A working line German Shepherd is a dog bred from parents and grandparents with working titles such as the IGP, not on looks alone. The breed has a single official standard (FCI No. 166); the split between working and show lines comes from breeding practice and took hold in the late 1950s.
| Official standard | FCI No. 166, one for the whole breed, no split by line |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany; founding club SV, established in 1899 |
| FCI classification | Group 1, sheepdogs, with working trial |
| Working title | IGP 1, 2 and 3: tracking, obedience and protection, 100 points per phase |
| Minimum age for IGP 1 | 18 months |
| Health required for breeding (SV) | "a" stamp for hips and elbows; X-rays from 12 months |
| Pedigree mark (SV) | "Leistungszucht": both parents and all four grandparents titled |
| Adult size (FCI) | males 60–65 cm and 30–40 kg; females 55–60 cm and 22–32 kg |
What is a working line German Shepherd?
It is a German Shepherd selected for what it does: breeding dogs are chosen on working titles, hip and elbow results and character tested in a trial, not on show ratings alone. The FCI classifies the whole breed as a dog "with working trial"; in the working line, that trial is the main selection criterion.
The official standard itself describes the goal set in 1899: "creating a working dog inclined to high achievements". In German pedigrees, the SV marks a litter as "Leistungszucht" when both parents and all four grandparents carry a working title.
Where does the working line come from?
The Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) was founded in 1899 in Karlsruhe, Germany, with Max von Stephanitz as its first president; the breed standard was approved later that year in Frankfurt. A genetic study published in PNAS in 2025, built on 120 years of genomes, shows the working and show lines separating in the late 1950s.
Today the reference title is the IGP, the FCI trial rules in force since 2019, which replaced the IPO. Older pedigrees show the IPO abbreviation.
What is the IGP and why is it in the pedigree?
The IGP is the FCI international working trial, with three phases worth 100 points each: tracking (A), obedience (B) and protection (C). A dog moves up a level only with at least 70% in every phase. The minimum age is 18 months for IGP 1, 19 months for IGP 2 and 20 months for IGP 3, and each level requires the one before.
What is the difference between working line and show line?
Both follow the same official standard; what changes is the selection criterion. The working line weighs titles, the endurance test and character in a trial; the show line, also called the conformation line, weighs structure judged in the ring. In the SV, adult dogs at the national breed show also go through a protection test (TSB), so the difference is one of emphasis. The full comparison, with what changes day to day, is in our guide to the differences between working line and show line.
How do you know a pedigree is working line?
Working line is checked on paper. Look for five signs in the pedigree of the parents and grandparents, and verify each number with the registry that issued it before you pay any deposit.
- Working titleIGP 1, 2 or 3 (formerly IPO) next to the names of the parents and grandparents.
- "a" stamp for hips and elbowsThe SV awards it for normal, near normal and still permissible results. On the OFA equivalence table, "still permissible" matches FCI grade C, mild dysplasia: the stamp means accepted for breeding, not free of dysplasia.
- Breed survey (Körung) of the parentsThe SV requires a recognized performance title such as the IGP, the endurance test (AD), a character assessment and the "a" stamp for hips and elbows.
- "Leistungszucht" markSV pedigree mark used when both parents and all four grandparents hold a working title.
- A number you can verifyA registration you check with the registry that issued the pedigree, before any deposit: the SV-DOxS database for the SV; online authentication for the ALKC.
Our guide on how to verify an ALKC pedigree walks through the registries used in Brazil.
Who is a working line German Shepherd right for?
The FCI standard describes a balanced, steady-nerved, self-assured and attentive dog, suitable as a "companion, guard, protection, service and herding dog". For the owner, that means routine: the Royal Kennel Club in the UK recommends more than two hours of exercise a day for the breed.
It suits people who want a stable guard dog, dog sports, a rural property or an active family ready to train. It does not suit anyone without time to exercise and train the dog every day. If this would be your first dog, take the honest first-time owner test; if the puppy is already home and biting, see the puppy biting guide.
The working line at Canil Gelbes Wasser
At Canil Gelbes Wasser, in Chapecó, Brazil, both litters share the same sire, Odin Holly's Land (CBPA SP/42792 · WUSV BRW/22/02900). In the standard litter, the dam is M-Killer da Lagoa Grande, a police bloodline, daughter of Pacco II da Lagoa Grande, titled Mondioring 2. In the elite litter, the German sport bloodline comes through the dam, Tina, daughter of the imported German female Kiera von der Schiffslache (VDH/SZ 2322826).
The standard litter is priced from US$ 1,500 (Americas) / € 1,300 (Europe) and the elite litter from US$ 2,000 / € 1,750. The final price may vary by puppy, litter and demand. See the working line German Shepherd puppies page for both litters and the full pedigree.
Frequently asked questions
What does working line German Shepherd mean?
It is a German Shepherd bred from parents and grandparents with working titles such as the IGP, hip and elbow results and character tested in a trial. The official standard (FCI No. 166) is the same for the whole breed; the working line is a selection criterion, not a separate breed.
Does the FCI recognize the working line as a separate breed?
No. The FCI has one standard for the German Shepherd, No. 166, with two coat varieties: double coat and long double coat. The split between working and show lines exists in breeding; a study published in PNAS in 2025 places it in the late 1950s.
What does IGP mean on a pedigree?
It is the title from the FCI international working trial, with tracking, obedience and protection, 100 points per phase. There are three levels: IGP 1 from 18 months, IGP 2 from 19 and IGP 3 from 20. Before 2019 the trial was called IPO.
Does the "a" stamp mean the dog is free of hip dysplasia?
Not exactly. The SV "a" stamp covers normal, near normal and still permissible results. On the OFA equivalence table, "still permissible" matches FCI grade C, mild dysplasia. The stamp means the result was accepted for breeding.
Is a working line German Shepherd a good family dog?
For a family that provides routine, yes. The FCI standard describes a balanced, steady-nerved dog suitable as a companion, and the Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day for the breed. Without that exercise and training routine, it is not the right choice.
Working line puppies with pedigree
Two litters, one sire: Odin Holly's Land. Joining the free waiting list costs nothing; the 1/3 deposit only comes after birth, for the puppy you choose.
Join the waiting listSources
Breed facts taken from the sources below, checked in 2026-10. Kennel facts: official registrations published on the sires and dams page.
- FCI Standard No. 166, German Shepherd Dog (FCI)
- Club history (Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde, SV)
- FCI-IGP international utility dog trial rules, 2025 edition (FCI)
- Breed survey requirements 2025 (SV)
- SV national breed show admission rules 2023 (TSB test)
- Hip dysplasia procedure and minimum X-ray age (SV, Info ZBA-907)
- SV breeding rules 2012, "Leistungszucht" mark (public copy)
- Hip dysplasia international ratings matrix (OFA)
- Scarsbrook et al. 2025, 120 years of German Shepherd genomes (PNAS)
- Endurance test AD (Swiss Kennel Club, SKG)
- German Shepherd Dog (Royal Kennel Club, UK)
- What a pedigree is (ALKC)