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The Eagle Rock

Eagle Rock, California takes its name from this unique rock formation that resembles an eagle in flight. It is believed that early day Indians living in the area and coming upon this distinctive sandstone rock formation, very fittingly bestowed the title of the "Eagle Rock", which in actual fact does bear a striking resemblance to the head and wings of an eagle in flight. Eagle Rock, California is the town I was born and raised in. It was here that I began what has become my life long passion for the German Shepherd Dog. The name of my kennel is AdlerStein, the German translation of Eagle Rock.

While I have lived with and started training German Shepherd dogs as a small child, I have been actively training and working with working line German Shepherd dogs for over 30 years and breeding them since 1986. I have participated in Schutzhund since it's inception in the United States during the 1970s and have been a Schutzhund training helper since 1976. I have represented the United States twice at the WUSV Championships in Europe with a dog bred and trained here in the US and I have assisted in the protection training of a number of other dogs who went on to compete at the WUSV and USA National Championships. I have also trained a number of Narcotic Detection dogs who have gone on to work on various police agencies both here and in Mexico.

Training Helper SchH Protection

Jinx vom Adler Stein SchH 1

I own and use for breeding, dogs we have bred and trained here for a number of generations and also from very old working bloodlines from the kennels "vom Rhein" and Rancho Rhein. I am very familiar with the dogs from these bloodlines since I have worked/owned/titled quite a few of them over the years; not only as the handler but as the Schutzhund training helper as well. These bloodlines are famous for producing outstanding nerves, courage, trainability and temperament. These are not lines known for producing "sport dogs" or "show dogs", they are known for producing German Shepherd Dogs. My dogs are suited to perform many tasks, including SchH, SAR, Detection, Service and Police Work and as family companions. The German Shepherd Dog was intended to be the most versatile of breeds and this will remain the goal with the dogs I breed here.

While I have imported a number of excellent dogs to add to my existing breeding stock, I will continue to build on the bloodlines that I started with almost thirty years ago. Those dogs were direct descendants of the absolute best dogs in the history of the German Shepherd breed. They have left me with a lifelong impression of what a German Shepherd dog can and SHOULD be. Every breeding I do here attempts to produce German Shepherd dogs who live up to the character those dogs possessed. My dogs are bred for temperament, nerves, courage and trainability. If a real German Shepherd is what you are looking for, you have come to the right place.

V Vandal vom Rhein SchH 3 KKL 1
Two-Time USA Team Member/WUSV Competitor
Raised, Trained & Handled by Anne Kent

Chango vom Adler Stein SchH 3

Many of my dogs are in working homes but most are living in homes with families. However, a German Shepherd dog is not a dog for everyone and those considering adding one to their family should research the breed carefully before the final decision is made. The following is a quote from Max von Stephanitz, founder of the German Shepherd Dog: "The success for all employment as an assistant of man depends in the first place on expert leadership, whereby the dog is always put in just the right place, and where the man is so well-aquainted with the peculiarities of the dog that he always knows how to interpret correctly the meaning of the dog's signs. A leader without expert knowledge of and affection for the dog will achieve only mediocre results with the best trained dog: while an expert dog-loving leader can achieve good results with a dog of only fair capacity. In other words, the whole question is not only a question of the dog, but quite as much, if not more so, a question of the fitness of the leader."

A German Shepherd dog requires the same level of devotion and loyalty that they offer to those fortunate enough to own one. Their protective nature requires that they are properly raised and handled and that they receive direction and training from their owners. I only place my dogs in select homes where there is understanding of the responsibility of owning such magnificent animals. A well bred German Shepherd does not have the temperament of a Golden Retriever, nor should they. The temperament of a true German Shepherd is like no other dog. Intelligence, willingness to obey and a fierce protectiveness, (should the need arise), are all traits that I have attempted to preserve in my dogs. Dogs with these characteristics require a proper upbringing with a great deal of attention and socialization. Proper training is required if they are to develop to their fullest potential. If you have the time and energy to devote to such a dog, once you experience a real German Shepherd, you will never wish to own another breed. A well bred German Shepherd is like no other breed of dog. The original temperament of the breed is something that almost anyone can appreciate and admire.

Bear vom Adler Stein SchH 3
USA National Competitor 20th

Vader vom Adler Stein BH

Unfortunately, not everyone can handle such a dog which has prompted some to breed away from the original temperament that has made the German Shepherd the most versatile working dog in the world. Any person interested in owning a German Shepherd dog owes it to themselves to research the breed and the breeder carefully before they purchase. Since there are many people breeding what their ideal is, it is important to determine which breeders are attempting to maintain the original temperament of the breed. It can be a rather confusing venture but worth the effort. While many people dream of owning a German Shepherd dog, few understand the responsibility involved. Deciding to purchase a German Shepherd should be a process that involves evaluating your own limitations and your ability to raise and handle a dog with the drives and abilities this breed offers.

