of the legs, the paws and toes. On the neck the hair is longer and denser. On the hindquarters and buttocks, the hair is longer down to the pastern or metatarsus. The thighs are moderately trousered. The length of hair varies from one dog to another within a single variety.

On the plush coated dog, the coat is longer. The hair is not always completely straight and especially not close to the body. The individual hairs are noticeably longer, particularly inside and behind the ears, the back of the forearm, and the lumbar region. Tufts of hair are formed at the ears and fringes at the elbow down to the pastern. The trousers are long and dense. The tail is densely feathered with a light fringe below. 

 

A wide range of colors are acceptable. These are as follows: solid black, black and red, black and tan, black and gold, black and cream. Puppies change color from birth until they get their adult coat. The coat can be patterned as sable, bi-colored, or with a black saddle or cape. Small white spots on the chest, feet or tail are acceptable. The undercoat is invariably colored, except in black dogs. Pale, washed-out colors are serious faults. BLUE OR LIVER COLORED DOGS AND DOGS WHOSE NOSE IS NOT PREDOMINANTLY BLACK MUST BE DISQUALIFIED. ALSO, WHITE, CREAM OR ANY VARIATION OF WHITE IS TO BE DISQUALIFIED.

 

 

Size: The minimum height for males is 27 inches, at the highest point of the shoulder blade, with an ideal height of 29 inches or more preferred. For females the minimum height is 25 inches with the ideal height of 27 inches or more being preferred. ANY DOG OR BITCH NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS MUST BE DISQUALIFIED.

The minimum weight for dogs should not be less than 110 pounds at maturity, with the ideal weight being 120-145 pounds. Minimum weight for females is 80 pounds at maturity, with the ideal weight being 90-110 pounds. Note: Larger dogs are desirable, providing that correct type and soundness is present. Overall appearance should be one of a very large, blocky shepherd type dog.