OK, I feel like a real moron asking this question , but what is the difference between a "long-coated" GSD, and a "plush-coated" GSD, or are they the same thing? Keep in mind that I never knew anything but short-coated GSD's existed until after I got my pup, LOL). I have been trying to figure out what type of coat he has. His coat is definitely longer than the GSD's I grew up with. I grew up w/a white GSD, then a sable. Kodee is the first bi-color I have any experience with, and at first, I thought maybe that had something to do with how thick/fluffy his coat is.

But now, of course, after reading everything I could about the breed, I'm trying to figure out if maybe he's "plush?" His coat is very thick, slightly wavy (although it's getter straighter as he ages). His fur around his head, ears and chest/shoulders is longer than the rest of his body. He definitely has an undercoat, but his coat seems quite a bit less coarse than the other GSD's I've been around.

So can anyone tell me exactly what type of coat he (probably) has, by looking at his picture? If not, I'll try to post another pic or two later.

Also, when someone just says "coat", do they mean long or plush?

Thanks a lot!

I would say long.....my ddr was long hair and I think plush is softer and closer, jmho

Thanks, Denise. I thought that a true long-haired GSD didn't have an undercoat, and the coat was long all over and silky? Even possibly parted in the middle (please correct me if I'm wrong)? Kodee doesn't fit this description, which is why I thought maybe he was "plush" rather than short? I'm not arguing, just speculating...I wasn't even sure if "plush" and "long" were 2 different things LOL!

Usually when people say "coat" they can be referring to either a long stock coat or a long coat. A long stock coat has the correct double coat, but the outer hairs are too long & usually too soft. With the long coat, there is no double coat, just the long soft outer coat, which many times even parts down the back of the dog. It gets a bit tricky trying to tell the difference between a plush (seen on many of the german show line) vs long stock coat. Usually the outer coat of the plush is not soft textured, more the type of hair that is course, like a normal double coat, just a little longer, and very thick. Also the plush coated dogs don't have that "lions mane" sort of look, things like that.

With regards to your dog, I really can't tell, for a number of reasons. First, I don't have much experience with showlines or dogs with that really plush coat. Also, your dog is really young, so his hair is soft anyway, not the same texture it will be when he's all grown up.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the mole coat, which looks very weird.

jacks hair was not silky, is yours??? he did have undercoat, and but he did feel corse my friend who used to show, and do ring sport said he was long and and hated his coat, said it was no good.
I do think plush would have softer texture?? Someone here knows I bet !!

my understanding is some long-haired GSDs don't have a stock coat (which i think is the outer and inner coat) but just the outer coat, though i've no idea how to tell the difference. but long coats can have both. it's breed standard that they do so:
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/germanshepherd/germansheparticle4.htm

edit: susan explained it well!

What is a mole coat?????

Ok now with plush and long I am really confused

LOL - I feel better now that I know I'm not the only one who doesn't know. Ha! Every time I turn around, someone asks me if Kodee is a long-coated, one girl asked if he was a Shiloh shepherd. He's my dog, and every time I look at him, I'm like, "What the heck kind of coat do you have, anyway???" LOL! At least now his ear will not be floppy, so he won't look like a mixed breed (not that there's anything wrong with that, but I paid an awful lot of money for a pure-bred pup to be answering "Is he a shepherd mix?" all the time - heh heh). . Still, it drives me nuts not knowing what type of coat he has. He is very soft, not exactly silky, though. His coat is longer towards his head/shoulder area, and not as long on his "back half" so to speak. The coat on his body lies flat and smooth (He was pretty wavy there for a while, til he shed a lot of his puppy coat), and is fluffier around his head and ears. And he does have an undercoat. The coat on his legs seems normal (short) length, to me. Like the short-coats we had growing up.

Other than that, I don't know how else to describe him. I'm using someone else's computer now, so i can't post a new pic at the moment. I'll try later, though, to take a shot of his whole body from the side and post that. And Susan's right, he's only a pup, so I know the texture will change. The bottom line is he's an awesome dog, and I know it doesn't matter in the end, but seeing as how I'm trying to educate myself as much as possible on GSD's, it's a shame I can't even tell what kind of coat my own dog has.

More opinions are welcome...

Hi Kori,

From how your describing Kodi's coat with an undercoat and long stock hair I would say he sounds like a plush coat.

My dog is a plush coat. She has the long stock hair "flags" on her ears and legs and a thick, slightly softer coat on her body with an undercoat.

Katie

Ktie: What do your dogs feet look like? I heard you can really tell by looking at the feet because the plush coated dogs don't have shaggy feet like the long stock or long coats.

The mole coat is a really short coat without an undercoat, sort of the opposite of the long coat.