The German Shepherd standard follows and should be the aim of all breeders concerned with maintaining the breed's original temperament, working ability and correct working structure:

A Brief History: In accordance with the official provisions of the German Shepherd Dog Club (SV) e.V., located in Augsburg, a member of the Federation of Dog Clubs in Germany (VDH) is the founding organization of the German Shepherd Dog and therefore, responsible for the breed standard. Work on this document was begun at the first membership meeting in Frankfurt/M on September 20, 1899 and is based on proposals by A. Meyer and v. Stephanitz. Additions and revisions to the standard were made as follows: membership meeting on July 28, 1901; 23rd membership meeting on September 17, 1909 in Koln; Board and Executive Committee Meeting on September 5, 1930 in Wiesbaden, and the Breeders Committee and Board Meeting on March 25, 1961 in conjunction with the WUSV (World Union of German Shepherd Clubs) and during the WUSV Meeting on August 30, 1976 where the standard was agreed upon, revised, and approved by the Board and Executive Committee on March 23 and 24, 1991. Planned breeding activities began after the inception of the SV in 1899. The German Shepherd Dog was developed from herding dogs in service during that time in Middle and Southern Germany. The goal was to produce a high-performance working dog. To accomplish this goal, the Breed Standard of the German Shepherd Dog was created. This document addresses both physical qualities as well as character attributes.

General Appearance
The German Shepherd Dog is medium sized, slightly longer than tall, strong and well muscled, bone is dry, the whole dog presenting a picture of firmness.

Important Measurements
Height at the withers for males: 60 - 65 cm,(23.4 inches to 25.4 inches). Bitches: 55 - 60 cm., (21.5 inches to 23.4 inches). Length of torso exceeds height at the withers by 10 - 17%.

Character
The German Shepherd should appear poised, calm, self confident, absolutely at ease, and (except when agitated) good natured, but also attentive and willing to serve. He must have courage, fighting drive, and hardness in order to serve as companion, watchdog, protection dog, service dog, and herding dog.

Head
The head is wedge-shaped and in harmony with the dog's size (length app. 40% of height at the withers) without being coarse or overly long. The head should appear dry, and moderately wide between the ears. Seen from the front and side, the forehead is only slightly domed, the center furrow is either absent or only slightly visible. The length ratio of skull to face is 50 : 50%. Skull width approximately equals skull length. Seen from above, the skull slopes into a wedge-shaped muzzle. The stop should not be pronounced. Upper and lower jaws are strong, the bridge of the nose should be straight, not a Roman nose or dish-faced nose. Lips are taut, well closed and of dark color.

The Nose
The nose should be black.

Teeth
The teeth must be strong and complete in number (42 teeth as per formula). The German Shepherd has a scissor bite, where the upper incisors must meet the lower incisors in a scissor grip. Level bite, overshot and undershot teeth are faulty, as well as widely-spaced teeth. A straight incisor tooth line is also faulty. Jawbones must be well developed, to permit deep rooting of the teeth in the gum.

The Eyes
The eyes are medium sized, almond-shaped, set slightly oblique and not protruding. The color should be as dark as possible.

Ears
The German Shepherd has medium-sized, upright ears which are carried erect and perpendicular to one another, pointed and open to the front. Tipped ears and hanging ears are faulty. Laid-back ears are not faulty when the dog is in motion or resting.

Neck
The neck is strong, well-muscled, and clean cut (without folds of loose skin). The angle of neck to torso is approximately 45 degrees.

Body
The top line extends from the point where the neck meets the skull past the well developed withers and the gently downward sloping back to the slightly sloping croup without a visible break. The back is firm, strong, and well muscled. The loin is broad, well developed, and strongly muscled. The croup should be long and have a slight downward slope (approximately 23 degrees from horizontal) and should merge smoothly into the tail set.

Chest
The chest should be of moderate width, the underchest long and pronounced. Chest depth should be approximately 45 to 48% of height at the withers. The ribs should be moderately sprung. Barrel shaped or flat ribs are faulty.

Tail
The tail reaches at least to the hock joint, but not past the halfway point of the hock itself. The coat is slightly longer on the underside of the tail. The tail hangs in a soft, saber-like curve. When the dog is excited or in motion, the tail is somewhat raised, but should not reach past the horizontal line. Surgical corrections are not permitted.

