General Appearance The Alsatian Shepalute is a powerful, strong willed, well muscled, alert animal, well balanced, slightly longer than tall, with a definite impression of masculine or feminine and an intelligence of secrecy in his yellow stare. A large wolf-looking dog that comes in many different colors with the predominate color of coat being a wolf-gray. Character The Alsatian Shepalute is fearless and bold but not hostile, moving in a sleek manner sniffing the air currants. He is self-confident, poised and inquisitive. The Alsatian Shepalute is never nervous but has a more solid and laid back temperament of curiosity. The Alsatian Shepalute is a dignified, loyal and devoted family companion dog. Head The head of an Alsatian Indicates a high degree of intelligence. It is broad and large, sloping slightly from between the yellow eyes down to the deep black nose. This breed resembling the wolf of yester years should have a short coat of hair on the head, face and legs. Muzzle Large lips close and upper and lower jaws broad with large teeth. He has a scissors bite that is slightly longer than his head is deep. Eyes His eyes are almond shaped, medium to small, and set obliquely. Yellow or light brown in color with that Wolfish stare that makes him so unique. A large round eye is a major disqualification. Ears His ears are triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tips. They are set wide apart on the outside back edges of the skull. The ears are wedge-shaped, erect and small in comparison to the head as well as tipped with an outline of black hairs, (the blacker the better) to form an outline around the ear. When alerted his ears turn forward. When shamed his ears will turn side ways and laid back. Forequarters The shoulders should be slightly sloping, heavy and muscular without any tendency to looseness of shoulders. The feet are large and heavy, round and compact with well-arched toes. His leg bones are straight to his pasterns, which are short and strong being bent only slightly. They should have black pads on the bottom of their feet with black toenails. The black coloring may extend upward from the pads into the leg. The forelegs are heavily boned and set wide apart because of the width of the chest. Feet The feet are very large and round with compact toes, well-arched pads that are thick and tough. He is sure footed even when stalking. Teeth His teeth are large and come together in a scissors bite. Never overshot or undershot. Neck The neck is well muscled strong and powerful. It is short in length and thick in circumference. The carriage of the head is forward and in line or slightly higher than the shoulders. Coat The outer coat is moderately coarse. It is thicker during the winter months and not too long. Moderately dense, slightly oily and slightly wooly. Thicker fur around the neck. Moderately short to medium along the sides of the body with the length of the coat increasing somewhat around shoulders and neck, down the back and over the rump. The coat is shorter and denser during the summer months as the undercoat almost entirely sheds out. The coat becomes thick and woolly again during the winter months. The head, inner ears, fore face, legs and paws covered with short hair. Faults in coat include soft, silky, too long outer coat, too wooly, curly. Puppy coats have a thick undercoat with few guard hairs tipped with black. This puppy coat will shed out and the adult coat will come in coarser. All puppies lighten in color as they get older. All puppies have a dark dorsal strip with a black triangle mark over the scent gland area on their tails. Black muzzles lighten up around the eyes with the nose always staying black. All pups should be born with black noses and dark skin. Hindquarters The Shepalute is broad and powerfully muscled through thighs. His stifles are moderately bent. His hocks should be set back and wide apart. Parallel when viewed from the rear. The legs of the Shepalute must indicate an unusual strength and tremendous propelling power. Any indication of unsoundness in legs or feet standing or moving is to be considered a serious fault. Absolutely no part of these animal should be altered including dew claws being removed or hair cut. Tail The tail is set moderately high and reaching to the hocks or a little below. Never sweeping, curling or long. Shorter is more acceptable than longer. The tail should be wide at the root, tapering to the end. The tail should be well furred but not too long, hanging down when at rest and not curved. Carried high when working or excited yet never curling over the back. The tail should never go under the body or between the legs. When sleeping the tail may be curled around the body for warmth. Color and markings All colors permitted, timber wolf gray is the most desirable. Noses always stay black and the skin is dark in pigmentation. Ears are outlined in black as well as the tip of the tail black. Muzzles can be white or cream. Size No shorter than 24" sometimes getting up to 28" from the shoulders to the ground. Weight should appear heavy due to the large bones. Side view movements to evaluate strength of back, reach, balance and top line. The propulsion should come from the hindquarters while the front takes the thrust, balance and coordination. The over all length of the dog because of the chest and hindquarters is to be slightly longer than tall. Gait The gait denotes power and strength and is very important for the overall look of the dog. The rear legs should have drive, while the forelegs should track smoothly with good reach but never a high step. In motion, the legs move straight forward. The back feet pass the front paw marks left in the dirt. The fast walk is smooth and the top line hardly moves but glides along with the dog.