Limbs
Forelegs
Seen from all sides, the forelegs are straight and absolutely parallel when viewed from the front.
Shoulder and upper arms are of equal length. Both are held snugly to the body by strong muscles. Angulation of shoulder blade to the upper arm ideally is 90 degrees, but up to 110 degrees is permissible.
Elbows may not turn out when the dog is standing or in motion or be pinched inward. The lower legs viewed from all sides are straight and absolutely parallel, dry, and well muscled. The pastern measures about 1/3 of the forearm length and is angled 20-22 degrees to the foreleg. Pasterns with an angle of more than 22 degrees or very steep pasterns (less than 20 degrees) reduce working capability especially, endurance.

Hind Legs
The rear legs have a pronounced rounded knee or turn of stifle which projects the dog's rear quarter well behind the point of the pelvis. Seen from the rear, the hind legs are parallel to one another. Upper and lower thighs are of approximately the same length and form an angle of 120 degrees. Thighs are strong and well muscled.
The hock joint is strong and dry and the hock stands upright under the joint.

Paws
The paws are tight, slightly arched, the balls of the feet are hard and dark, nails strong, arched, and dark.

Gait
The German Shepherd is a trotting dog. Length and angulation of front and rear legs must be in proper proportion to one another to permit the dog to move the rear leg underneath the body, matching the reach of the rear legs with that of the front legs and at the same time, keeping the topline over the back relatively undisturbed. Any tendency for overangulation of the rear reduces firmness and endurance of the dog and therefore, working capability. Correct body proportions and angulation result in a ground-covering gait which moves close to the ground and conveys the impression of effortless movement. With the head held slightly forward and the tail slightly lifted, the dog trotting evenly and smoothly, we see a softly moving topline which flows without interruption from neck to tail tip.

Skin
The skin covers the body loosely, but without folds.

Coat

Coat Characteristics
The correct coat for the German Shepherd is a stock coat (outer and under coat). The top coat should be as tight as possible, straight, coarse, and clinging closely to the undercoat. The head, including the inside of the ears, the front of the legs, the paws, and toes have short hair. Neck hair is longer and thicker. On the rear side of the legs, hair length increases downward to the pastern and hock. The rear of the thighs is covered show moderate "pants".

Pigment
Black with reddish brown, brown, tan to light-grey markings. Solid black, grey with darker overcast, black saddle and mask. Inconspicuous small white chest markings, as well as lighter pigment on the inside of the legs is permitted, but not desirable. All dogs, no matter what their color, must have black noses.
Missing mask, light to white markings on the chest and inner leg sides, light toenails, and a red tail tip are signs of faulty pigmentation. Undercoat has a slight grey cast. White is not permissible.

Size/Weight
Males: Height at the wither 60 cm to 65 cm, (23.4 inches to 25.4 inches) Weight 30 kg to 40 kg.
Females: Height at the wither 55 cm to 60 cm, (21.5 inches to 23.4 inches) Weight 22 kg - 32 kg

Testicles
Visual inspection must show two normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Faults
Any deviations from the above listed points are considered faults. Points deducted must be in accordance with severity of the deviation.

Severe Faults
Deviations from the breed characteristics described above which compromise the working ability of the animal.

Ear Faults: ears set too low, tipped ears, overset ears, and soft ears.

Considerable lack of pigment.
Firmness strongly compromised.
Faults of Dentition:
All deviation from scissor bite and number of teeth, unless they are disqualifying faults.

Disqualifying Faults
a) Character weakness, nervous biters, and dogs with a weak nervous system;
b) Dogs with documented "severe hip dysplasia";
c) Monorchids and cryptorchids as well as dogs with testicles of visibly uneven size or shrunken testicles;
d) dogs with disfiguring ears and/or tails;
e) malformed dogs;
f) tooth faults as follows:
1. missing 1 #3 premolar and one additional tooth;
2. missing 1 canine tooth or
3. missing 1 #4 premolar, or
4. missing 1 molar #1 or #2 or
5. missing a total number of 3 teeth and/or more;
g) dogs with bite faults: overbite of 2 mm or more, or undershot; level bite;
h) Dogs that measure more than 1 cm over or under regulation size;
i) Albinism;
j) White coat (incl. those with dark eyes and nails);
k) Long stock coat (long, soft loosely fitting outer coat with undercoat, flags on ears and legs, bushy pants and bushy tail with flag on underside);
l) Long coat (long, soft outer coat without undercoat). This coat type frequently is parted along the center line of the back, has flags on ears, legs, and tail.